At a time when income inequality is rising and the middle class is shrinking, Electrical Workers (IBEW) Local 569 and the San Diego County Building and Construction Trades Council are doing their part to help working families not only survive, but thrive in the face of significant economic obstacles. The Southern California-based unions operate the National City Park Apartments, which support low- to moderate-income families by providing affordable housing in a nice, but expensive, neighborhood.

"San Diego is very, very expensive to live in," says Xema Jacobson of Local 569. "Housing costs are astronomical, especially when you're only making $12-$18 an hour, and you have three to five children to take care of. So this helps them to live in a very nice area—to be safe, comfortable and to be able to save some money, so that they, too, can own a home, which is the American dream."

In this video, Tom Lemmon, business manager for the San Diego building trades council, describes growing up in the apartment complex—the same complex for which he now serves as chairman.