Home Builder’s Institute

In 1996, ComCor signed an agreement with Home Builder’s Institute (HBI) to train offenders participating in various ComCor programs in construction skills for employment in the residential construction industry. HBI provides this training program in various sites around the nation, although ComCor’s HBI program was the first in the state of Colorado.

Home Builders Institute is the workforce development arm of the National Association of Home Builders (NAHB), a not-for-profit located in Washington, D.C. ComCor has contracted with HBI since 1996 to provide vocational training to ComCor clients. Over 250 clients have completed the HBI program as of this date. Through word of mouth and contacts with area subcontractors, clients have been placed in the residential construction field.

HBI assists the students, ComCor clients, in applying for jobs before graduation, and after graduation when needed. Personal contacts of the HBI Instructor, Dean Robertson, have also been a great job resource for ComCor clients. Tool belts and hand tools are provided by HBI to the student upon successful completion of the vocational training program.

HBI uses its contextually based home building industry-recognized and validated Pre-Apprenticeship Certificate Training (PACT) curriculum to instruct ComCor clients (primarily residential clients) in residential carpentry skills, workplace numeracy/literacy and employability development.

The PACT curriculum features:

• Math numeracy and literacy diagnostic assessment curricula
• Open entry/skills exit programming
• Emulation of residential construction work through community construction projects

The PACT curriculum requires the ability for HBI’s instructor to offer emulated residential construction work through construction projects. The curriculum’s core training model is delivered in a classroom setting by the HBI full-time instructor in the specially designed HBI classroom located in the rear of ComCor’s Administration Building at 3615 Roberts Road. The HBI classroom offers opportunities for clients to participate in emulated work projects.

Clients participating in ComCor’s HBI program have worked on a wide range of projects with local community not-for-profit organizations, providing over 40,000 hours of service. These organizations have included Community Partnership for Child Development (local Head Start agency), University of Colorado at Colorado Springs, Greccio Housing, Colorado Springs Children’s Chorale, Taylor Elementary School (District Eleven), Silver Key Senior Services, KidPower and Beth Haven, a residential facility for individuals with major mental illness. The program participants also work with local churches in building Habitat for Humanity homes. This opportunity has provided not only the development of viable constructions skills, but also awareness for offenders of the disenfranchised people in our community and how assistance can be provided to them.

The HBI students have also participated in emulated residential construction work projects at various ComCor locations. The student clients involved in these projects are under the direct supervision of the HBI instructor. The instructor is supervising and teaching construction skills at the same time. The clients are all voluntarily participating in the HBI program and have not been assigned any tasks related to these projects as punitive or sanction “work duties.”

The major emphasis for the HBI program has been to assist offenders in developing the necessary pre-apprenticeship skills to enter the residential construction industry.

Must be a ComCor residential client with at least a six-month sentence

Referrals are handled through the client’s case manager at the residential facility.

Clients must be interested in training and work in the building trade industry. They must commit to completing the training process, which is fairly intense and hands-on.

Deane Robertson
719.473.4460
Email

Available from each residential facility