Housing for People with Mental Illness Returning from Prison or Jail

This housing refers to any housing model linked to supportive services whose purpose is to assist recently released inmates with their process of re-entry into the community. This may be transitional or lease-based housing, with single or shared units.

• This housing is immediately or shortly available after release from prison or jail, often while individuals are still under criminal justice supervision (i.e. parole or probation)
• Some providers of this housing actually escort individuals from the prison gate to the housing site to "provide stability at a time of acute vulnerability"
• There is a limited pool of re-entry housing and it is not available in all jurisdictions

Eligibility | Models | How to Apply

Eligibility/Criteria

All applicants must be coming from prison or jail. Some programs have additional eligibility requirements (i.e., must also be MICA (Mentally Ill, Chemically Addicted), FUSE (Frequent User Service Enhancement), etc.).

Models

• Congregate -  All program residents live in one building, with staff located on-site

• Scattered Site - Program residents live in single or shared apartments, ‘scattered’ throughout the community; typically, staff is located off-site, and visits the resident in their apartment

How to Apply

Housing for People with a Mental Illness Returning from Prison or Jail is embedded within a continuum of services that begins with discharge (transition) planning from the correctional institution. To begin the process, please consult with designated discharge planner or release coordinators at the correctional institution from which the applicant is being released.

For more information on services that may also be available, visit Reentry Policy Council or job search Connections via New York City Public Library.