Albany Housing Authority providing aid through Youth Build Grant

Giving out a second chance

May 10, 2023

Matthew Crumley,

ALBANY, Ga. – The Albany Housing Authority is getting set to help launch the futures of down on their luck students through the Youth Build Grant.

It’s in large part thanks to the Department of Labor that the Housing Authority was awarded over a million dollars in grant money…

That money will go towards helping high school dropouts at least 16 years old in getting them enrolled in remedial and GED classes in the hopes that they can start to build a career.

Albany Housing Authority CEO, William Myles says that something like this can go a long way.

“A lot of times, we’re looking for alternatives for our young people. Because we see a lot of things happening in our community, from gun violence to a lot of other activities that are not beneficial to our community for the citizens that live here.. But with this youth build grant, we are able to provide that alternative,” William Myles, CEO, Albany Housing Authority.

It’s not just the Housing Authority who are going to be providing structure to these former students…

As they’re partnering with the likes of Albany Technical College, and groups like Integrity Healthcare, Open Arms and 100 Black Men of Southwest Georgia to provide education and mentoring.

But through the grant, the housing authority is able to cover nearly everything else.

“This grant will allow us to pay for transportation for young people. Childcare, if needed. Also to pay for needed equipment, to pay for uniforms. Whatever it takes to be successful, this grant would typically cover,” said Myles.

But, helping former students get their lives back on track certainly isn’t a walk in the park, even with the grant money.

And, Myles is aware that the housing authority, and their partners are in it for the three year commitment they’re making with the grant.

“This is going to take a lot of partners, and we need a lot of help in order to do that. So it’s going to take a lot of hard work and efforts from community leaders, organizational leaders, and different organizational leaders, and different organizations throughout this community to make this partnership work,” said Myles.

For the 64 eligible participants, they’ll get back a chance at what they thought was gone to build a career for themselves.

The Housing Authority is planning to hold an enrollment kickoff event in either late June or early July.

Brian Roche reporting.