How a High School and Habitat Partnership Is Teaching Trades by Building Affordable Homes

Overview

In Boulder, Colorado, a public school district, local government, and Flatirons Habitat for Humanity are working together to address two problems at once: a shortage of skilled trades workers and a need for affordable housing.

Students build real modular homes in a 32,000-square-foot factory on school district-owned land. They earn academic credit while learning construction skills.

How the program works

Partnership

The program is a three-way collaboration between the school district, the city, and Flatirons Habitat for Humanity.

It is designed to prepare students for careers in the building trades after graduation.

Homes built

Housing impact

The homes are intended for working families in a city where housing costs are high. They are built at a fraction of the cost of traditional market-rate housing.

The program offers homeownership to families who have often lived in overcrowded or substandard conditions.

Workforce impact

Students involved in the program have shown interest in skilled trades such as electrical, plumbing, and carpentry.

The initiative aims to strengthen the local workforce while creating affordable housing.

FAQs

What makes this different from traditional shop classes?

Students are building real, code-compliant homes that will be occupied by families, not mock projects or simulations.

Who oversees the construction work?

The homes are built under professional supervision in partnership with Habitat for Humanity.

Are the homes permanent structures?

Yes. The modular homes are placed on permanent foundations.

Organization contact