Operation Fresh Start in Madison, Wisconsin is a YouthBuild AmeriCorps program providing outstanding impact in the area of economic opportunity. YouthBuild AmeriCorps programs address the shortage of affordable housing in low-income communities while simultaneously addressing another community need—that of out-of-school, low-income young people without high school credentials or job skills. Our nation’s dropout crisis, in which nearly 6.2 million students age 16-24 drop out of high school each year, disproportionately impacts young people living in poverty. A recent report published by the Annie E. Casey foundation finds that 22% of students who have lived in poverty do not graduate from high school, compared to only 6% of students who have not been poor. Operation Fresh Start enrolls as AmeriCorps members those young people age 16-24 most in need of assistance. Most are high school dropouts, come from Madison/Dane County’s most challenged neighborhoods, and are supervised under juvenile or adult corrections systems. These young people, who demonstrate a desire to make positive changes in their lives, work toward their high school diploma or GED while providing community service building or rehabilitating affordable housing for homeless and low-income residents. Through the support of Operation Fresh Start and the transformative effect of service, these young people become engaged citizens with the skills and dedication to make their communities better.

Operation Fresh Start stands out among YouthBuild AmeriCorps programs because of its caring, detailed, supportive, and extremely effective approach to working with its members, along with its commitment to building environmentally-responsible affordable housing.  

The program provides high school and GED instruction to its members, 89% of whom earn a GED/diploma. This figure is particularly impressive considering that these members are low-income high school dropouts, 59% of whom are African American or Hispanic (in 2007, only 47% of African American students in Wisconsin schools and 54% of Hispanics graduated from high school). The program introduces the idea of college to members, providing individualized and workshop-based career development guidance that includes post-secondary education options, and it has developed an innovative partnership allowing members to earn credits from a local community college. The program also provides members with career training and support, working with members to identify career goals and develop strategies to achieve them. Career path steps include post-secondary education, apprenticeship, or other training, and it involves guidance in developing those soft skills so essential for securing and keeping a job.  The program places 86% of its members in college or a job after the program.

With regard to the members’ AmeriCorps service, the program continues its impact in the area of economic opportunity. Members are trained in construction skills and build ENERGY STAR-certified homes for low-income residents. Building and rehabilitating homes to the ENERGY STAR standard, which is 25% more energy efficient than homes built to the Wisconsin Unified Dwelling Code, gives members important skills for our emerging green economy and provides low-income residents with a home that is affordable both to purchase and to live in for years to come.