Steve Hockstein | For NJ Advance Media

Newark resident Shante Rovinsky works to prepare apartments in a program sponsored by the Newark Housing Authority and Laborers Local 55 that trains the homeless in the construction trades, at Bradley Court in Newark on Tuesday.

Barry Carter | For NJ Advance Media

John Robinson didn’t think Newark city officials were serious about a construction trades program for residents like him living in a homeless shelter.

The facility on Sussex Avenue had been slated to be closed in March after it was open through the winter months to house those in need.

So, it only made sense for Robinson to be skeptical of the job offer in June to learn a trade that would teach him to repair housing authority apartments.

“But when they (city officials) started taking names, that’s when we knew it was real," said Robinson, 39, a married father of three children.

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Steve Hockstein | For NJ Advance Media

Newark resident Al-Juwar R. Douglas works to prepare apartments in a program sponsored by the Newark Housing Authority and Laborers Local 55 that trains the homeless in the construction trades, at Bradley Court in Newark on Tuesday.

Robinson jumped at the chance, even though the shelter closed for a day in July when the city didn’t have any more funds. Corporate donors paid the $200,000 cost to keep it open for that month. The shelter, however, is still open as the city continues to work on a plan to house the homeless population.

Residents living there are relieved for now that they have somewhere to go. Fifteen of them were selected to be interviewed and screened for the construction trade program offered by the Newark Housing Authority and Laborers Local 55, a residential construction labor union in Newark. About half of those who applied to the program were accepted.

The housing agency and the union had already been training and hiring Newark residents for the past year, but it extended the program to include those who were homeless when the shelter issue surfaced.

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Steve Hockstein | For NJ Advance Media

Newark resident John Robinson works to prepare apartments in a program sponsored by the Newark Housing Authority and Laborers Local 55 that trains the homeless in the construction trades, at Bradley Court in Newark on Tuesday

NHA Executive Director Victor Cirilo said he thought it would be a good idea to approach the city about the idea of hiring homeless in the shelter, because the program with the union has gone well for some 50 Newark residents who had been trained and hired.

Since last year, Cirilo said residents have turned over 130 apartments out of 525.

The job pays $22 an hour and opens the door to a future they’ve been looking to attain.

“Imagine that," Cirilo said. “Being homeless and going to $22 an hour."

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Steve Hockstein | For NJ Advance Media

Newark residents work to prepare apartments in a program sponsored by the Newark Housing Authority and Laborers Local 55 that trains the homeless in the construction trades, at Bradley Court in Newark on Tuesday.

Laborers Local 55 provided the opportunity when it sat down with the housing authority last year to discuss training Newark residents in construction trades with a promise that the agency would hire them.

Local 55 President Wayne Richardson, an Essex County freeholder, said previous housing administrations opted to hire contractors who rarely employed Newark residents on construction jobs.

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Steve Hockstein | For NJ Advance Media

Newark resident John Robinson works to prepare apartments in a program sponsored by the Newark Housing Authority and Laborers Local 55 that trains the homeless in the construction trades, at Bradley Court in Newark on Tuesday.

"This can segue them off of the system and not rely on the housing authority and not rely on food stamps," Richardson said.

“They can be self-supporting. They want to work, but no one was giving them an opportunity."

Now, they’re running with it.

At Bradley Court, four of the workers were painting and spackling. They are also installing new flooring, kitchen cabinets, a sink and new light fixtures.

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Steve Hockstein | For NJ Advance Media

Newark resident Shante Rovinsky works to prepare apartments in a program sponsored by the Newark Housing Authority and Laborers Local 55 that trains the homeless in the construction trades, at Bradley Court in Newark on Tuesday.

“They’re not here just to collect a check," said Foreman Bobby Engleman.

“They want to do the work.’’

Al-Juwar Douglas, 33, couldn’t wait for day one on job when he started two weeks ago. It was matter of time, he said, for good fortune to come his way.

Looking for a change in his life, Douglas left a janitorial job to enroll in an automotive school. But when he saw the price tag and loan commitment, Douglas needed something else to happen.

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Steve Hockstein | For NJ Advance Media

Newark residents work to prepare apartments in a program sponsored by the Newark Housing Authority and Laborers Local 55 that trains the homeless in the construction trades, at Bradley Court in Newark on Tuesday.

At the time, he was living with his grandmother but said he left her home for the shelter because he didn’t want to be a burden.

“Then this popped up," Douglas said.

Douglas believes things happen for a reason. He’s done this type of work before. Now he’s able to do it in his city to help people move on with their lives, as he is doing now for himself. He says he appreciates the opportunity, viewing everyday as blessing.

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Steve Hockstein | For NJ Advance Media

Foremen Michael Nash (left) and Bobby Engleman supervise Newark residents working to prepare apartments in a program sponsored by the Newark Housing Authority and Laborers Local 55 that trains the homeless in the construction trades, at Bradley Court in Newark on Tuesday

“It’s like a family," he said, speaking about his co-workers and Laborers Local 55.

The program couldn’t have come at a better time for Shante Rovinsky, 28.

Rovinsky, who is from Asbury Park, relocated to the area to attend New Jersey City University and major in business management. But her plans fell through when people reneged on their promise to let her stay with them while she settled into school.

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Steve Hockstein | For NJ Advance Media

Newark resident Al-Juwar R. Douglas works to prepare apartments in a program sponsored by the Newark Housing Authority and Laborers Local 55 that trains the homeless in the construction trades, at Bradley Court in Newark on Tuesday.

With nowhere else to go, Rovinsky wound up at the shelter. She was there about a month when the trade program was offered for those who were interested.

Rovinksky decided to put college enrollment on hold and go after the trades, a vocation that fits her desire to learn construction.

“I like it," she said. “They bust your behind, but it’s worth it."

Robinson understood the value immediately. He had no problem leaving a job he had at a food distribution center for this opportunity. This pays more, even though he still struggles to earn enough to get his own place. Child support payments cut into his paycheck, but he hangs in there.

“This leads to a career," Robinson said. “This is great. I ain’t going nowhere."

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Barry Carter may be reached at bcarter@njadvancemedia.com. Follow him on Twitter @BarryCarterSL. Find NJ.com on Facebook.