Our Purpose
The national YouthBuild Coalition seeks to persuade the United States government to fund local communities to employ and train young people to serve their neighborhoods by building affordable housing for homeless and other low-income people. There are approximately four million unemployed young people who have dropped out of school in the United States; there are an estimated two million homeless young people; there are uncounted government-owned properties crying out for rehabilitation and construction. We believe—and we have demonstrated—that part of the solution to all three of these tragedies lies in creatively putting them together, employing the young people to fix the buildings to solve the housing crisis, stemming the tide of homelessness while the young people complete their high school education and prepare for college, career, and community leadership.
Basic Philosophy
The positive energy and intelligence of young people need to be enlisted in solving the problems facing our society. Young people in poor communities want to rebuild their communities and their lives, and will do so if given the opportunity. The desire to serve, to do meaningful work, is universal. Community-based organizations need to be given the resources to solve local problems and to mobilize local people, including neighborhood youth. Leadership development is a central element of effective community development and youth service.
Original Objective
We proposed in 1988 that the United States Congress put $200 million into appropriations designated for the purpose of youth employment and training in building housing for the homeless and other low-income people.
Accomplishments
Since the founding of the Coalition in June of 1988, federal legislation has been passed to fund YouthBuild programs, and appropriations passed for fiscal years 1993 through 2006, in the total amount of $755 million, administered initially by the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD) and now by the Department of Labor (DOL.) As a result, the number of YouthBuild programs has increased from 15 to more than 273 as of the Fall 2009. Legislation has also been passed which includes YouthBuild as an eligible program for funding through the Corporation for National and Community Service.
Continuing mobilization of the Coalition is required to insure continued and expanded funding through both HUD and national service.
The national YouthBuild Coalition, which is organized by YouthBuild USA, has generated State YouthBuild Coalitions in Georgia, New York, Massachusetts, Ohio, Oregon, Missouri, Illinois, Texas, Minnesota, New Jersey, South Carolina, Wisconsin, and California. These coalitions, which focus on obtaining state funding, are led by directors of local YouthBuild programs in cooperation with YouthBuild USA.
Join Us
We invite organizations to join the YouthBuild Coalition to help provide real jobs, training, education, and service and leadership opportunities for more young people in more communities. We are eager to work with all interested parties, and with all levels of government.
Click here to join the Coalition >>
Click here to download a list of current National Coalition members >> (PDF)
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