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Housing Programs For Felons in California

Finding your way after prison is tough, and one of the hardest parts is finding a place to live. Housing programs for felons in California are a big help for people who’ve just been released and don’t have anywhere to go.

Having a stable, supportive place to live lowers the likelihood of re-offending and makes adjusting to life outside of prison easier.

What Are Housing Programs For Felons in California?

Housing Programs For Felons in California

Housing programs for felons provide temporary accommodation and reentry services to felons with completed sentences and parolees.

While both groups often need substantial support, these housing programs are a lifeline for many parolees because of the extra housing restrictions they face.

As a parolee in California, your parole officer has to approve your accommodation before you move in which can severely limit your options.

The parole service looks into the criminal background of other adults at the address and checks with the landlord to make sure felons are allowed to live at the property.

The most common housing programs for felons are run by nonprofits and community groups. These programs can be:

  • Transitional housing specifically for people coming out of prison
  • Sober living homes that accept offenders alongside other residents
  • Housing programs aimed at helping the homeless

Transitional Housing For Parolees In California

Transitional housing programs for parolees in California provide structured living environments and support services, typically lasting 3 to 12 months.

Depending on the program, residents get counseling and help with finding a job, substance abuse recovery, learning life skills, and securing long-term housing.

While residents in transitional housing get vital support, there are often lots of rules to follow, so be prepared for some restrictions. Rules might include curfews, regular drug testing, staying sober, unannounced visits from parole officers, and limits on travel.

Also Read: Housing For Ex-Felons in Illinois

The Demand For Transitional Housing Is At All-Time Highs

Because California is working hard to reduce its prison population many offenders get early release. But the supply of transitional housing programs isn’t meeting demand.

That’s why some of the gap is filled by organizations traditionally focused on helping the homeless community.

Because of the shortage of reentry housing, parolees should apply to multiple providers well before their release date. In California, transitional housing providers will even accept applications before the parole hearing.

Popular Transitional Housing Providers in California

Popular Transitional Housing Providers in California

Some transitional housing programs are run or overseen by the California Department of Corrections and Rehabilitation (CDCR) but most transitional accommodation is provided by charities, nonprofits, and private owners.

While there are hundreds of providers throughout the state, here are some popular transitional housing programs for parolees in California.

Amity Foundation: Offers supportive reentry and felon friendly housing in California. (https://www.amityfdn.org/)

A New Way of Life Reentry Project: Provides housing and support services for formerly incarcerated women. (https://www.anewwayoflife.org)

Delancey Street Foundation: Offers free transitional housing programs in San Francisco & Los Angeles. (https://www.delanceystreetfoundation.org/admission.php)

HealthRIGHT 360: Operates multiple transitional housing facilities across California, including Walden House in San Francisco. (https://www.healthright360.org/parent-program/walden-house/)

Weingart Center Association: Offers housing and services for individuals re-entering society in the greater Los Angeles area. (https://www.weingart.org)

WestCare California: Operates transitional housing and re-entry programs for parolees throughout the state. (https://westcare.com/places/california/)

Second Chance Program: Based in San Diego, this program offers housing and support for individuals leaving prison. (https://www.secondchanceprogram.org/adult)

Homerise: Provides housing services for individuals transitioning from incarceration in the Bay Area.  (https://homerisesf.org/homes/)

Path of Life Ministries: Provides transitional housing and support services in Riverside County. (https://www.thepathoflife.com/copy-of-programs)

LA Family Housing: Supports homeless individuals, including those re-entering society, with transitional housing options. (https://lafh.org/connect-to-services)

Saint John’s Program for Real Change: Provides transitional housing for women and children in Sacramento. (https://saintjohnsprogram.org/)

The Midnight Mission: Based in Los Angeles, they offer housing and supportive programs for homeless individuals and former offenders reentering society. (https://www.midnightmission.org/)

Gracenter: Transitional housing for women in San Francisco with case management and supportive services. Residents are expected to stay for at least 6 months. (https://www.gsgracenter.org/)

Valiant House: Offers transitional housing for individuals with criminal backgrounds in Hayward. Their on-campus, apartment-style housing program for felons offers reentry support and helps participants move into permanent housing.​ (https://www.valianthouse.org/)

ARC Housing: Transitional housing programs in Los Angeles County with live-in mentors provide residents with life skills, trauma counseling, and education and employment guidance to promote independent living. (https://antirecidivism.org/our-programs/housing/)

Transitional Housing Program (THP): Six-month residential reentry program for long-term offenders in Los Angeles. Residents get help with employment, stress management, victim awareness, computer-supported literacy, and life skills. (https://www.cdcr.ca.gov/rehabilitation/thp/)

Offenders looking for transitional housing in San Francisco can find more opportunities at: https://www.sf.gov/reentry-transitional-and-supportive-housing.

Second Chance Apartments In California

Residential reentry programs provide short-term housing but eventually, you’ll need to move out. During your time in transitional housing, you’ll be encouraged to save for a security deposit and apply for second-chance apartments.

Second-chance apartments accept renters who can’t qualify for regular apartments because of their credit history or criminal background. It’s hard to find second-chance apartments because apartments rarely advertise the fact that they accept felons.

Your reentry advisor will be able to give you some housing leads, but once again, demand for second-chance housing is high so start applying early to get on some waiting lists.

Another way to find felon friendly apartments in California is with the help of a second-chance apartment finder. Second-chance apartment finders match hard-to-place tenants with landlords willing to accept their background.

When you work with an apartment finder they’ll ask for details about your crime and when you were sentenced/released. Then, they’ll go through their database and match you with the landlords most likely to approve your rental application.

Second Chance Apartments helps renters nationwide and in the vicinity of these California cities:

  • Bakersfield
  • Fresno
  • Los Angeles
  • Oakland
  • Ontario
  • Riverside
  • Sacramento
  • San Bernardino
  • San Diego
  • San Francisco
  • San Jose

Read More: https://secondchanceapartments.com/cities/

Second Chance Locators operates nationwide. Their apartment locators can help you find a rental if you’ve got a non-violent felony or an older violent felony.

Read More: https://secondchancelocators.com/