PHILADELPHIA – The City of Philadelphia today announced the launch of the Home Repair Academy, a workforce development program that directly supports Mayor Cherelle L. Parker’s Housing Opportunities Made Easy (H.O.M.E.) Initiative, making historic investments in housing production and preservation across Philadelphia. This new workforce development program pays participants, prepares them for careers in the skilled trades, and expands the workforce needed to preserve the city’s historic rowhomes.
Applications open on August 3, 2026 and interested residents can learn more, sign up for an information session, and apply here. The academy runs from September 28, 2026 through March 26, 2027.
The City is piloting an inaugural cohort of 15 trainees and around 10 employer partners who are advancing the goals of the H.O.M.E. Initiative through community-based or municipal home repair programs. During the six-month academy, participants will receive paid classroom instruction, hands-on technical training, supportive services, professional development, and a paid internship with a local home repair employer partner. The academy is designed to prepare residents for careers as electricians, carpenters, plumbers, HVAC technicians, roofers, weatherization specialists, and others—with plans to scale based on the demand for residential construction trades. Qualified graduates are supported with career-track employment at an average wage of $18/hour.
“As we make historic investments to repair and preserve Philadelphia’s homes, we must also invest in the workforce that makes that work possible,” said Mayor Cherelle L. Parker. “The Home Repair Academy, a program through the City College for Municipal Employment, will prepare Philadelphians for meaningful careers and economic mobility while helping us protect the neighborhoods that generations of families call home.”
Building Philadelphia’s Home Repair Workforce
Philadelphia’s investment in home preservation has increased the need for skilled workers who can complete critical repairs for homeowners across the city. The Home Repair Academy was created to meet that need and empower Philadelphians with a family-sustaining career.
“The Home Repair Academy represents the kind of systems thinking that’s needed to solve our city’s biggest challenges. We know we can’t preserve Philadelphia’s housing stock without investing in the skilled workforce that makes that work possible,” said Carol de Fries, Executive Director of the Municipal College and Workforce Programming.
“The H.O.M.E. Initiative requires skilled workers at scale. By bringing together City agencies, workforce partners, educators, and employers, we’re creating a stronger talent pipeline to support long-term economic opportunities in the residential repair sector,” said Jessie Lawrence, Director of the Department of Planning & Development. “This isn’t just about filling jobs today—it’s about making a lasting investment in Philadelphia’s future.”
“PHDC is excited about the opportunity to showcase the talented group of contractors that work on our home repair programs every day,” said David Thomas, President and CEO of PHDC. “The Home Repair Academy strengthens the trades workforce and also help us serve the residents of Philadelphia better by supplying our contractors with fresh new talent.”
Designed with Local Industry Partners
The City’s Innovation Team, supported by Bloomberg Philanthropies through its Innovation Team (i-team) program, built a coalition of local industry employers and partners to identify existing gaps, shape the curriculum, and develop internship opportunities that provide participants with the skills and experience to meet real-world needs.
The City partnered with PowerCorpsPHL to facilitate the community-rooted, industry-responsive engagement process.
“This Home Repair Academy is a unique model that provides trainees with classroom training and on-the-job experience directly in a Philadelphia rowhome,” said Kristie Chin, Director of the City’s Innovation Team (i-Team). “Trainees learn essential skills to repair and weatherize homes while building their professional network with leaders throughout the industry.”
“By aligning paid, hands-on training with the skills Philadelphia employers need most, we are continuing to create and improve accessible pathways to family-sustaining careers while developing the local talent needed to repair and preserve homes across our city,” said Devin Hamilton, Program Director from PowerCorpsPHL.
Paid Training with Real-World Experience
The Home Repair Academy is a six-month paid program that combines technical instruction, professional development, and hands-on work experience.
Participants will complete:
- Three months of paid classroom and hands-on training ($15/hour);
- Three-month paid internship with a participating home repair employer ($18/hour based on performance);
- Training in general construction, HVAC, weatherization, electrical, plumbing, roofing, and carpentry;
- OSHA 30 and NCCER Core industry credentials; and
- Mentorship, guest speakers, field visits, and career coaching.
Applicants must be 18 years or older and have a high school diploma or equivalent. No previous skilled trades experience is required.
As Philadelphia continues to invest in preserving its homes and strengthening neighborhoods, the need for skilled workers has never been greater. The Home Repair Academy offers residents the opportunity to build rewarding careers while making a lasting impact in communities across the city.
The program is a collaborative effort led by the City College for Municipal Employment (CCME), the City’s Innovation Team (i-Team), the Chief Housing & Urban Development Office, the Department of Planning & Development, the Philadelphia Housing Development Corporation (PHDC), and Rebuilding Together Philadelphia (RTP) in partnership with PowerCorpsPHL and Provision Vocational Training Center (PVTC).
Link to application can be found here.