programs & services
what we do, and how it works
Project Dandelion runs three connected programs. Each one turns a neglected property into something a neighborhood can actually use — and turns the work itself into training, experience, and ownership for the people who live there.
what we run
three programs, one system
housing restoration
We work with the City of Saginaw, the county land bank, and township programs to acquire blighted homes and vacant lots. Each property is rehabilitated to a safe, move-in-ready standard and then placed on a pathway toward affordable homeownership for qualifying residents.
skilled trades training
Every home we restore doubles as a classroom. Participants work alongside licensed tradespeople on real job sites and leave with transferable experience — addressing the housing shortage and the skilled trades shortage in the same motion.
community gardens
Vacant lots become productive ground. Our gardens supply fresh produce in food-insecure neighborhoods, create shared gathering space, and give students hands-on ground for STEM, nutrition, and entrepreneurship learning.
the process
how a project moves
ACQUIRE
Partner with city land banks and townships to secure blighted homes and vacant lots.
TRAIN
Engage volunteers, youth, veterans, and community service participants on site.
RESTORE
Rehabilitate the property using that trained workforce under skilled-trade supervision.
TRANSFER
Create pathways to affordable homeownership for qualifying residents.
MULTIPLY
Improved values attract investment, and the cycle repeats block by block.
who we train
High school students
Young adults
Veterans in transition
Community service participants
Residents seeking new careers
trades & skills offered
Training is delivered on live restoration sites, supervised by licensed tradespeople.
Construction & carpentry
Painting & finishing
Landscaping & grounds
Property maintenance
Community garden design
Community development
America faces a critical skilled trades shortage. Project Dandelion closes two gaps at once — creating tradespeople and restoring neighborhoods with the same work.
622 bond street
dandelion house
The first home restored under the Project Dandelion model, and the place the whole thing started. It is our operational base for community engagement, volunteer coordination, and program delivery.
Proof of concept — what the model can do
A visible sign that change is already underway
Headquarters for volunteers and programs
The starting line for every block that follows
One house. One street. One block. One community.
Ready to put this to work?
Whether you bring time, a trade, materials, or funding, there is a place for you in the next project.