NEW YORK - A program that helps the unemployed find construction jobs is reporting a big boost in interest after a NY1 story.

Building Skills NY works with developers, giving the unemployed a chance to get back on their feet.

“It’s been fantastic. we’ve seen an uptick of almost forty percent from people interested in job placement but also safety training,” said David Meade, the Building Skills NY Executive Director.

When NY1 visited the Building Skills NY office Wednesday Adeshina Dosunmu was there getting directions to his new job to make sure he gets there on time.
 
“Everything’s turned around I got my helmet, have my building skills helmet. I’m working tomorrow.  My mother, she’s delighted, she’s ecstatic right now,” said Adeshina Dosunmu.

The Brooklyn resident was unemployed for a two months struggling to support his three children and his mother.
 
“I’m the oldest. So I’m the head of the household.  So, I was telling Glenn earlier when he called, I said ma, Glenn called.  She actually started crying because everything’s depending on me,” Dosunmu said.

Glenn is one of about a half dozen employees at the non-profit Building Skills NY, which connects construction jobs to New Yorkers unable to gain access to careers in the construction industry. 
 
Some are formerly homeless like Howard Young. NY1 profiled him last month along with others who are formally incarcerated. Building Skills NY, which receives significant funding from the Real Estate Board of NY and the real estate industry, says it’s now also focused on helping people get new mandatory Occupational Safety and Health Administration training.  

The city mandates In December all construction workers have 30 hours of what’s called OSHA 30 safety training. For Dosunmu, it was a stumbling block until Building Skills NY helped him.
 
“I just graduated last week I was able to get a 100 on the OSHA 30 class and from there they were able to get me into a job. I start tomorrow,” he said.
 
On December 1 anyone in the city working on a construction site will have to undergo 30 hours of safety training and on September 1, 2020 that will move to 40 hours.

Building Skills NY can help connect you with that training and perhaps find you a job.