Fresh Start

The Western Dairyland Fresh Start Program offers education, employment skills and career direction for at-risk young adults, ages 16-24 by involving them with the construction of a new home. When completed, the house will be sold to an income-eligible family in the community.

Fresh Start combines classroom instruction to help the youth complete studies for their high school diplomas, GED or HSED with other educational goals including independent living skills and the actual "hands on" construction work. An hourly wage is paid for construction work. The most important goal of the project is to help youth find their way toward self-sufficiency and build self-esteem through accomplishment, while staying on the path to success.