New Englanders who once savored the taste of Sealtest ice cream might be happy to know that although the ice cream company is gone, the factory that produced the treats will refresh formerly incarcerated persons by providing them with an affordable place to live, counseling, workshops to hone job-seeking skills, and aid with job searches.
Ground was broken for a $4.3 million development that is part of a $1.8 billion federal stimulus package designed to boost the sagging construction industry via the federal tax-credit exchange program. The project is being paid with several state and federal funds including deferred loan payments from Rhode Island Housing, the Neighborhood Stabilization Fund, and a State Department of Environmental Management grant.
The project was developed by OpenDoors, a Rhode Island non-profit created to aid those who are released from prison. Richard Godfrey, the executive director of Rhode Island Housing , lauded the project as being, “…the only residential development put together with an agency that provides special services for formerly incarcerated people.” This model is being looked to by other states to formulate successful reentry by providing affordable housing and stable employment to those returning to the community after being released from prison.
Several years ago the idea for this particular type of productive reentry program was conceived by Rhode Island Governor Carcieri when he attended a National Governors Association conference which focused on how to aid former prisoners . Cacieri’s idea has now become a reality as construction workers create a space in the old ice cream factory that will house OpenDoors’ offices and 19 apartments for the formerly incarcerated. Ice cream dreams may be long gone, but they are replaced by dreams of a bright future beyond prison walls.
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