Our Focus

HOME’s purpose meets exempt purposes in the charitable class because the clients served are unemployed or under employed; they are poor and in most cases indigent, and they are underprivileged. No part of the net earnings will inure to any private individual. No lobbying activities of any kind are planned nor will the organization participate any political campaign on behalf of (or in opposition to) any candidate for political office.

The organization is the culmination of work that has been undertaken by HOME’s founder, Nina Craddolph. Beginning about 20 years ago, Ms. Craddolph became aware of how many children in her neighborhood were being raised by grandparents and other relatives because their parents were incarcerated. When the parents were released, they had no money, usually no training and frequently no housing. She became an informal resource for connecting these individuals with resources in the community. She personally provided them with transportation and assisted them in accessing various programs. Over this period of time, she realized that the formerly incarcerated individuals required a more comprehensive program if they were to become law abiding and productive members of the community.

Ms. Craddolph has single handedly arranged for housing for 3 formerly incarcerated individuals. She purchased a commercial property with an apartment above it which has been occupied by two formerly incarcerated individuals. This is temporary housing and currently the apartment unit is unoccupied. Ms. Craddolph also purchased a house from a bank and has leased it to one of the formerly incarcerated individuals. He is paying below market rates based on the neighboring similarly sized houses. The tenant intends to purchase the house from Ms. Craddolph and has begun a fund for the down payment. When he has accumulated a down payment and otherwise has established a good credit history, Ms. Craddolph will assist him in securing commercial financing. To the extent that Ms. Craddolph realizes any gain from the sale of the house, she intends to contribute the gain to HOME.

Ms. Craddolph has obtained the cooperation of several for-profit companies for training program participants in the trades, primarily construction trades such as electric, masonry, plumbing and the like as well as training so that the participants can qualify for a commercial driver’s license. To date (but beginning prior to HOME’s incorporation as an Ohio non-profit organization, approximately one dozen individuals have participated in various training/apprenticeship programs.

For the most part, Ms. Craddolph has financed these efforts from her own funds although small donations have been received from interested individuals. By having formed an Ohio non-profit corporation and setting up a formal organization and applying for IRS tax exempt status, the organization hopes to launch Ms. Craddolph’ s early efforts into a larger program that can assist many formerly incarcerated individuals.

Eligibility and Selection of Clients: In order to qualify for assistance from HOME, there is a selection process for the training. The applicants must have been formerly incarcerated but those who have been convicted of sexual predator activities are not eligible for training or housing. Applicants who can show that they have completed training programs in prison and who can show good behavior reports/letters are preferred for the training/apprenticeships. In addition to the above criteria, it is anticipated that when HOME is able to provide housing, an applicant for housing must show that he has successfully completed a training program, that he has employment, that he remains law-abiding, and that he is working to build a good credit record. Possibly, in lieu of rent payments, an applicant must provide “sweat equity” into the housing unit. These criteria have not been implemented nor formally adopted because HOME itself does not own or rent any housing units at the present time. 

Apprenticeship Training: A prospective client makes an application for training in carpentry, electrical, masonry, plumbing, other construction trades and/or structure maintenance or training to obtain a commercial driver’s license. Entrepreneurs/journeymen who already have established business in the specific trade in Ohio have been and will conduct the training/apprenticeships. They do not charge HOME for this service. Once the applicant has been screened and is approved and assuming there is room in the apprenticeship class, the applicant begins the apprenticeship and learns the trade through hands-on instruction. A least a part of the training will at worksites. At the conclusion of the training, the applicants will be considered for employment by the companies who are conducting the training. In some training programs, depending upon how the applicant progresses, the applicant may be paid for his work and if the training occurs within certain governmental programs that the training company participates in, the applicant may even be paid prevailing wages. 

It is hoped that at some point in the future, assuming the organization can obtain them, at least some of the structures owned by the organization will be rehabilitated by clients in the apprenticeship program. The training will be conducted continuously as clients are admitted to the program. In the beginning the trainings will occur in Central Ohio with the goal of expanding the programs throughout Ohio. It is expected that the organization will expend about 30% of its time on this activity. The program will be funded with donated money, material and trainer time and expertise. 

Transportation Services: The organization will attempt to provide transportation to training programs, job sites and miscellaneous appointments as needed to those participating in the program. Volunteers who are licensed and insured drivers of personal vehicles will provide the transportation. Eventually if school busses are donated and/or secured through collaborative arrangements with other non-profit organizations, the busses will be driven by volunteers to provide the transportation. Currently, transportation is being provided by volunteers in their own personal vehicles. Initially the service will be provided in Central Ohio. It is expected that the organization will expend about 20% of its time on this activity. As mentioned above, the transportation services will be supported by volunteers who use their own vehicles and volunteers who drive donated vehicles.

Housing: HOME’s goal is to make arrangements for housing of its clients and otherwise to facilitate housing for the clients. Eventually, the organization may be in a financial position to purchase housing stock that can be rehabilitated by clients of the program. The housing stock would either be purchased by, or leased to formerly incarcerated individuals using the criteria noted above. The property may be acquired from the City of Columbus Land Bank and possibly from commercial banks that have vacant structures that they are willing to sell below market value. In the instance where HOME owns the unit, these properties will be made available to clients who have completed apprenticeship training, have participated in the rehabbing of the structure and who can qualify for a mortgage, in which case the property will be transferred to them. If they cannot afford a mortgage, the organization will arrange to lease the property to them provided they can establish enough financial ability to maintain regular lease payments on the property. It is expected that the organization will expend about 40% of its time on this activity The funding will come from monetary donations, loans on the structures and eventually successful grants from non-profits or governmental entities. Since the beginning of the program (prior to the incorporation of HOME as a non-profit Ohio organization), three formerly incarcerated individuals have resided in units that the founder, Nina Craddolph has owned. One is an apartment unit for temporary housing, above a commercial property with offices on the ground floor and the apartment on the second floor. In the past, two participants in the program have occupied the unit, but it is currently vacant. 

The second housing unit owned by Ms. Craddolph is a residential home that has three bedrooms, one and a half baths, a living room, a dining room, a full basement and a two car garage. Ms. Craddolph is currently leasing the home to a participant who is saving to purchase the home from her. The rent being charges is $600 per month, approximately $150 to $200 under market. The tenant has completed the training program and is currently employed as a commercial driver.

Food and Clothing: HOME will provide primarily work attire, and food for clients while they are in the apprenticeship program and thereafter at the beginning of new employment. Home will provide these items primarily through in-kind donations or from monetary donations. Provision of these items to clients during the period when they are in the apprenticeship programs is essential in order for them to complete the training (they are uncompensated) and thereafter to secure a job that will enable them to secure affordable housing.

It is expected that the organization will expend about 10% of its time on this activity. he program will be funded through monetary and in-kind contributions. HOME does not yet provide low income housing. When it is in the position to offer low income housing, HOME expects to have a screening program for applicants. It is anticipated that just as with the training program, in order to qualify for housing assistance from HOME, applicants must have been formerly incarcerated but those who have been convicted of sexual predator activities would not be eligible for housing. Applicants who can show that they have completed training programs in prison and who can show good behavior reports/letters are preferred. An applicant for housing must also be able to show that he has successfully completed a training program; that he has employment; that he remains law abiding; and that he is working to build a good credit record. Possibly, in lieu of rent payments, a participant may put “sweat equity” into the housing unit. These criteria have not been formally adopted because HOME itself does not own or rent any housing units at the present time.