29 U.S.C. § 3226 Youthbuild Program

• Library: United States Statutes
• Edition: 2023 Edition
• Currency: Current through P.L. 118-19 (published on www.congress.gov on 10/06/2023)

(a) Statement of purpose

The purposes of this section are-

(1) to enable disadvantaged youth to obtain the education and employment skills necessary to achieve economic self-sufficiency in occupations in demand and postsecondary education and training opportunities;

(2) to provide disadvantaged youth with opportunities for meaningful work and service to their communities;

(3) to foster the development of employment and leadership skills and commitment to community development among youth in low-income communities;

(4) to expand the supply of permanent affordable housing for homeless individuals and low-income families by utilizing the energies and talents of disadvantaged youth; and

(5) to improve the quality and energy efficiency of community and other nonprofit and public facilities, including those facilities that are used to serve homeless and low-income families.

(b) Definitions

In this section:

(1) Adjusted income

The term "adjusted income" has the meaning given the term in section 1437a(b) of title 42.

(2) Applicant

The term "applicant" means an eligible entity that has submitted an application under subsection (c).

(3) Eligible entity

The term "eligible entity" means a public or private nonprofit agency or organization (including a consortium of such agencies or organizations), including-

(A) a community-based organization;

(B) a faith-based organization;

(C) an entity carrying out activities under this subchapter, such as a local board;

(D) a community action agency;

(E) a State or local housing development agency;

(F) an Indian tribe or other agency primarily serving Indians;

(G) a community development corporation;

(H) a State or local youth service or conservation corps; and

(I) any other entity eligible to provide education or employment training under a Federal program (other than the program carried out under this section).

(4) Homeless individual

The term "homeless individual" means a homeless individual (as defined in section 12473(6) of title 34) or a homeless child or youth (as defined in section 11434a(2) of title 42).

(5) Housing development agency

The term "housing development agency" means any agency of a State or local government, or any private nonprofit organization, that is engaged in providing housing for homeless individuals or low-income families.

(6) Income

The term "income" has the meaning given the term in section 1437a(b) of title 42.

(7) Indian; Indian tribe

The terms "Indian" and "Indian tribe" have the meanings given such terms in section 5304 of title 25.

(8) Low-income family

The term "low-income family" means a family described in section 1437a(b)(2) of title 42.

(9) Qualified national nonprofit agency

The term "qualified national nonprofit agency" means a nonprofit agency that-

(A) has significant national experience providing services consisting of training, information, technical assistance, and data management to YouthBuild programs or similar projects; and

(B) has the capacity to provide those services.

(10) Registered apprenticeship program

The term "registered apprenticeship program" means an apprenticeship program-

(A) registered under the Act of August 16, 1937 (commonly known as the "National Apprenticeship Act"; 50 Stat. 664, chapter 663; 29 U.S.C. 50 et seq.); and

(B) that meets such other criteria as may be established by the Secretary under this section.

(11) Transitional housing

The term "transitional housing" has the meaning given the term in section 11360(29) ¹ of title 42.

(12) YouthBuild program

The term "YouthBuild program" means any program that receives assistance under this section and provides disadvantaged youth with opportunities for employment, education, leadership development, and training through the rehabilitation (which, for purposes of this section, shall include energy efficiency enhancements) or construction of housing for homeless individuals and low-income families, and of public facilities.

(c) YouthBuild grants

(1) Amounts of grants

The Secretary is authorized to make grants to applicants for the purpose of carrying out YouthBuild programs approved under this section.

(2) Eligible activities

An entity that receives a grant under this subsection shall use the funds made available through the grant to carry out a YouthBuild program, which may include the following activities:

(A) Education and workforce investment activities including-

(i) work experience and skills training (coordinated, to the maximum extent feasible, with preapprenticeship and registered apprenticeship programs) in the activities described in subparagraphs (B) and (C) related to rehabilitation or construction, and, if approved by the Secretary, in additional in-demand industry sectors or occupations in the region in which the program operates;

(ii) occupational skills training;

(iii) other paid and unpaid work experiences, including internships and job shadowing;

(iv) services and activities designed to meet the educational needs of participants, including-

(I) basic skills instruction and remedial education;

(II) language instruction educational programs for participants who are English language learners;

(III) secondary education services and activities, including tutoring, study skills training, and school dropout prevention and recovery activities, designed to lead to the attainment of a secondary school diploma or its recognized equivalent (including recognized certificates of attendance or similar documents for individuals with disabilities);

(IV) counseling and assistance in obtaining postsecondary education and required financial aid; and

(V) alternative secondary school services;

(v) counseling services and related activities, such as comprehensive guidance and counseling on drug and alcohol abuse and referral;

(vi) activities designed to develop employment and leadership skills, which may include community service and peer-centered activities encouraging responsibility and other positive social behaviors, and activities related to youth policy committees that participate in decision-making related to the program;

(vii) supportive services and provision of need-based stipends necessary to enable individuals to participate in the program and to assist individuals, for a period not to exceed 12 months after the completion of training, in obtaining or retaining employment, or applying for and transitioning to postsecondary education or training; and

(viii) job search and assistance.

(B) Supervision and training for participants in the rehabilitation or construction of housing, including residential housing for homeless individuals or low-income families, or transitional housing for homeless individuals, and, if approved by the Secretary, in additional in-demand industry sectors or occupations in the region in which the program operates.

(C) Supervision and training for participants-

(i) in the rehabilitation or construction of community and other public facilities, except that not more than 15 percent of funds appropriated to carry out this section may be used for such supervision and training; and