The MDOC Prison Build Program is again partnering with the Michigan State Housing Development Authority (MSHDA) to help provide low-cost housing for families in need.

A new MSHDA program called the "Key to Own Homeownership Program" funded a home that was recently completed in Jackson. Participating in the project, along with the DOC Prison Build Program, were the Jackson Affordable Housing Corporation, the City of Jackson and Jackson Habitat for Humanity.

Eligible low-income families holding a MSHDA Housing Choice Voucher (HCV) can take part in the new plan which offers a homeownership

Jim Dodge, Parnall horticulture instructor, helps Shelly Hill, the first homeowner to utilize the MSHDA Key to Own program, select landscaping plants.

option for families. Qualified tenants are able to use their voucher subsidy toward a mortgage on a home rather than toward their rent, helping families realize the dream of homeownership.

The DOC Prison Build Program supplied landscaping trees and shrubs to the family to give their home a finishing touch. Inmates in the Prison Build Program at the Thumb Correctional Facility built the garage walls for the home under the tutelage of Jeff Fagan, Thumb’s building trades instructor.

All the horticulture products for the new home came out of the Prison Build Program’s new Distribution Center at Parnall Correctional Facility. Horticulture products are produced at 12 facilities across the state and are shipped to Parnall for distribution.

"We revamped the nursery here at Parnall and helped develop a product list for the new home-owners. They can choose a landscaping package that contains deciduous trees, shrubs, conifers and ground covers for around the house," said Jim Dodge, Parnall Correctional Facility horticulture instructor.

The homeowners select their package and pick up plants at the facility.

RPA Barbara Bock and Deputy Director Dennis Straub attended the house warming in Jackson.

The Prison Build Program currently partners with MSHDA on Habitat homes but the Key to Own program is new.

"Prison build was selected to be a part of MSHDA’s Key to Own Homeownership Program because of our successful partnership on the Habitat homes," said Michael Green, Prison Build Administrator. "They were looking for additional options in which the Prison Build Program could provide housing components and landscaping for low- income housing and we were thrilled to be asked to participate in this innovative program.

"We’re working to build partnerships across the state," Green continued. "These partnerships are the key to reaching the goal outlined in the Governor’s five-year plan."

That five-year plan provides much-needed housing while revitalizing urban areas by razing abandoned buildings and building adequate housing for low- income families in those areas.

A second partnership between the Family Independence Agency (FIA) and the Department of Corrections stemmed from a plan to support the Governor’s initiative to assist in building communities that have targeted failing schools.

FIA staff person Ann Marie Simon explained the need for beds for foster children to DOC staff. Deputy Director Dennis Straub took the lead and suggested to Saginaw Correctional Facility Warden Blaine Lafler that Jack Adam, construction team leader, and the inmates at Saginaw build the hundred plus beds for the children.

The inmates in the Saginaw Prison Build Program built 37 bunk beds and 74 twin beds for the foster children. The beds were individually cut, sanded and formed together for ease of use and safety.

"This is an outstanding program. We have an excellent trade program with talented staff at Saginaw and they were able to work with our prisoners and deliver the beds in a matter of weeks," said Warden Lafler.

The Prison Build Program has been assisting with Habitat for Humanity built homes since 1999. To raise funds for the Habitat program, inmates at the Mid-Michigan Correctional Facility designed and built an assortment of hand made toys that were auctioned at the Habitat for Humanity of Michigan annual banquet in April. Proceeds from the auction totaled $4,000 which will assist with tools and material for future Habitat builds. Most of the materials for the toys came from scrap and donated lumber.

The Prison Build Program also donated some of the hand-crafted toys to the Children’s Trust Fund raising $735 for that children's program.

The mission of the Prison Build Program is to assist Habitat for Humanity, local units of government and nonprofit organizations in providing housing and related products for low-income families through the use of inmate labor. The Prison Build Program will assist in building 250 Michigan Habitat homes in conjunction with former President Jimmy Carter’s Work Project 2005.

The Prison Build Program educates and provides hands-on training to inmates in the building trades and horticulture industries. The inmates construct walls, cabinets, trim and other housing components; build entire homes; design and create interior products; and devise landscape plans and provide the needed horticulture products.

Inmates are linked to employers to find jobs and to aftercare programs to assist them in their re-integration after release from prison.

Michigan Department of Corrections FYI 06-10-04

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