HUD'S YOUTHBUILD PROGRAM DELIVERS $54 MILLION FOR SKILLS AND LEADERSHIP TRAINING
Portland and Medford programs to receive two grants totaling $1,085,000

PORTLAND - Sixty-four young people in Portland and Medford who never finished high school will get a second
chance to receive their diplomas because of $1,085,000 in grants announced today by Housing and Urban Development Secretary Alphonso Jackson. The grants are part of $54 million HUD is awarding through its Youthbuild Program to offer job training and leadership skills to young people while putting them back on a path toward graduation.

The Job Council in Medford will receive $400,000 to initiate a new Youthbuild program, which will target Latino youth in West Medford. The City of Portland will receive $685,000 in funding to supplement its existing program. (see
details and contact information below).

These two grants will help train young people for a future in the construction trades while producing 14 homes for lower income families, many facing homelessness.

"This funding will offer hope and opportunity to young men and women across the country," said Jackson. "Youthbuild enables them to return to the classroom, acquire construction skills and put their minds and hands to work producing more affordable housing in their own communities."

Young people who enroll in local Youthbuild programs lack high school diplomas and the job skills necessary to find meaningful employment. The funding announced today will help young men and women, ages 16-to-24, to receive their high school equivalency diplomas and provide them training in homebuilding skills that will qualify them for
careers in the building industry.

"We are pleased to be funding Youthbuild programs in which young people build homes for low-income families," said Tom Cusack, HUD's Portland Field Office Director. "The young people participating in these programs gain self-confidence, leadership skills, and experience in the construction trades that will enable them to lead productive
lives."

Program participants will receive on-the-job training in the building trades and help build and renovate homes that
are then sold at affordable prices to low- and very low-income persons as well as to homeless individuals and
families. In addition, these grants are anticipated to generate millions of additional dollars from other public and private sources.

HUD is the nation's housing agency committed to increasing homeownership, particularly among minorities; creating affordable housing opportunities for low-income Americans; and supporting the homeless, elderly, people with disabilities and people living with AIDS. The Department also promotes economic and community development as well as enforces the nation's fair housing laws. More information about HUD and its programs is available on the Internet and espanol.hud.gov.

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The Job Council will receive a Youthbuild grant in the amount of $400,000. The grant will enable The Job Council to train 14 youth and construct eight townhouses. The construction of the homes will be assisted by the low-income future homeowners who will be putting in their sweat equity hours. Major partners include: Rogue Valley Community College; USDA; Job Corps; and Oregon Dept. of Human Services.

The City of Portland will receive a Youthbuild grant in the amount of $685,000. The grant will enable the City to
train 50 youth and construct six houses. Major partners include: Portland Bureau of Housing and Community Development and Portland YouthBuilders.