One of the problems with expanding housing stock in a city is finding the crews to build it. A shortage of skilled labor means that crews necessary to build a new house or renovate an old one could be in tight supply.
A local initiative, explored at the recent housing conference in the city, has found a way to increase the workforce and get quality homes on the market at the same time.
The Second Chance Community Skills Growth Program, a partnership between Corey Holdings, Dreambuilders, SIGN, Service Canada, and other community organizations, takes at risk youth, many of whom might be considered "unemployable" at the beginning of the program, and gives them the skills they need to become part of the construction trade.
Corey Fransishyn, CEO of Corey Holdings, says the project began with a number of investment properties which were owned on Broadway Ave. He says that the homes were in disrepair and badly in need of renovations, and he was looking for an idea of how to do the necessary improvements in a socially responsible way. With other community organizations, they decided to use the homes as part of a construction training program.
The program's ultimate goal is to guide the students to a journeyman's certificate. It also goes beyond on the job skills, including teaching about money management and home skills to help the youth establish a positive life at home. Fransishyn notes that these skills need partners like Dreambuilders and SIGN to administer, and they are a vital part of the program. He says that the program is designed to help the youth continue with their education and save money to pay for the courses and tests needed for their journeyman's certificate.
Fransishyn adds, that due to the nature of the project, it allowed the students to gain a work ethic first, and then develop those skills. The first phase of the projects involved demolition, which is hard work but not skilled labor. He admits that when about nine per cent of the youth begin, they would not be employable or put in a minimum-wage worth of service.
"They don't know how to handle that real world environment when they have the responsibility of getting to that 8-5 job, putting a full day of work in, and actually getting paid for services they do." He says the program takes pride in seeing those youth develop that work ethic and become valuable members of the team. He points to a team member who was previously considered unemployable who is now able to work well without supervision on a project as an example of what the program can do.
After the houses are stripped down, they are rebuilt by the team, with members focusing on the trades they are interested in. Each house is completely rebuilt, with new wiring, plumbing, heating and structural components. The homes themselves are then either used as rental properties, rent to own properties, or put up for sale. Fransishyn says that the goal is to break even, and the profits from the homes are designed to keep it going.
He admits that the company doesn't retain the majority of the employees, but says that this is a sign of success. The youth are in demand, and with construction companies throughout the province needing skilled labor they are often hired away.
"People value the fact that we have spent a year working with these guys... I would love to retain more and have the ability to have a larger staff, but they're valuable. We put the work in to help them change their lives, and that will have a spin off effect," Fransishyn concludes.
