A study by the Center for Housing Policy compared wages with housing costs in key metropolitan areas for five traditional occupations: Janitor, Retail Salesperson, Elementary School Teacher, Licensed Practical Nurse, and Police Officer. They found that neither janitors nor retail salespeople could afford even a one-bedroom apartment in Los Angeles. Currently, both janitors and salespeople would need salaries nearly 50% higher than their current typical salaries in order to afford a median priced one-bedroom rental. And ownership is also becoming increasingly unattainable.

Many who are employed are even finding themselves homeless. The National Coalition for the Homeless reports that nearly 20% of all homeless people in 30 cities across the country are employed—some even full-time.

Clearly, housing and wages are linked. That is why Century has a long record of job training, placement, and support programs. Beginning with our funding for pre-apprenticeship construction training programs for the I-105 Century Freeway and continuing today with similar programs, Century remains dedicated to raising the standard of living for many inner-city residents.

Today, the Century Community Training Program (CCTP) in Lennox, California offers pre-apprenticeship building trade construction training for those transitioning from welfare, low-income jobs, incarceration, or unemployment. CCTP has placed over 1,600 graduates in construction trades, 17% of them women. Over 85% of these placements are in higher paying union jobs.

As a subcontractor to The Tutor-Saliba Team, CCTP exceeded the training responsibilities of the Alameda Corridor Construction Preapprenticeship Training Program. CCTP assured that trainees living within the 15-city corridor could become eligible to work on construction of the Alameda Corridor Transportation Authority’s (ACTA) $712 million, 10-mile trench along Alameda Street in Central Los Angeles. The completed corridor now allows more efficient rail and truck transportation from the ports of Long Beach and Los Angeles to transcontinental rail yards just east of downtown.

During the implementation of this ACTA contract, more than 880 trainees graduated from the program, 16% of them women. CCTP also attained its ACTA goal of placing 685 graduates in the construction and related trades—92% of them in union jobs and 15% of those placed being women.

CCTP is currently partnering with the Los Angeles World Airports to train 160 unemployed local residents for future construction jobs. CCTP will continue to work closely with construction contractors, local unions, and apprenticeship programs to ensure that the training program meets current apprenticeship requirements—ensuring that CCTP graduates are eligible for immediate hire.

As an opportunity to earn a living wage, construction jobs can represent a way out of poverty for women who are interested in this traditionally male-dominated field. To help remedy the dearth of women in construction, CCTP has a special emphasis on recruiting and supporting women in the construction trades.

In addition to recruiting women to participate in the 8-week construction training course, CCTP coordinates a tradeswomen support group network. This program pairs journey-level tradeswomen in mentoring relationship with less-experienced tradeswomen. Participants also meet regularly as a larger group, offering opportunities to encourage one another, share work place issues/concerns, and announce job opportunities. Support groups and mentoring programs are essential in the retention of women in the construction industry.

CCTP also holds an annual empowerment retreat, providing a relaxing and educational environment where tradeswomen network, gain valuable workplace knowledge, learn trade survival skill, and look at industry trends.

To qualify for training, applicants must pass a written assessment, an oral interview, and complete a construction trade research project designed to select those candidates evidencing potential for a career in the construction trades. Once accepted, participants begin eight weeks of intensive training.

If you are interested in construction training, please contact Olibra Bailey, Program Director, at (310) 673-3941, ext. 14, or e-mail obailey (at) centuryhousing.org.

The CCTP program is certified by the State of California Bureau of Private Postsecondary and Vocational Education.

For more information on how you can support these efforts, please contact Kim Ferraro at (310)642-2072 or e-mail kferraro (at) centuryhousing.org.