Habitat for Humanity is preparing a summer program to engage youth between the age of 16 and 22 to help build a home, while also learning about issues that face the working poor in America.

This program will give students another outlet for their summer break Monday through Friday until school starts this fall. The program is weekly and will educate the youth how millions of American breadwinners work hard to support their families.

The summer is broken down into Learn and Build weeks and Build weeks only. To participate in a Learn and Build week, students must complete an application, as space is limited. The cost for one Learn and Build week is $125, which includes snacks, lunch and a t-shirt. Students may participate in Build weeks as community service at no charge. Advance registration is required. The program is located in Jensen Beach and will begin in June.

Participants will begin each day with safety orientation followed by a three hour build effort. After lunch students will begin a two hour classroom discussion. The five day learning session covers lessons in community, home, health, family and their future. Habitat for Humanity has partnered with other local organizations to enhance the program and to provide added insight into poverty education and other local issues.

"We are so fortunate to live in Martin County and many of our youth have every advantage. We wanted to provide not only an opportunity to work on Habitat home, but a practical conversation about how difficult it might be to find housing, medical services and childcare on an average annual wage of $40,000," says Executive Director Michele Reilly.

By weeks end, students will have gained knowledge in construction and how their lives can be affected by a life change such as job loss, rising child care costs, medical issues, and home ownership.

For more information please contact Ebonie Reid at 772-223-9940 or ereid@habitatmartin.org for a brochure.

Habitat for Humanity of Martin County is a non-profit, volunteer-driven organization that extends the opportunity to purchase simple, decent, affordable homes to local families who would not otherwise have that chance. Three key resources are necessary in order to make homeownership a reality for Habitat partner families: funds, volunteers and advocacy.