A Northland charitable trust is pleading the Department of Corrections to loosen its restrictions on letting prisoners come back and help them with a project.

The He Korowai Trust started using supervised Ngawha prisoners last year to turn nine ex-state houses into homes for low-income families under the trust's Whare Ora project.

The trust's Chief Executive, Ricky Houghton said he used to have around 10 prisoners helping each day - but after Phillip Smith escaped in November, they were told the prisoners would no longer be coming.

He said it is a shame that one case has prevented families in need from having a place to live, and has also affected other prisoners chances of rehabilitation.

"These people came from the community and they are coming back to the community once they've done their time, and I am asking for an opportunity to work with them to help the less fortunate and plead for a second chance."