The construction training program HomeWorks is now under investigation for exploiting ex-offenders.
Delaware lawmakers have put more than $167-thousand into the program carried out by Interfaith Community of Delaware.
They were to learn carpentry and be paid for the work they did eventually receiving a certificate upon completion of the program.
But the Wilmington News Journal reports that former participants told the paper that they often worked for free on Interfaith projects.
Those included renovations for the group’s offices.
The paper reports that one recipient of a certificate was told by a contractor that did not hold weight.
The News Journal said that Gary Pollio, executive director of Interfaith, disputed the claims and said the program would continue to train ex-offenders and blamed the media for inaccurate reporting on the program.
Invited to a hearing by Sen. Robert Marshall the non-profit’s lawyer said that HomeWorks was being investigated by the Delaware Department of Labor and would not be able to comment further.
