Hidden on a mostly quiet street in the heart of Ward 1, Job Point’s YouthBuild students have been hard at work. They’ve been applying their newly acquired skills and testing their knowledge through the construction of a new house.
But, not just any house. This building will soon be someone’s home.
And that is not all they are doing. These students are crafting a brighter future for themselves and the family that will one day call this place their own.
The impact of this project goes beyond the creation of new affordable homes, it also provides an unparalleled opportunity to support our community and address the ongoing labor shortages through on-the-job training. Not to mention, the way it will change the lives of the students involved in the project.
“Through their work on these homes, the students are learning something new about themselves,” Jerrell Morton, Director of YouthBuild said. “They are seeing what is possible – what they are capable of doing and being. They are rewriting the story they’ve been telling themselves.”
On Thursday, July 28, Job Point staff and students came together with staff from Veterans United Home Loans and the Columbia Chamber of Commerce for a ribbon cutting and celebration kicking off at 9:00 am at 1101 N. 8th St. Guests will be invited to tour the home the students have been building.
“To say we are grateful for this partnership and this gift is an understatement. Last year, Veterans United supported the purchase of our headquarters with a leadership gift, and this year they have made a substantial contribution to our Affordable Housing Program. This gift and what it makes possible will not only change the trajectory of the family that purchases the home, but it will change the lives of the dozens of students who were a part of building it,” Steve Smith, Job Point CEO, said.
“We are so appreciative of the employees at Veterans United Home Loans and the Veterans United Foundation for the incredible role they have chosen to play in changing lives through this investment in Job Point and this vitally important project for our community,” Smith said.
Job Point is proud of and thankful for our longstanding partnership with Veterans United Home Loans and the Veterans United Foundation that extends well beyond financial support. This partnership has had a tremendous impact on Job Point over the past ten years.
“We are constantly humbled by the Veteran United Foundation’s commitment to supporting this community,” Steve Smith, President and CEO of Job Point, said.
Job Point students are working on the construction of two homes that are a part of the Cullimore Cottages project, named posthumously after Dan Cullimore. The project is a result of the Columbia Community Land Trust, an organization that builds communities, stewards public resources and acts as a savings account for affordable housing.
Mr. Cullimore was a community activist. He was passionate about increasing affordable housing options and influential in the development of the Land Trust. He was also one of Job Point’s first construction instructors for our YouthBuild program back in the early 2000’s. Job Point is honored to have been tapped by the City to build these two Cullimore Cottages in memory of their friend and community champion.
About Job Point
Job Point is Missouri’s premier employment center and Community Development Corporation. Since 1965, we have been linking people and jobs by providing career planning and job placement assistance. We specialize in preparing individuals to enter the workforce, while meeting a critical need of the business community. The organization is headquartered in Columbia, Missouri, with services extending to Moberly, Boonville and the surrounding communities. Since 2003, Job Point’s YouthBuild program has helped over 1,100 youth and young adults reclaim their education and build the skills they need for life-long learning, leadership and personal and professional success.
