St. Joseph program is building homes and futures

ST. JOSEPH, MO (News-Press NOW) -- Young adults with the YouthBuild program at Youth Alliance are continuing their work to turn a St. Joseph structure into a home.

Back in December of last year, News-Press NOW interviewed a group of young adults striving for a better life, using construction and teamwork as a way to make improvements in St. Joseph.

Nine months later, what was once just bones and frames is now one step closer to becoming an affordable home for a buyer by August of next year.

Ben Girard, YouthBuild Construction Supervisor, said it’s always rewarding to help the younger generation find purpose.

“Whenever young people find their way and you help them find their way, that feels good, right?” Girard said. “I mean, at the end of the day, that is why we’re all here.”

The home, located at 2522 S. 11th St., is one of the featured homes in the Housing Improvement Initiative.

For the young adults involved, this project is more than just construction, it’s a path to success and purpose. Every six months, a new group of adults joins the program. For Andrew Fields and Michael, this opportunity is helping push their careers and lives in a positive direction.

“It’s not just construction, it’s not just building a house, it’s a whole lot more than that,” Fields said. “I’m starting my own lawn service business, ‘Fields Care,’ and it’s a no-brainer to enter this program.”

“I took my big step and did it, and you know, it’s been amazing so far,” Michael said. “I’ve had no problems or anything.”

The home is projected to be finished by August 2026, and News-Press NOW will continue to provide the community with updates on its progress.