PORTLAND - Approximately 50 low-income young people in southeast Portland will return to school and begin new careers in the homebuilding trades because of a $685,000 YouthBuild grant announced by the U.S. Housing and
Urban Development. The grant will enable Portland Youthbuilders to continue its successful program that helps
at-risk young people graduate high school and train for a future in the construction trades while building five affordable homes for lower income families.

The grant is part of more than $58 million in funding awarded nationwide through HUD's YouthBuild Program. Community Services Consortium in Lebanon, receiving a $400,000 grant, was the only other recipient in Oregon.

"This is a win-win program because these young people learn high-demand job skills while producing affordable
homes in their own communities," said Tom Cusack, HUD"s Portland Field Office Director. "Portland Youthbuilders is recognized as one of the best such programs in the nation."

Portland Youthbuilders, a private nonprofit organization, partners with ROSE Community Development, Sabin Community Development, Portland Community Land Trust, and Portland public schools. The program acts as a
general contractor building homes for affordable housing organizations.

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.

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.

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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