Once you have a job and/or benefits providing a steady source of income, you may be able to rent a home or apartment. Ask around. Your friends and family may know of a place. DOC community re-entry specialists and parole officers may also know of landlords who will rent to someone with a conviction. The organizations listed earlier in this chapter under long-term housing may offer rental counseling. Because of the high cost of renting in Chicago, many people choose to share the cost with another person, but be careful about the reliability of the person you share a lease with.

Large apartment complexes almost always require criminal background checks and credit checks, and most of them also charge an application fee. Always ask if an apartment complex has a policy about not renting to people with a criminal conviction before you pay an application fee.

It may be easier to rent from landlords owning just a few properties than a large apartment building, because they may be more flexible. For example, one landlord said he’d rent to someone with a criminal conviction depending upon that person’s history, honesty, and attitude about the future. If the landlord felt someone was really trying to turn his or her life around and had the skills necessary to keep a job and pay rent, he was willing to rent to that person.

• Be flexible. A landlord might offer you a month-to-month rental to see how it works out before offering a longer-term lease. The reality is you may need to look at less desirable housing options when you’re first starting out. Think of these as stepping stones to something better.
• You could also offer to provide landlords with your parole officer’s contact information so they can see how you are doing. This might make a landlord feel more confident about renting to you. 
The bottom line is that landlords want to know that their property will be taken care of and that the rent will be paid on time.

If you know that a landlord is going to check your background, don’t lie or mislead that person, especially if you think that person is willing to take a chance with you. Be prepared to discuss your criminal record as well as your plans for success and the steps you’re taking to get there.

A landlord can ask you:

• about your job and how long you’ve worked there
• how much money you earn and how often you are paid
• how many people will live in the apartment or house (although a landlord can’t refuse to rent to you because you have children)
• whether you have ever been convicted of a felony
• whether you are a registered sex offender

A landlord cannot ask you:

• your race, ethnicity, or national origin
• your religion or religious beliefs
• your sexual orientation or marital status
• whether you have mental or physical disabilities

“When I got to the halfway house, I knew I had to have a plan. My friend told me the thing you got to do is be proactive. When you’re in prison, you’re used to everything being done for you. That’s not how it works out here. You have to have a plan and you must be proactive.” Advice from someone who has served 30 years in state and federal prisons.

DOC-administered halfway houses (also known as Adult Transitional Centers) are very structured. Clients must participate in programs and classes, follow rules, submit to required tests (urinalysis, breath analysis, etc.) and take prescribed medication. Different programs also offer different support services that could include help with finding a job, enrolling in education or vocational training, life skills classes, or treatment for substance abuse or mental health issues.

You may not get accepted even if you’re a great candidate, have good conduct in prison, and are program compliant. Don’t get discouraged. The legislature simply doesn’t provide enough funding for everyone to transition through community corrections.

Your desire and motivation to succeed is the most important factor behind your success. Because you have a lot more responsibility, some people say that living in a halfway house can be harder than being in prison, in many ways. Here are some helpful tips:

1. Be ready to change your life. Actions speak louder than words.
2. Learn what the rules are and follow them. If you have any questions or don’t understand something, ask your case manager for more information or for clarification.
3. Take initiative and be proactive.
4. Attend treatment if you have a substance abuse problem.
5. Keep busy. You may be able to work more than one job, but don’t get overloaded.
6. Slow down and think about the consequences of any decision. Some people say it’s a long road to get to a halfway house and a short one back to prison.
7. You may want to help your family and friends now that you’re out of prison, but while you’re in community corrections you need to take care of yourself first.
8. Be careful about the people you spend time with. Surround yourself with people who are positive and committed to their own success.
9. tay focused on your goals and the big picture when you have a bad day. Keep moving forward.
10. If you get a write-up, take responsibility for any mistake but don’t panic.
11. Try to get along with staff and other residents and treat others like you want to be treated. Try to talk through issues or use the halfway house’s procedures for resolving problems or disputes.
12. Don’t be afraid to ask for help. Being in a halfway house can be very stressful. Figure out how to manage stress in healthy ways.
13. If you’re not sure if you can do something, ask for permission first. Don’t think you can just apologize after the fact. Otherwise you seem manipulative and it’s important that the staff feel like they can trust you.
14. Bring a notebook and pen to meetings with your case manager or staff. Taking notes can help you remember what was discussed and what you need to do.
15. Try to be patient with staff. Remember you are one of many requesting assistance and attention. Also follow the chain of command for both requests and complaints.
16. If a staff member gives you permission to do something, write it down, including the date, time, and the name of the staff person.
17. Stay organized. You might have a lot of things going on -- work, classes, treatment, appointments, etc. You can use a calendar or day planner to help you keep track of your schedule. You can also use it to set goals and mark accomplishments.
18. Don’t forget that you’re still on inmate status and still subject to the DOC. It’s easy to forget once you’ve been in the halfway house for a while. Remember, the parole board will see how well you do in community corrections as an indication of how well you might do on parole.

Establishing a good working relationship with staff
at the halfway house is
very important. One person who was successful in community corrections said, “Success essentially boils down to two things: be where you are supposed to be and do what you are supposed to do.”
You’ll have many financial obligations in community corrections, and they’ll start soon. This may be very stressful and feel almost impossible at times. Some halfway houses have an adjustment time, but it’s best to be prepared for them to begin right away. It’s important to find a job as quickly as you can. If you can’t keep up with your financial obligations, you can be kicked out of the halfway house and sent back to prison.
Expect to pay:

• around 20% of your income to help pay for your room and board toward restitution, if owed
• toward your child support responsibilities
• transportation costs (i.e. bus pass or bus tickets) once you start receiving paychecks

Most halfway houses require you to report all income, show receipts for expenses, and keep a budget. Some halfway houses will let you manage your own money, but others will manage the money for you and give you an allowance. The program should give you a monthly statement of any bills or debts to that program. If your program manages your money, that program should give you a signed accounting of your funds each month. Keep a copy of your monthly statements and all receipts for money deposited into your account.