EPISODE 73 | Building Homes for Brighter Futures
In Indianapolis, Indiana, rising enrollment rates in skilled trade schools like Area 31 Career Center are helping fill a need for affordable housing.
Area 31 hosts close to 30 programs that range from education and human services to construction and manufacturing. Its partnership with Indy Gateway — a community and economic development organization on the west side of Indianapolis — provides students with hands-on learning while also building affordable housing units for the community.
In this follow-up to our first article in this story, we dive into the finished product and the impact on both students and the community at large.
From classroom to career
In the classroom, construction trades students get familiar with materials through donations by City Electric Supply (CES).
“I think it’s a huge advantage for students to get their hands on material before they get into the field,” said CES Branch Manager Christopher Keen, who began donating supplies nearly six years ago.
Especially when it comes to a skilled trade, hands-on experience is integral to a well-rounded education.
“I graduated from this program myself, so I know that building these homes and having experience bringing a house to life is going to help these students when they go out into the field,” shared Area 31 Teacher Bill O’Neal.
On the job site
The experience students gain on the job site is helpful to their futures while serving a larger purpose.
“The students are making an impact on their local community by providing a home, but they’re also learning the skills that they can take with them into the workforce,” said Indy Gateway Executive Director Lisa Bentley.
A visit to the job site shows students hard at work on a new home, pulling wire, mounting boxes, installing fixtures, and organizing receptacles.
“To see the students transfer classroom experience into a real-world situation is neat. We had the opportunity last year to visit their classroom and see them start to learn our trade; and now to see it come to full fruition is very cool,” said CES District Manager Doug Hornback.
Investing in people
The impact of the Area 31-Indy Gateway partnership stretches far beyond career training. Thanks to projects like these, more families in Indianapolis will have the chance to buy a home — many for the first time.
“I think that communities would see a better return of established neighborhoods if there was a reinvestment in new homebuilding — but also, importantly, an investment in our young people, making sure they’re acquiring the skills they need for a future in the trades,” said Bentley.
“It’s amazing to be able to get the community involved, put these new houses on the market, and help bring up the neighborhoods,” said O’Neal. “And it means a lot to the students as they look back on their experience.”
