HUD Project 

Lawson State Community College

NEWS RELEASE: 

Office of Public Relations and Community Affairs

Geri H. Albright Director

Lawson State Community College has collaborated with the U. S. Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD), the City of Birmingham, Neighborhood Services, Inc. and others to provide quality and affordable housing in surrounding communities through the Affordable Home Building Program. This creates a beneficial community-based program that will provide job training, increase the availability of affordable housing, improve the socio-economic status of residents in the target area, alleviate blight and substandard housing, increase home ownership and the number of minority-owned businesses. It also offers job skills training for fifteen (15) participants per year who will log a minimum of 320 classroom hours over 16 weeks, alternating classroom training with on-the-job training. It will also provide a neighborhood revitalization service that specifically targets home construction.

            This initiative involves providing job skills training to community residents – focusing on job training in the construction trades. Students enrolled in Lawson State’s building trades programs, i.e., drafting, carpentry, plumbing and electrical services, will have an opportunity to combine classroom training with practical experience while working on dilapidated homes under the supervision of highly proficient instructors and general contractors.

            Lawson State faculty Steve Taylor (plumbing), David Jones (drafting and design) and Clarence Douglas (electrical) will provide the instructional components for the program. Construction skills to be taught will include site evaluation and preparation, blueprint reading, wiring, weatherization and energy conservation methods, framing, window and door installation.

            With ever changing federal, state and local building codes and environmental laws, these instructors will receive professional development training as needed to stay abreast of modifications in their respective areas of expertise.

            The proposed plan of operation is a two-fold approach that will be executed in phases utilizing the cooperation of the Grasselli Neighborhood Association, the City of Birmingham, DHL Analytical Laboratory, Inc. (DHL), Neighborhood Services, Inc. and Spirit of the Living God Ministries. “As an active participant in the community, Lawson State sees this cooperation venture as another opportunity to expand its role and broaden its effectiveness in addressing community needs”, said Dr. Perry W. Ward, Lawson State Community College president.

            This project is a unique and innovative strategy that has not been implemented by any other agency for the southwestern communities and neighborhoods in the city of Birmingham. By its design, this new strategy could provide the framework for replication by other communities and neighborhoods in accordance with other community service agencies.

The MISSION of the HUD at Lawson State Community College is to provide quality and affordable housing while promoting continued neighborhood stability and renewed economic growth through training and community partnering and collaboration. The communities of Grasselli and the Birmingham Enterprise Community are comprised of six (6) neighborhoods --Industrial City, Toppy City, West Goldwine, Hillman Park, Hillman Gardens, and Grasselli.  These locations are designed for the partnership's mission.

Lawson State will seek low and moderate-income residents in the above target areas to provide information about home buying opportunities, fair housing, credit counseling and budgeting.

Lawson State will eliminate blight and improve community appearance by rehabilitating residences.  Moreover, Lawson State's partnership with the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development and the city of Birmingham will make this project much needed success for the area.