Housing & community

Building Communities, One Home at a Time: The Impact of Affordable Housing

Published May 13, 2024Updated November 11, 20264 min readYouthBuild Lake County

In this article

YouthBuild Lake County connects construction training with affordable housing work in North Chicago and Zion. Our Housing Projects page documents 12 projects: 11 completed and one in progress. The inventory includes both single-family homes and multi-unit rehabilitation projects.

The importance of affordable housing

The National Low Income Housing Coalition’s 2026 The Gap report identifies a national shortage of 7.2 million affordable and available rental homes for extremely low-income renter households. That is a national measure, not a count of Lake County’s housing shortage. It helps explain why affordable housing remains an important community need.

An affordable, stable home can give families more room in their budgets for food, transportation, education, and other essentials. YBLC’s contribution is practical and local: participants learn construction skills while helping build or improve housing in their own communities.

IMPACT #1: Lake County Families

Our completed housing projects span North Chicago and Zion and include both new construction and rehabilitation. Partners have included Community Action Partnership of Lake County on the Hervey projects and Renew on the Seymour and Grove rehabilitations. The interactive project map shares project years, photos, and partner details.

Although we primarily serve young adults, our participants are, in turn, serving the community. By engaging in our housing projects, they not only learn valuable vocational skills but also contribute directly to the well-being of their neighbors.

The impacts of building affordable housing

The lives of the people living in the houses we build are not the only ones that are changed. Our members and local business owners also experience the impact of community-revitalizing projects like YBLC’s. Each housing project serves as a catalyst for change, empowering individuals and strengthening the local economy.

A group of construction workers wearing hard hats and orange safety vests press wooden beams against a wall as part of a building project. Their backs are visible, and they appear to be focused and working together.

Four construction workers wearing safety gear and tool belts are working with wooden beams at an outdoor construction site, assembling a structure on a sunny day.

Three people in hard hats and YouthBuild shirts work together outdoors on a construction project, using tools and wood, with a fence and trees in the background.

A person wearing a white hard hat, safety glasses, and an AmeriCorps shirt stands at a construction site with others, surrounded by wooden beams and outdoor scenery.

A group of people wearing hard hats and orange safety vests work together to lift and position a large sheet of building material at a construction site outdoors.

A group of young people in hard hats and YouthBuild shirts work together on a construction project outdoors, with one person using a circular saw to cut wood while others observe and assist.

IMPACT #2: YBLC Participants

In terms of direct impact, our participants have the most visible change. Each construction site serves as a training ground where our participants gain valuable hands-on experience in various trades. This real-world training equips them with the skills needed to secure lifelong careers in fields such as carpentry, plumbing, electrical work, and HVAC.

Our participants don’t just build houses; they build their futures. By working on these projects, they gain confidence, develop a strong work ethic, and learn the importance of teamwork and responsibility. The skills they acquire are not just technical but also include problem-solving, leadership, and project management, which are crucial for their personal and professional growth.

These experiences empower them to break the cycle of poverty and achieve economic independence. At YBLC, we believe that every young person has the power to succeed and create a better life for themselves and their families with access to the right resources and support system. These projects serve as one of those resources to our participants, giving them the opportunity to learn, develop, and find a passion for a future career in the trades.

Juan, a graduate of YBLC’s 2006 HVAC program, was profiled in the original 2024 article for his involvement in YBLC’s housing work.

IMPACT #3: Local Business Owners (and YBLC Alumni!)

Our affordable housing projects also play a crucial role in revitalizing the North Chicago economy. By engaging local contractors, we ensure that the economic benefits of our projects stay within the community. This collaboration creates jobs, supports local businesses, and fosters economic growth.

The original 2024 profile highlighted Juan, a graduate of YBLC’s 2006 HVAC cohort who went on to run an HVAC business. At that time, he discussed plans to work on YBLC’s new home and an interest in hiring a participant. His interest illustrates how alumni can return to support the next generation through their businesses.

The ripple effect of these projects extends far beyond the immediate impact on our participants. When local contractors like Juan are hired for our projects, they not only gain business but also contribute to the broader economic health of the area. These contractors often reinvest their earnings into their businesses and communities, creating a cycle of economic activity that benefits everyone. As these businesses grow, they can hire more employees, many of whom might be YouthBuild graduates themselves, further extending the impact.

Honore II: the work in progress

Honore II is in progress. The project is listed under 2027 on the Housing Projects page and is the first of three planned new affordable homes on Honore. YBLC’s 2026 Annual Report describes participants continuing construction on the first home. Two additional homes are planned for Honore.

This work combines technical learning with a tangible contribution to the community. Participants gain experience on a real construction project while local partners help move the work forward. The map’s “in progress” designation distinguishes Honore II from completed builds and rehabilitations.

Explore the Housing Projects map to see the work across both communities, or support the training and services that make it possible. Building skills and contributing to local housing remain connected parts of YBLC’s mission.