Fort Hayes Students To Build New Homes in Partnership with Habitat for Humanity and the City of Columbus
Source: https://www.ccsoh.us/
Columbus City Schools (CCS) students will play a role in tackling affordable housing issues in Central Ohio by participating in a Habitat for Humanity-MidOhio project. Beginning in fall 2025, students from Fort Hayes Career-Technical Education (CTE) will construct homes on two city-owned lots on Old Leonard Avenue, close to their campus. This initiative was announced during a partnership event involving the City of Columbus Department of Building and Zoning Services (BZS). Columbus currently faces a shortage of 52,694 rental units for affordable housing, according to the Affordable Housing Alliance of Central Ohio (AHACO).
Brandi Braun Al-Issa, President and CEO of Habitat for Humanity-MidOhio, emphasized to construction trades students at BZS Day that their future work will significantly contribute to affordable housing in Central Ohio. BZS Day, now in its third year, connects students with building inspectors, providing hands-on learning experiences in various trades like electrical work and HVAC.
Fort Hayes Career Center senior Na’Vonn Lindsey expressed his enthusiasm for Habitat for Humanity’s involvement in the project. Although he will graduate before the construction begins, he shared his excitement about building a home that a family will live in, highlighting the value of practical experience in the classroom.
Human resources professionals are helping Fort Hayes Career Center students create profiles on the City of Columbus Civil Service websites to apply for internships with the Department of Building and Zoning Services (BZS). Since the program started in 2021, 13 students have interned with BZS. This year, graduate Gus Hooley joined the newly launched Trainee Program, which fast-tracks former interns to become certified building inspectors.
Scott Messer, Building Services Director, praised Hooley’s employment as part of the partnership’s goal to increase new entrants into the inspection field. The inclusion of Habitat for Humanity-MidOhio in the partnership enhances students’ work-based learning opportunities, allowing them to learn about home construction from nonprofit construction leads. Both Braun Al-Issa and Messer highlighted the benefits of this partnership in providing students with hands-on experience and mentorship in the construction process.
Columbus Board of Education member Michael Cole views the partnership as a form of “community succession planning.” He emphasizes that it brings together young, talented individuals, providing them with training and encouragement to develop skills that will help them contribute to and build their community.
Image Source: https://www.ccsoh.us/
