The national YouthBuild Coalition seeks to persuade the United States government to fund local communities to employ and train young people to serve their neighborhoods by building affordable housing for homeless and other low-income people. The positive energy and intelligence of young people need to be liberated and enlisted in solving the problems facing our society. Young people in poor communities want to rebuild their communities and their lives, and will do so if given the opportunity. The desire to serve, to do meaningful work, is universal. Community-based organizations need to be given the resources to solve local problems and to mobilize local people, including neighborhood youth.
Leadership development is a central element of effective community development and youth service.
As a result, the number of YouthBuild programs has increased from 15 to 99 as of January 1999. Legislation supporting community service has also been passed which includes YouthBuild as an eligible program for funding through the Corporation for National Service. Continuing mobilization of the Coalition is required to insure continued and expanded funding through both HUD and national service. The national YouthBuild Coalition, which is organized by YouthBuild USA, has generated State YouthBuild Coalitions in Georgia, Pennsylvania, New York, Massachusetts, Ohio, Missouri, Illinois, Texas, Minnesota, Washington, California, and West Virginia. These coalitions, which focus on obtaining state funding, are led by directors of local YouthBuild programs.