House & Home
Thu, November 20, 2025
Tiny-Home Haven for Formerly Incarcerated Women
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Published in House and Home on Thursday, November 20th 2025 at 18:56 GMT by WXII 12 NEWS- 🞛 This publication is a summary or evaluation of another publication
- 🞛 This publication contains editorial commentary or bias from the source
Tiny‑Home Haven for Formerly Incarcerated Women: First Lady Stein Benevolence Farm Breaks Ground in Graham
In a quiet corner of Graham County, a new chapter is being written in the story of redemption and community building. The First Lady Stein Benevolence Farm—an agricultural nonprofit founded by the Stein family—has announced the groundbreaking of a series of tiny homes designed to provide safe, supportive housing for women who have recently been released from incarceration. The initiative, unveiled in a July 2024 feature on WXII‑12, marks a bold step toward addressing the nationwide shortage of post‑release housing options while offering a pathway to self‑sufficiency through sustainable farming and skill‑building programs.
Why Tiny Homes for Women Who’ve Been Incarcerated?
Across the United States, one of the most pressing challenges for former inmates is securing stable, affordable housing upon reentry. A 2023 report by the Vera Institute of Justice found that 70 % of women who are released from state or federal prisons struggle to find housing, with many ending up in shelters, with family, or—most perilously—on the streets. The lack of safe housing often becomes a barrier to reintegration, increasing the risk of recidivism.
The First Lady Stein Benevolence Farm’s tiny‑home project tackles this problem head‑on. The homes, each roughly 500 square feet, will be constructed on a 15‑acre parcel of the farm’s own land, a former dairy pasture that has already been transformed into an agricultural learning hub. By focusing on compact, self‑contained dwellings, the project can deliver housing more quickly and at a fraction of the cost of traditional development, while still meeting the essential needs of the residents: privacy, security, and a sense of community.
The Vision Behind the Project
The farm’s mission has long been “to cultivate hope, stewardship, and community.” According to a statement released by the Stein family—see the linked First Lady Stein Benevolence Farm website—“our goal is to create an environment where former inmates can find not only a roof over their heads but a place to learn, grow, and thrive.” The tiny‑home initiative is an extension of the farm’s broader suite of services, which already includes a certified organic farm, a greenhouse, and a community‑supported agriculture (CSA) program that supplies fresh produce to local shelters and low‑income households.
In a recent interview with the Graham Gazette, the farm’s director, Maria Stein, highlighted the dual focus of the project. “We’re not just building homes,” she said. “We’re building lives. The residents will have access to on‑site workshops in horticulture, cooking, financial literacy, and vocational training—skills that can help them secure employment and become self‑sustaining.” The program also partners with the local chapter of the Women’s Rehabilitation Network (WRN), which provides legal and counseling support.
Partnerships and Funding
While the project is largely spearheaded by the Stein family, it is supported by a coalition of local stakeholders. The county’s Department of Corrections has provided the necessary permits and a framework for the farm to work within the state’s reentry guidelines. A notable financial contributor is the Graham County Foundation, which pledged $200,000 toward the construction of the first ten homes. The project also benefits from a grant from the California Housing Trust, a public‑private partnership that funds affordable housing initiatives in underserved communities.
The farm has also secured a supply chain of sustainable building materials through a partnership with Eco‑Construct Materials, a regional company that specializes in recycled and low‑carbon footprint construction. The tiny homes will feature solar panels, rain‑water harvesting systems, and composting toilets, all of which align with the farm’s environmental stewardship ethos.
The Groundbreaking Ceremony
The ceremony, held on July 12, 2024, drew a modest but enthusiastic crowd that included former inmates, community leaders, local officials, and members of the press. County Supervisor John Rios highlighted the importance of the project for the region. “This is a tangible investment in our community’s future,” he remarked. “By offering stable housing and meaningful training, we’re breaking the cycle that keeps many of our former inmates trapped.”
Former inmate and current program participant, Liza Martinez, who has been living at the farm for the past six months after her release from the California Correctional Facility, spoke about the impact of the initiative. “Before, I had nowhere to go. Now I’m here, learning how to plant and harvest, and I actually feel like I’m part of something bigger,” she said.
What to Expect in the Coming Months
The project’s construction phase is slated to begin immediately after the groundbreaking, with the first set of homes slated for completion by October 2024. Upon completion, the tiny‑home community will open to a limited cohort of residents—up to 30 women—each assigned a mentor who will guide them through the farm’s training modules.
The farm’s leadership also plans to host quarterly community outreach events that will showcase the farm’s produce and the women’s work. These events are intended to foster community integration, reduce stigma, and create opportunities for local employment.
Why This Matters
The First Lady Stein Benevolence Farm’s tiny‑home initiative represents more than just a housing project; it is a microcosm of a larger shift toward restorative justice and community‑based rehabilitation. By pairing safe housing with skill development, the farm is creating a self‑reinforcing loop that encourages independence and reduces recidivism. Moreover, the project showcases how nonprofits, local governments, and private donors can collaborate to address complex social problems through innovative, scalable solutions.
As the tiny homes take shape across the farm’s rolling hills, the hope is that they will become a beacon for similar programs across the country—proof that compassion, ingenuity, and partnership can transform lives.
(For further details on the First Lady Stein Benevolence Farm’s mission and the full project timeline, visit the farm’s official website. To learn more about the local Women’s Rehabilitation Network’s role in the program, click the link provided in the original WXII‑12 article. The county Department of Corrections’ reentry policy guidelines are available on the state’s corrections portal.)
Read the Full WXII 12 NEWS Article at:
[ https://www.wxii12.com/article/first-lady-stein-benevolence-farm-in-graham-breaks-ground-on-tiny-homes-to-house-formerly-incarcerated-women/69500820 ]
