The IPI Home Building Program is located at the Newton Correctional Facility and builds homes for Homes For Iowa, Inc., a 501(c)(3) organization that aims to address Iowa's housing shortage, train incarcerated men in skilled trades, and reduce recidivism.
Construction began on the first homes in 2019 with a groundbreaking ceremony held on June 20, 2019, at the 100 acre site. Read the blog post regarding the ceremony or view the live video of the ceremony on YouTube. The first two homes were delivered by March 2020 with plans to deliver sixteen more homes in 2020.
The homes are turn-key 2x6 stick-built, 3-bedroom, 2-bath (1,200sf) homes. Take a video tour of a home on IPI's YouTube channel.
The incarcerated men training in the Home Building program are learning skills that are in demand in the construction industry such as framing, drywall, roofing, plumbing and electrical. The inmates are also able to work towards apprenticeships that are recognized and approved by the Federal Department of Labor's Office of Apprenticeship. Available apprenticeship programs include Carpenter, Electrician, Plumber, and Home Performance Laborer. Apprenticeships require significant on the job training and related training instruction hours. Watch a video prepared by Iowa Workforce Development featuring how one returning citizen is working toward his future and why he says this program will help him make the most out of his second chance.
For more information on the IPI Home Building program, please contact Bob Fairfax, Director of IPI, at
bob.fairfax@iowa.gov or 515-249-7588.
For more information on Homes For Iowa, Inc, please visit their website at www.homesforia.com.