Rescue Mission of Utica has completed its first small house through its Skills for Success Program. Skills for Success is a job training program that trains unemployed and underemployed residents in the carpentry and masonry field. Rescue Mission in partnership with Mohawk Valley Community College Youth Build, came together to build the 800 square foot two-story house for a first-time homeowner. For two years the home was built under skilled supervision by students and those interested in the home had to participate in an application process.
“We went through a whole application process where we had certain criteria that you had to meet in order to be gifted this home.” Wendy Goetz, Executive Director at Rescue Mission of Utica explained.
One of the things that the mission required from the future homeowner was the completion of classes at the HomeOwnershipCenter.
“We didn’t want to just give someone a home without any knowledge of how to maintain it and the individual had to have not owned a home prior so we wanted to give them the skills to be a successful homeowner and that’s what the HomeOwnershipCenter does,” Goetz said.
The project was funded through Rescue Mission of Utica and grants from the community foundation of Herkimer and Oneida Counties, the City of Utica, and in collaboration with MVCC Youth Build and HomeOwnershipCenter. There will be a ribbon-cutting ceremony this Wednesday where the homeowner will be gifted the keys to their new home.
https://www.cnyhomepage.com/news/rescue-mission-of-utica-gifts-a-house-to-first-time-homeowner/
