The Antelope Valley Times

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Groundbreaking ceremony for YouthBuild duplex project

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[L to R] Jack O'Connor, Councilmember Fred Thompson, Director of the Board Kamal Abdul-Jabbaar, Mayor Jim Ledford, Councilmember Steve Hofbauer and Associate Director of AV YouthBuild Olivia Altamirano. [contributed]
[L to R] Jack O’Connor, Councilmember Fred Thompson, Director of the Board Kamal Abdul-Jabbaar, Mayor Jim Ledford, Councilmember Steve Hofbauer and Associate Director of AV YouthBuild Olivia Altamirano. [contributed]
PALMDALE – Antelope Valley YouthBuild, in partnership with the City of Palmdale, Advancing Communities Together (ACT) and Jack O’Connor Construction held a groundbreaking ceremony Thursday for a project that will create two duplexes to provide quality affordable housing space for low income families in Palmdale.

The duplexes will be located at 514 E. Avenue Q-2, and will contain two three-bedroom, two-and-a-half-bath units.

They will be built by YouthBuild students under the guidance of Jack O’Connor Construction and are expected to take six months to complete.

“This is about the community coming together,” said Kamal Abdul-Jabbaar, Director of the Board for YouthBuild.  “The partners will be hiring local community members to do the work to build housing for low income families.”

“This project will not only provide quality housing for families who need it, but also provide job training and employment for our young people,” said Palmdale Mayor Jim Ledford. “It’s going to change the lives of our young people for the better.”

The city owns the land and is providing financing through the U.S. Department of Housing and Development’s HOME Funding.

Once built, YouthBuild will lease units to support programming at its Palmdale Dream Center, a transitional housing program and outreach facility located at 38518 5th Street East in Palmdale.

About Antelope Valley YouthBuild

YouthBuild, a subsidiary of Advancing Communities Together, Inc. a 501(c)3 non-profit organization, is a youth and community development program that addresses core issues facing low-income communities, such as housing, education, employment, crime prevention, and leadership development.

In YouthBuild programs, “at potential” young people ages 16-24 work toward their high school diplomas, learn job skills and serve their communities by building affordable housing. For more information on AV YouthBuild, visit www.avyouthbuild.com.

[Information via news release from the city of Palmdale.]

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Filed Under: Palmdale

2 comments for "Groundbreaking ceremony for YouthBuild duplex project"

  1. It is astonishing to me how much the city of Palmdale is committed to “we take care of our own.” You always hear the bleating of the “I’ve got mine, screw everyone else” crowd, and we are stuck with what I suppose is our share, but there is really a tremendous outpouring of care coming out of the quiet majority. Marvelous place to live.

  2. I love the pseudonym “at potential.” I was considered an “at risk” youth, which before that was called a “juvenile delinquent.” Labels can be damaging you a young person’s life…

    I was kicked out of two high schools and never graduated traditionally, but years later, when I was ready for it, went to community college and then to University, where I earned a baccalaureate. And that has made all the difference in my life.

    I commend these groups and construction firm for giving these youths a chance to build important life skills. Teaching kids is a tough job that many are not willing to take on. Congratulations, guys.