Finding Emergency Housing For Felons in Texas (2025)

Use these resources to find emergency and transitional housing for felons in Texas, access housing assistance for felons in Texas, and find felon-friendly apartments.

Finding Emergency Housing For Felons in Texas 2025

Finding housing is one of the biggest challenges felons face after leaving prison. For an immediate but temporary solution, unhoused felons can find a place to stay at emergency shelters throughout Texas.

Many shelters will also refer you to case management services and local programs able to help you find longer-term housing.

Felons can also apply for accommodation with transitional housing providers specializing in housing offenders after release.

A free call to the 2-1-1 helpline will direct you to nearby shelters with vacancies and give you information about transitional housing providers in your area.

Reentry Housing in Texas for Felons

Once you’ve got a safe place to stay, it’s time to connect with reentry organizations. Felons who work with reentry providers are far more likely to succeed and less likely to re-offend than felons who go it alone.

Some providers offer residential reentry, giving you a supportive home while you complete their program.

Reentry services help with:

Housing
Employment
Job training
Benefit applications
Transportation
Clothing
Medical care
Mentoring and support
Lifeskills

Call the Texas Department of Criminal Justice Reentry Program hotline at 877-887-6151 to connect with reentry program providers.

Alternatively, check their resource guide for felons which features a county-by-county list of programs and resources from Texas government agencies, charities, and nonprofit organizations.

Website: https://www.tdcj.texas.gov/documents/rid/RID_Reentry_Resource_Guide.pdf

Grace Place Properties

Grace Place Properties provides a Christ-centered transitional reentry program in Duncanville, Texas (about 20 minutes from downtown Dallas).

They strive to provide affordable transitional housing and second-chance employment for men and women in a safe and supportive community.

Transitional housing for felons in Dallas: https://graceplaceproperties.org/

The Way Back House

The Way Back House provides case management services to felons in the Dallas area. If you’re ready for release or have been released from prison in the last 12 months.

The Way Back House can find a transitional housing program that will take you or help you find other felon-friendly housing.

Get help: https://thewaybackhouse.org/

Community Enrichment Center (CEC)

The CEC owns and operates 3 apartment communities in North Richland Hills (Tarrant County). They will consider employed felons on a case-by-case basis for their Housing PLUS program.

A rental subsidy and other income support may be available for up to 12 months.

Housing Plus Program: https://cechope.org/housingplus/

Chains Of Grace Transitional Housing

Transitional housing and reentry provider for recently paroled men and women who lack other support. Based in Midlothian, Texas.

Transitional housing request: https://chainsofgrace.org/housingrequest

TRAC Transitional Housing

Accepts homeless youths and justice-involved youths up to age 24 into their housing and workforce support program. Based in Dallas and Fort Worth.

TRAC Housing: https://traconline.org/

Housing Assistance For Felons in Texas

Are there any other kinds of housing assistance for felons in Texas? If you’re looking for financial help, you could qualify for rent assistance programs.

Felons may be approved depending on the rental criteria set by their Public Housing Authority (PHA).

Housing Choice Voucher Program: Helps renters afford privately owned rental housing. Participants pay up to 30% of their income towards rent with the voucher covering the rest.

Public Housing: Public housing is government-owned housing often located in designated housing complexes. Rent is income-based, usually capped at 30% of a tenant’s income.

Both programs tend to have lengthy waiting lists so get your application in as soon as possible. Applicants who are considered vulnerable may be given priority.

Find your local PHA: https://www.hud.gov/sites/dfiles/PIH/documents/PHA_Contact_Report_TX.pdf

Second Chance Apartments For Felons in Dallas

Second chance apartment finders match renters with felonies and other negative background issues with landlords willing to approve their application. Using an apartment finder saves you time and a lot of wasted application fees.

These real estate agents will help you find second chance apartments for felons in Dallas:

Dallas Broken Leases

Works with felonies and other negative background issues
Extensive second chance apartment database updated every hour
Move-in specials available
Free service (landlord pays the apartment finder a referral fee)

Apartments that rent to felons in Dallas TX: https://dallasbrokenleases.com/

Apartment Find For Criminal Issues

Most felonies need to be over 5 years old and off parole
Recent DWI felonies ok
No registered sex offenders
No murder 1
Income should be 2.5 – 3x the rent
Can work with 1 other background issue (eviction, rental debt, broken lease)
Free service (landlord pays the apartment finder a referral fee)

Felon-friendly apartment locator: https://aptfindcriminal.com/

Fill out the request form: https://aptfindcriminal.com/finder-form/

Second Chance Apartment

Can help if your felony is nonviolent and at least 5 years old
Free service (landlord pays the apartment finder’s commission)
Up to $200 rebate available when you sign a lease
Provides an extensive list of second chance apartments in Dallas and surrounding areas

Second chance apartments Dallas: https://www.2ndchanceapartment.com/

Real Property Management Engage

This property management company will approve felons on a case-by-case basis.

Your application will be automatically rejected if you have a conviction for possession or distribution of a controlled substance or illegal weapons, are a registered sex offender, or have pending felony charges.

Other rental qualification criteria include:

Credit score above 600 (below 600 may be accepted with an additional fee)
Verifiable income 3x monthly rent
3 years of rental history

Evictions, broken leases, and other negative rental history will be considered on a case-by-case basis.

Current Dallas/ Fort Worth rentals: https://www.rpmengage.com/houses-rent

Full rental criteria: https://www.rpmengage.com/rental-process-application-criteria

Housing For Felons in Austin Texas

ANEWENTRY Inc (ANE) provides housing for felons in Austin, Texas. If you need emergency accommodation, transitional housing, or access to rapid rehousing programs, the supportive staff at ANE are ready to help you.

Assistance goes beyond housing for felons, with recovery programs focusing on addiction, anger management, mental and emotional health, and resilience.

Contact: https://anewentry.org/

Oxford Houses For Felons in Substance Abuse Recovery

If you’re one of the many felons with a history of substance abuse, living at one of the 250 Oxford Houses in Texas could be an ideal solution for you.

Oxford Houses are single-sex, peer-run recovery homes for individuals recovering from drug or alcohol addiction. Houses typically accommodate 6–15 residents.

Everyone shares responsibility for chores, rent payments, and maintaining a supportive, sober environment. There’s no set time limit for residency, as long as you remain sober and comply with house rules you can stay at an Oxford House for as long as you need.

Decisions about new residents are made by a vote of the current residents after an interview. While certain felonies, particularly those involving violence or sexual offenses, may lead to denial, many houses will accept felons and 78% of Oxford House residents have spent time in jail or prison.

All-inclusive rent ranges from $125-$250 per week.

Learn about Oxford Houses: https://www.oxfordhouse.org/faq
Oxford House vacancies in Texas: https://www.oxfordvacancies.com/