Building Pathways, a six-week pre-apprenticeship program, has helped many of Boston Housing Authority (BHA) residents better their lives. On Friday April 6, 2018, 14 members of this program had their graduation. This program prepares participants for a career in the building and construction trades and is open to all BHA residents and City of Boston residents who meet Section 3 requirements for low and very-low income households. Participants of this program receive coordinated case management and job placement services, along with classroom training and hands-on learning. Each student is introduced to a mix of trades and is eventually placed where they fit best after graduating.
 
One common term used by residents to describe their situations before joining this program was “struggle.” Many of them were in a constant cycle of trying to survive. They were living day to day with uncertainty of what was to come next for them. They were not thriving or moving forward. It was only when they started Building Pathways, with help from BHA’s Sec 3 Coordinator, Azell Martin, that their lives began to change.