The Boston Housing Authority recently announced that it will hire 100 youths this summer as part of the Boston Youth Fund. This decision comes in advance of a potential move by the U.S. Senate that would provide $1 billion for summer jobs throughout the nation, resulting in $2 million for Boston and jobs for 1,200 local youths.

In order to be eligible for any of the available positions, youths must be between 15 and 17-years old, currently live in a BHA development, and apply for a position for the city’s summer jobs program by registering with the Hopeline.

The majority of youths employed by the Boston Youth Fund work as counselors, tutors and mentors in non-profit organizations that serve younger children through camps, sports, recreational activities, daycare, and academic enrichment programs.

This year Boston will again provide $4.3 million to support summer jobs and the number of private sector positions available is still unknown. During 2009, 9,752 youths were provided with a summer job in Boston through a variety of programs, and 2,600 of those positions were in the private sector.

“We are asking those of you in the private sector to provide as many jobs for our youth as you can,” Mayor Thomas. M. Menino said. “Providing positive summer employment experiences for our youth is beneficial for our city as a whole and proves to our youth that we truly care.”

Although it is unclear how many private sector positions will be available to youths this summer, it is certain that there will be fewer jobs overall, mainly due to a lack of state and federal funding. This is one of the reasons the BHA is stepping up to hire youths and two adult coordinators, a move that will cost about $200,000.

“We wanted to do our part, and make sure that we employ as many Boston and BHA youth as possible this summer,” Bill McGonagle, administrator of the Boston Housing Authority, said. “Summer jobs provide our youth with a positive experience that includes learning, earning and responsibility that they would not have otherwise.”