For many families in rural South Dakota, finding safe, affordable housing can be a significant challenge. Through the U.S. Department of Agriculture Rural Development Single Family Housing Program and the South Dakota Governor’s House program at the Mike Durfee State Prison in Springfield, homeownership is becoming a reality for more rural residents. Together, these programs help provide quality, two- and three -bedroom homes, and creating new opportunities for families to own a home.

It’s a way for us to teach the inmates skills they can use later.

The former college-turned-prison brings poetic justice to a place known for educating. Roughly 150 inmates learn home-building trades through construction of up to 120 homes each year.

Mike Harsma has been the program director for more than 11 years. He said the quality homes are hard to surpass.

“Because homeowners may be using a variety of financing options and placed anywhere within the state, the program reviews building codes from across South Dakota, then constructs the homes to meet the most stringent of those codes, ensuring the two- or three-bedroom homes can be placed in any community within South Dakota’s borders,” said Mike.

This includes a pressure test in the home to test against the International Energy Efficiency codes. If there is an energy leak or a draft within the home, it can be addressed quickly.

The inmates at Mike Durfee State Prison can apply to join this program. While incarcerated, they learn all the trades of building homes from construction techniques to electrical work, and Heating, Ventilation, and Air Conditioning (HVAC). They are well on their way towards a future career in these trades.

“The inmates don’t just build the homes, they learn what goes into each step of the building process, attend classes to learn about codes, and are taught the skills for each specific trade,” said Construction Manager Steve Maruska. “By the time they’ve completed their sentences, many are close to earning their certificate in those specific jobs.”

Steve has been with the program since it began in 1995. He said the program is mutually beneficial.

“It’s a way for us to teach the inmates skills they can use later, construction on the prison grounds and having all the resources here keeps costs down, which allows us to pass those costs onto the future homeowners,” said Steve.

Home construction operates on a finely tuned schedule. Rows of homes in various stages of construction are worked systematically to complete each phase efficiently. A crew in one area of the complex assembles HVAC duct work and organizes crates of components needed for each home, which minimizes waste. Another crew builds roof trusses safely on the ground for later placement when the structure is ready. While the program offers eight different floor plans, the efficiency of the complex keeps costs down and construction moving forward.

Once the homes are complete crews deliver them across the state where homeowners and general contractors add the finishing touches.

“The homebuyer will do their own flooring, add the downspouts, and appliances,” said Steve. “Each home is placed on a temperature-controlled crawl space or basement, which adds to the energy efficiency of these homes.”

What started as a simple concept of one- and two-bedroom homes in the mid-1990s has grown into a complex operation. Through the Governor’s House Program, inmates have constructed nearly 3,200 homes in the past 30 years.

Now we’ll visit with Esther, who recently purchased a home through the program.

I really must commend the people who built my home. They must have excellent instructors there.

Esther McCoy is not your average lounging-around, tv-watching 84-year-old woman. She doesn’t rely on others to get things done, she helps people get things done.

“You meet people all throughout your life,” said Esther. “You can help them, and they can help you. It’s why we’re here.”

Esther was told about the Governor’s House program where inmates learn trade skills while building affordable houses during their incarceration. She knew by purchasing from this program she would also be indirectly helping inmates.

She was introduced to the Rural Development Single Family Housing program team to assist with her home loan. She shared with Loan Specialist Roxanne Woodring about her desire to purchase a Governor’s House.

Esther chose her 3-bedroom home through the program because, “It gives the prisoners something to do and an opportunity to learn and grow. And if they’re good at it, they’ll have skills they can use when they get out of prison,” said Esther. “I really must commend the people who built my home. They must have excellent instructors there.”

When homes from this program are delivered, they still need a few finishing touches, so Esther installed all the light fixtures and the bathroom flooring herself. She also didn’t sit around waiting for the contractor to do all the work on her garage. “I was out there helping him, handing him shingles, getting the siding to him,” said Esther.

Esther’s 160-acre plot is Trust Land, which had been given to her grandparents as part of the Dawes Act of 1887. Now nearly 140 years later, Esther’s new home sits near the home of her daughter, which Esther and her late husband built in the 1970s.

“It’s nice being so close to my daughter. She has some health issues, so I’m able to help her and be with my grandchildren,” said Esther. “But when I’m gone, I’ll be able to leave this home to my son and his family so we can keep this land and he can be close to his sister.”

Esther plans to have her new home paid off within four years. “I don’t know if I’ll meet that goal, but I want to leave it to my children without them worrying about paying for it.”

As for future homeowners, Esther offers this advice: “You just have to put your mind to it. Have a good down payment, and work with those around you to make your home possible. If you fall down, get back up and keep going!”

She’s grateful for the hard work of Rural Development staff and thank Roxanne for her guidance. “She really encouraged me along the way and kept me informed of what I needed to do to keep my application moving forward,” said Esther.

Now as the finishing touches are nearly complete, Esther enjoys the quiet of the countryside. She’s busy decorating and making her house a home.

For another perspective of the housing program at the Mike Durfee State Prison in Springfield, South Dakota, we’ll meet someone who previously was incarcerated at the prison. To protect his privacy, we’ll call him John.

I knew how to read a blueprint, so learning this trade of HVAC systems provided me with a sense of pride.

During high school, John learned how to dig ditches. He worked on farms to earn enough to take his girlfriend on dates and have a little extra spending cash.

But following graduation and a failed marriage, John found himself in trouble with the law, eventually landing himself in prison for nearly a decade. While serving time, John was offered vocational training along with other inmates who desired to learn a trade they could use upon release.

“I had the opportunity to learn heating, cooling and air conditioning,” said John. “I earned a certificate in that trade and had begun another training in diesel engine repair, which would have given me three different opportunities when I was later released.”

Around that time, then-South Dakota governor Bill Janklow asked that a new program be started at the prison. Inmates would be given the opportunity to learn trades while also constructing 2-bedroom homes that would be available for South Dakota residents to purchase.

“At first, I was a bit frustrated. I was looking forward to learning about diesel engines, but because of the housing program, the diesel mechanic vocational training would no longer be available,” said John.

John joined the crew and quickly became involved in building the HVAC parts necessary to efficiently build homes within the confines of the prison. He helped shape the future of these homes, offering input in the design and layout of the homes.

“I knew how to read a blueprint from my previous experience, so learning this trade and being able to provide input into the design of HVAC systems in these new homes provided me with a sense of pride,” said John.

After his release from the Springfield prison, John joined a South Dakota company where he could put his new skills to good use. He helped the company grow and over time moved up to supervisory and manager positions.

Now, John is part of a company thriving in South Dakota. He’s had the opportunity to put those skills to use on some of the homes that have been built by inmates.

“It’s pretty neat to go into those homes and see how they’ve progressed over time but also see some of the design elements that still exist from when I helped build those homes many years ago,” said John.

John said he learned a lot from his past, both the good and bad, and now has an opportunity to benefit those that may have troubled pasts.

“Our business has done service at many organizations across South Dakota that help people who were in my same situation from many years ago,” said John. “And it’s so much more than just doing the service. It’s seeing those organizations doing something good for people who have made mistakes, they’re giving them an opportunity to get on a better path.”

John credits his time at Springfield with helping him turn his life around. When asked where he thinks he would be today if he hadn't been given this opportunity, John expressed a strong belief that he would be a "crippled up ditch digger" and wouldn't have achieved much more since his time in prison.

“And to know that while I was serving my time, it wasn’t just helping me and others that were inside the fence, but we were helping so many people outside the fence to finally be able to get into affordable housing,” said John. “If it weren’t for this program, there would be so many South Dakotans who would not be able to afford quality housing, and I am thankful for the opportunity to be a part of making that possible.”

Since its conception, the South Dakota Governor’s House program has constructed more than 3,200 homes. The 150 inmates at Mike Durfee State Prison built an average of 120 homes, daycares and duplexes per year.

To learn more about Rural Development’s Single Family Housing program, visit RD.USDA.Gov/SD.