BTF and the San Antonio Housing Authority (SAHA) worked together to present careers that offer job satisfaction, competitive salaries, and growth opportunities. About 30 people attended the hiring event on September 16 in San Antonio, Texas. The event connected talented trade workers looking for brighter futures to residential construction industry employers ready to fill immediate job openings.
Collaborating with recruiting partners like SAHA to host hiring events brings BTF closer to its goal of bringing 100,000 new skilled trades workers to the residential construction industry by 2030.
SAHA is a public housing agency (PHA) that exists to help San Antonio residents in need find affordable housing and social services. They have several different programs designed to help people attain self-sufficiency.
According to the National Center for Health in Public Housing, “the average annual household income of a household for residents of public housing is $15,152 and $14,606 for households in Section 8 Housing. This falls well below the federal poverty line, which in 2018 for a household of two was $16,460, and for a household of three was $20,780.”
SAHA works to help people improve their economic mobility. Once a SAHA program participant gains employment, they can still receive housing assistance for at least six months. During that time, the housing authority matches a participant’s income to help them save up for a down payment on a home. SAHA helps people move beyond housing assistance through credit rebuilding and childcare programs.
By participating in hiring events, SAHA encourages and supports their program participants on the path to self-sufficiency.
At the hiring event hosted by SAHA and BTF, job seekers explored career paths such as:
• HVAC Techs / Helpers Electricians / Helpers
• Plumbers / Helpers
• Carpenters
• Carpet Installers
• Cabinet Installers
• Tile Installers
• Framers
• Painters
• Surveyors
• Inspectors
• Construction Workers
“Good quality job seekers that can be marketed to employers showed up. Some had a lot of experience in the trades, and some had basic general construction experience,” said BTF Engagement Manager Jenna Garcia. “At least five attendees went to BTF’s employment platform, JobsToBuild.com, and applied for jobs on the day of the event.”
In addition, the SAHA residential maintenance HR department was on hand. BTF’s relationship with SAHA is growing. “We're working with them not just as recruiting partners, but also as employer partners. They do so much more than housing assistance,” said Jenna.
SAHA’s efforts have been recognized by the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD). HUD awarded $2,300,000 of a $28 million public housing investment to SAHA to help families increase their earned income and improve their economic mobility.