Frequently Asked Questions

How do Habitat prison partnerships work?
Partnerships are organized at the local level through the joint efforts of individual affiliates and correctional facilities. Habitat's Prison Partnership department provides ongoing guidance and support to all parties involved, working to establish and maintain local prison partnerships.

Who is an offender?
An offender is an incarcerated person in the physical custody of the Federal Bureau of Prisons, a state department of corrections, a county sheriff's department or a municipal law enforcement agency.

How do offenders volunteer with Habitat for Humanity?
Offenders volunteer through their correctional facility's partnership with a local affiliate. Offenders are not ordered or otherwise required to work with Habitat, nor do they face negative consequences for declining to volunteer. Offenders who choose to partner do not receive credit or other forms of sentence reduction solely on the basis of volunteering with Habitat for Humanity.

Do the partnering offenders know what Habitat for Humanity is?
Yes. To ensure that an offender makes a fully informed decision prior to volunteering, offenders receive information about Habitat for Humanity and the Prison Partnership program.

Can non-Christian offenders volunteer with Habitat For Humanity?
Certainly. Though Habitat is a Christian organization, we welcome people from all walks of life to work with us to eliminate substandard housing.

Do offenders volunteer at the construction site?
The manner in which offenders volunteer depends on the individual partnership designed by the local Habitat affiliate and the partnering correctional facility. In some partnerships, offenders work inside the correctional facility to pre-fabricate housing components, build cabinets and produce landscaping materials. In other partnerships, offenders volunteer at the Habitat construction site.

Are the offenders supervised when they volunteer at the construction site?
Yes. Officials of correctional facilities provide on-site security and supervision of the offenders' conduct, consistent with sound correctional practices.

What about the safety of the offenders?
Prior to working on any project, offenders are trained in safety and construction practices by the correctional facility and/or the Habitat affiliate. Offenders are provided with hardhats, goggles, gloves, boots and hearing protection.

So equality is the keynote?
Yes. Offenders are treated as all Habitat volunteers are treated: with dignity and respect.

Has the Prison Partnership program been successful?
Definitely. Since the inception of the Prison Partnership program in 1999, offenders have volunteered approximately 907,609 hours. The Prison Partnership program has resulted in the addition of approximately 291 truss sets, 426 cabinet sets, 475 storage sheds, 783 houses, 898 special projects and 1,065 wall panel sets.