IPI’s Fort Madison Furniture operation is pleased to have a cooperative partnership with Habitat for Humanity (HFH) of Iowa. This partnership started in 2003 as a challenge and a hope… to help the needy in the state and give incarcerated individuals the ability to give back to society. Since then, kitchen cabinets and bathroom vanities have been produced for HFH affiliates across Iowa in our shop. IPI is fortunate to be partnering with all 29 HFH affiliates across the State of Iowa for their cabinetry needs.
By 2005, HFH Iowa had constructed 500 houses in Iowa. Just 6 short years later, that number doubled to 1,000. Over 3,000 individuals now live in safe, affordable homes. That is more than the population of 817 of the 947 communities in Iowa! More than 90% of those HFH homes have IPI cabinetry.
At IPI there are approximately 15 full time inmates assigned to building/finishing/wrapping of the cabinets. Most incarcerated individuals in Fort Madison Furniture get to help in the program at some point in their training. Senior Technician Brad Kite is newly assigned as the HFH program supervisor with Production Coordinator Bryan Koechle as his mentor. Over Bryan’s career, this program has been one of the most beneficial programs to inmates and staff in Fort Madison.
IPI’s partnership with Habitat for Humanity is consistent with our mission, as it provides the incarcerated individuals meaningful work opportunity, the ability to give back to the community in a positive manner, and the opportunity for the individual to learn marketable skills. This collaborative effort creates a win-win situation for low-income families, the disabled, incarcerated individuals, and Habitat affiliates. The rewards to inmates of learning marketable skills and helping others provide enormous benefits to the Department of Corrections, incarcerated invididuals, and the people of Iowa as a whole.