For too many youth in Birmingham, Alabama, financial stability takes a backseat to survival. Build UP aims to change that with a scalable model that blends high-quality education, paid work experience, and pathways to homeownership.
Students gain hands-on experience in the building trades or secure internships aligned with their college and career goals. They take part in financial education workshops and open bank accounts where they can deposit earnings from their work experience, an important step toward homeownership.
Build UP relocates donated homes from affluent neighborhoods and rehabilitates them as infill housing in communities where new construction has long been out of reach – revitalizing neighborhoods, reducing construction waste, and advancing green technology.
Without the Breakthrough Challenge, so many organizations would not have the opportunity to expand their work. And so many people would not have access to affordable homes. It’s filling all of our cups collectively. David Hardin, CEO, Build UP |
Since winning the Breakthrough Challenge in 2023, Build UP has acquired house-moving equipment and training to streamline the relocation of donated homes. They are also working to develop a mortgage program for first-time homebuyers.
Build UP has expanded its flagship high school in Birmingham to a new franchise site, a pre-K through 12 school in Selma. Plans are underway for another school in Brownsville, Texas, in collaboration with cdcb, also a Breakthrough Challenge winner.
