Questions about non-profit home builders (Habitat for Humanity)

[skipos]

I live close to Detroit, where there are so many great old homes that are falling apart, so many unemployed people, and I was thinking...

My understanding of Habitat for Humanity is that, simply put, volunteers build homes so lower income families can afford them. Is there a similar non-profit organization that hires unemployed people, instead of seeking volunteers? So much of home building/ home repair doesn't require much experience, and it seems like such a program could help in cities with unemployment problems too.

If no such organization exists, why not? Could such a concept work?

I realize that I am being fairly vague, so work with me the best you can. :)

[mcctatas]

1. I used to be on the board of our Habitat chapter, and unfortunately,

there is simply not enough cash to pay people to work on the houses as they go up. Furthermore, when we do have to hire people, it is for things like electrical/plumbing and the installers must be certified. We always try to use small, local vendors, and keep a list that we issue to our partner families to call in case they ever need work done. I can't think of any organization that does what you describe, but if there's not one, there should be.

[Erika]

2. I think you should contact Jimmy Carter.

He's a man of God and so active in the program.

[skipos]

4. I wish.

I did some grunt work for Habitat while Carter was working on the other side of the state on another Habitat project. He asked that no one stop his work to ask for autographs or photos, since we needed to get shit done (my words, not his). Quite a difference from President GW "Photo Op" Bush, eh?

[hypocriteslayer]

6. As I've said elsewhere on DU

The last Honest, Upstanding person who was President. He is a good tree that bears good fruit! I don;t agree with everything he espouses, but I would vote for him in a heartbeat as at least he is honest and carries principled positions.

[sandnsea]

3. There's YouthBuild

It targets young unemployed people who dropped out of high school and have other similar employment problems. They build and rehabilitate low income housing and get help with education, counseling, whatever else they need.

http://www.youthbuild.org

[TygrBright]

5. I think there are some... certainly worth a websearch, anyway.

What occurs to me is two --no, three-- main obstacles, though.

I'm guessing you're thinking about "hiring the unemployed" not in terms of ordinary skilled tradesworkers who just happen to be currently between jobs. As far as I can tell there are plenty of jobs available in most parts of the country for any sheetrocker, plumber, concrete worker, roofer, etc., who wants to work, if they don't mind taking below-union wages. So you're talking about unemployed folks without experience in the building trades, generally, yes? Here's the problems:

One: Liability. Homebuilding involves a lot of risk and if you are employing workers it is NOT legal to get them to waive liability. You can do so with volunteers up to a point. But if you have employees, it doesn't matter whether you're a non-profit or a for-profit, you have to pay workmen's comp (HIGH in the building trades!!) and liability insurance, etc. on your workers. Adds to the overhead. Still, that could be overcome with generous support from the nonprofit's donors, etc.

Two: Unions. The trades unions take a dim view of companies hiring unskilled laborers at lower wages (you sure as hell couldn't afford to pay prevailing if you weren't selling the house at market rate.) They'd likely make trouble for you at City Hall. There's a difference between getting volunteers involved on a small scale (indeed, many building trades locals sponsor or help out with Habitat projects,) and running what is effectively unfairly advantaged competition. They're already struggling to keep builders from hiring too many unskilled, "off books" workers, you might be in for some real hostility there. Still, say you manage to get them to give you a pass. It's possible, if you let them in on the deal and make it clear that it's a small-scale thing.

Three (and this is the killer): The workers. Look, I'm sorry to sound jaded and go all GOPpie on you, but I've RUN programs for unemployed workers. Many of them are thrilled to get work and will work their tails off for you and show up every day and make you wonder how the hell they're unemployed in the first place. But then there are the other ones. The ones who start out that way, get a little responsibility, then crash at a crucial moment. The ones who talk a good show until they're hired and then are always late, always have an excuse, always in trouble and it's always someone else's fault. You can deal with this if you're prepared to do so but it takes massive investments of staff training, time, etc. In fact, that's why most employment programs are focused on the goal of getting people employed somewhere ELSE than at the program, ultimately. Their goal isn't the work, per se, it's getting the workers back into the workforce. And in a project like homebuilding, there's just too much that can be too badly screwed up if your primary goal isn't building a quality home.

It can probably be done, but it isn't the most effective way to address either problem, unemployment or lack of affordable housing. It would work best where there was a "passion person" who was totally committed to making it happen and had the right mix of skills, funding connections, literally endless personal energy and commitment, etc., to make it happen, and it would only work for as long as that person was making it happen.

God, I feel old...

jadedly,
Bright

[Porcupine]

7. What he said and double for part three.

I have worked in the last several years in the maintenance department of a property management firm. My previous paid experience building was about zero. in six months I was the team manager. I find that when we hired a journeyman with a ten to fifteen year resume chances were two out of three that we would have to fire that person for cause. The work of many people is just plain erractic not to mention the problems they have with literacy and just following simple written instructions. Unfourtunately some people are just money losers for any job more complicated than stable cleaning. This is my number one reason for supporting welfare programs. Some folks just can't make it to the working part of "working class" no matter how hard you prod them. I say we deal with the reality of this a take care of them anyway.

[skipos]

8. Morning kick

And thanks everyone for the info so far.