Housing

Recently Incarcarcerated or have a criminal record?

We’re here to help.

About Reentry Housing Alliance

Reentry Housing Alliance is a grassroots coalition of engaged community volunteers. We are working to expand the housing options for people with records in Mecklenburg County. Our goal is to help people who have been in jail or prison to connect with the support and resources they need to thrive, especially as related to housing.

Working together with community leaders, aligned partners, and especially those most impacted by barriers to housing because of their history, RHA is increasing public awareness, shaping municipal policies and helping neighbors with records find housing opportunities.

About Us

Reentry Housing Alliance is a grassroots organization helping to educate property owners, government officials and the public about the issues facing people with records looking for a home, and to connect the formerly incarcerated in need of housing to support agencies.

Our Goal:

Return individuals to their families and our community as law-abiding citizens and reengage them as parents, employees, and neighbors.
Break the cycle of recidivism and of intergenerational criminal justice involvement.
Advocate for social justice changes in the system that eliminates barriers and obstacles to full restoration of citizen rights.
Strengthen families affected by incarceration.

Our Housing Resources

Landlord Education Seminars

LifeWorks! provides practical training, employment seeking assistance, helps in defining personal values, and assists with making thinking and behaviors better match those values.

Housing Rights and Responsibilities Seminars

Families Doing Time provides a continuum of services to families of incarcerated individuals through family events, support groups, information sharing, and training for professionals. Please see the Families Doing Time page for more information.

Transitional Housing Placement Program

Center for Women is a 30-bed residential program for women who are still incarcerated and eligible to participate in a reentry program. The reentry program assists with transition planning and action plans including employment, family reunification, housing, and other individual needs.

Need Help Finding a Home?

See a service above you’re interested in?

Contact Name: Kenn Shrader

Telephone: 980-429-4721‬

Email : info@reentryhousingalliance.org

Email info@reentryhousingalliance.org to be added to an interest list for seminars or to reach out for assistance.

Mecklenburg Re-Entry Services

About Us: Mecklenburg County Re-Entry Services (RES) provides high-risk/high-needs clients with evidence-based services and supports to assist in the successful transition from incarceration to the community. RES begins working with the client while incarcerated through on-site case management assisting with home planning, application for benefits, referral and coordination of medical and behavioral health services, and development of employment plans. Services available after release include case management, educational assistance, vocational programs, substance abuse and mental health treatment referrals, basic needs, transportation, employment and housing. RES does serve people on the registry.

To be eligible for RES services the client must:

Be sixteen (16) years of age or older; eighteen (18) and older for housing.
Have a verifiable residence in Mecklenburg County (the community shelters do qualify, county of conviction or residence is Mecklenburg).
Have been incarcerated by the NC Department of Public Safety or another state/federal correctional system, or served a sentence in the Mecklenburg County Jail.
Be compliant with treatment recommendations if under the care of a physician or counselor for mental health and/or substance use disorders.
Be in need of educational, vocational, or employment supports as the primary focus of service.
Agrees to participate in the program as outlined by RES.

Our Goal: To provide comprehensive case management supporting each client’s transition. To reduce recidivism and criminal thinking patterns among those in transition. To reduce county costs for those released on post‐release supervision following incarceration.

Need Help Finding a Job?

See a service you’re interested in?

Contact: Hope Marshall, MS, LCAS, Re-Entry Services Program Manager Mecklenburg Criminal Justice Services

Email: Hope.Marshall@mecklenburgcountync.gov

Telephone: 980-314-1703

Participation in the Re-Entry Services program is voluntary. Referrals to the Re-Entry Services program can be made by filling out the online referral form:

https://mecklenburgcounty.co1.qualtrics.com/jfe/form/SV_0uFKEhCFlE4zHVP

Our Services

Accessing Services

All services start with a referral either via the link in the blue table or a call to RES at 980-314-5043.
The client will complete an intake with a Case Coordinator to include a review of expectations and development of a case plan.
The client will work with their Case Coordinator to obtain necessary appointments.

Pre-Release Services

Case Coordinators go into 2 Federal prisons (Butner and Bennettsville twice annually), the Federal Halfway house (monthly), 10+ state prisons as needed (Gaston Correctional twice monthly, Lincoln CC once weekly), and Mecklenburg County Jail (Re-Entry Pod) to provide:

Orientation to Re-Entry Services prior to and after release
Develop home plans which may include housing for the returning citizen
Set up transportation if not provided by NCDPS (Traveler’s Aid will assist from the eastern prisons)
Set up appointments with mental health and arrange for prescriptions upon release
Send information via mail and prison case manager emails to those in prisons across the state (NC has 57 prisons)

Post Release Services

Case Coordinators meet with clients face to face, via phone and virtually. All services require participation in the Re-Entry Services program, and starts with an intake appointment.

Housing – Housing is not a separate service and participation in the re-entry program is required, all housing is in sober transitional housing with shared rooms for a limited time (scaled rental assistance decreases over five months), sex offender housing is available.

Check Out Mecklenburg Re-Entry Services

The mission of Mecklenburg County Re-Entry Services is to facilitate a seamless transition of participants while promoting employment stability, service engagement, and continuing education. Check out our video for more information.