Home Repair Training Program

AbodesJoy trains and empowers cohorts of female, nonbinary, and transgender homeowners and renters in basic construction skills that allow them to complete repair and renovation projects in their own homes. Our aim is to help participants build confidence and community and gain skills and literacy toward economic mobility and home equity. The program consists of a series of workshops that will cover basic plumbing, carpentry, electrical, drywall repair, and tile.

Our target participants are female-identified, nonbinary, and transgender homeowners and renters from historically marginalized communities who are: 1) excited to learn basic construction skills, 2) willing and able to commit to a series of workshops, and 3) following graduation from the program, committed to participating in a future AbodesJoy project devoted to restoration and renovation of the home(s) of lower-income homeowners (see Construction Corps below). We welcome participants living across the DMV.

Criteria for participation: There is no cost for participation. Candidates complete an online application in which they commit to attending the respective series of workshops. Depending on the cohort these could be half-day workshops on Saturday or Sunday afternoons, three-hour workshops on weeknights, or a combination of these. The application will include the schedule for the respective cohort to which one is applying. The drive and desire to learn basic construction skills is essential. Graduates of the program will become part of the AbodesJoy Construction Corps and commit to participating in a future AbodesJoy restoration and renovation project (see Construction Corps below). AbodesJoy will offer a travel stipend to those without reasonable transportation to the workshop site upon request (site is a 20-minute walk from the Silver Spring Metro stop). We will also provide sign language interpreting upon request.

Where the training will take place: AbodesJoy will conduct the workshops at our workshop space at 707 Ritchie Avenue, Silver Spring, MD 20910.

Schedules for the upcoming March, April, and May 2024 cohorts: When applying, you will be asked to indicate which cohort(s) you prefer. We will do our best to accommodate these preferences, but our training center is only able to safely and comfortably accommodate 12 participants at a time. Applications will be processed as they are received, and cohorts will be filled on a first come, first served basis. So, while there is no official application deadline, applying early is the best way to ensure a spot in your preferred cohort!

Cohort #5 (March 2024):

1. Carpentry: Sunday, March 3, 1:00-6:00 PM

2. Electrical #1: Tuesday, March 5, 6:00-9:00 PM

3. Electrical #2: Thursday, March 7, 6:00-9:00 PM

4. Drywall repair & tile: Sunday, March 10, 1:00-6:00 PM

5. Plumbing #1: Tuesday, March 19, 6:00-9:00 PM

6. Plumbing #2: Thursday, March 21, 6:00-9:00 PM