A decent, safe and affordable place to stay is a basic human need. Unfortunately, finding appropriate housing can be a challenge for many people after they’re released from prison. Unless you have family or friends you can live with upon your release from prison (and that has its own set of complications), you may need to find an emergency overnight shelter. You can then look into transitional or longer term housing options.

If you’re coming out of prison homeless and on parole, your parole officer or a community transition specialist should tell you where you must stay. You may be given a voucher to cover the cost of a motel for a few days or longer, but funds aren’t always available. In Chicago, you can simply dial 311 to request shelter information & assistance and information about homelessness prevention. To dial the 311 number from outside Chicago, call 312-744-5000.

Several different types of organizations manage emergency overnight shelters. Meals are usually provided and they may ask you to help with chores around the shelter. Most shelters require that you leave in the morning and return in the evening. Most of the time, people are admitted into a shelter on a first-come, first served basis though a case manager or an intake process.

• At intake you may be asked to submit to a breathalyzer test or urinalysis.
• Most shelters require a tuberculosis card, but they may give you some time to obtain a current tuberculosis test.
• Most shelters require a photo ID, but many will accept your DOC photo inmate ID. Some shelters ask for proof of residence in the county where you are staying.
• When demand is greater than capacity, the shelter may use a lottery system – a drawing to admit people waiting to get in. Some shelters have “overflow” capacity (mats or cots for people who aren’t assigned a bed).
• Most shelters ask that you not request a bed before your release. They rarely have a process to accept people beforehand, and they usually like to conduct intake interviews in person. However, there are some exceptions. Check with a pre-release specialist or your case manager to see if this is possible.
• Most shelters admit people convicted of a nonviolent offense. A few will admit people convicted of a violent offense, but on a case-by-case basis. Most shelters don’t admit people convicted of a sex offense. Some shelters don’t ask about criminal records.
• Some emergency overnight shelters offer transitional housing programs. This may be part of a treatment program. Sometimes it’s a housing opportunity that you graduate into after you find a job and establish a stable track record.

Remember, once you’re assigned to a particular shelter by your parole officer, moving to another location without permission may be a technical violation of parole.

Transitional housing is temporary housing. It can be a few weeks to several years. It usually includes case management services to help you find employment, apply for benefits (if applicable), and meet other needs.

Many organizations help clients find long-term housing. Some are intentional sober-living facilities with strict rules and mandatory meetings to help residents stay sober. Demand is high, so you may not be able to get this kind of housing right away, and the fees vary. The application process can take time. Once your application is processed, you’ll probably be placed on a waiting list. Ask how long the waiting list is so you can plan where to stay in the meantime. A helpful online resource for re-entry friendly services and housing is www.reentryillinois.net