Taller San Jose, a Santa Ana, Calif.-based job-training program, broke ground in September on an affordable-housing project for first-time homebuyers. The planned development—three houses in Santa Ana’s historic Logan barrio—is the first project of Taller’s newest operation, Hope Builders Inc., and results from a collaboration of Taller San Jose, the City of Santa Ana, and Orange County Community Housing Corp. Reminiscent of YouthBuildUSA, Taller San Jose aims to employ graduates from its construction job-training program to achieve “real-world experience,” said Taller San Jose executive director Shawna Smith. Taller graduates include individuals recovering from drug use, former gang members, high school dropouts, those originally lacking job skills, and ex-convicts.