Coming home from prison or jail in New York City means navigating a system that was not built to help you succeed — housing applications that reject you, employers who won’t call back, benefits that lapsed, and IDs that expired. But NYC also has one of the most extensive reentry support networks in the country. This guide maps what’s available, who provides it, and how to access help from day one of release.
Before Release: Planning Ahead
The best reentry plans start before release. If you are currently incarcerated, contact:
- NYC Department of Correction Discharge Planning: Rikers Island and borough facilities have discharge planners who can connect you to housing, benefits, and services before you leave
- DOCCS (NYS Department of Corrections and Community Supervision): For state prison releases, contact your facility’s case manager about discharge planning and the NYS ReEntry Task Force
- Legal Aid Society Prisoner’s Rights Project: (212) 577-3300 — legal help while incarcerated and for discharge planning
Day One: Identification and Immediate Needs
Getting Your ID
Without ID, almost nothing else is possible — housing applications, bank accounts, benefits enrollment, employment. Priority one is getting a government-issued photo ID:
- NYC IDNYC card: NYC’s municipal ID is available to all NYC residents regardless of immigration status or criminal record history — nyc.gov/idnyc. Application requires proof of identity and NYC residency.
- New York State Driver License/Non-Driver ID: If you had a NYS ID before incarceration, DMV can reissue it. Many reentry organizations provide assistance navigating DMV — see resources below.
- Birth certificate: If you need to obtain a birth certificate to get your ID, the NYC Vital Records office provides free birth certificates to people being released from NYC jails — contact discharge planning.
Emergency Food and Shelter
- NYC DHS Shelter: Call 311 or go to the DHS intake center — PATH (Prevention Assistance and Temporary Housing) at 151 East 151st Street, Bronx, for families; 30th Street Shelter for single men. You cannot be denied shelter due to criminal record. See our shelter rights guide.
- Food pantries: Find one near you at foodbanknyc.org or call 311
- HRA Benefits: Apply for SNAP, cash assistance, and Medicaid immediately upon release — apply at a069-access.nyc.gov
Housing After Incarceration
Housing is the most critical and most difficult challenge in reentry. Key options:
Transitional Housing Programs
- Housing Works: (212) 966-0466 | housingworks.org — transitional and permanent housing for people with HIV/AIDS or substance use history; reentry services
- The Fortune Society: (212) 691-7554 | fortunesociety.org — Castle reentry center with transitional housing, employment, and support services
- Center for Court Innovation: (212) 577-0770 — transitional housing and reentry support programs
- Osborne Association: (718) 707-2600 | osborneny.org — reentry housing and family services
- Women in Need (WIN): (212) 695-4758 — housing and services specifically for women with criminal records
NYC Housing Lottery and NYCHA
People with criminal records can apply for affordable housing through the NYC Housing Lottery (Housing Connect). While some developments have screening criteria that consider criminal history, NYC has policies limiting how landlords can use criminal records. NYCHA (public housing) also has criminal record policies — contact a reentry legal advocate before applying. See our housing lottery guide.
Employment After Incarceration
NYC Fair Chance Act
NYC’s Fair Chance Act prohibits employers from asking about criminal history before a conditional job offer. After a conditional offer, employers must conduct an individualized assessment weighing the nature and timing of the offense against the job requirements. See our Fair Chance Act guide for your full rights.
Reentry Employment Programs
- The Fortune Society: (212) 691-7554 — job training, placement, and retention services specifically for people with criminal records
- Osborne Association: (718) 707-2600 — vocational training and employment services
- NYC Small Business Services Workforce1: nyc.gov/sbs — citywide job placement with employer connections; reentry-friendly employers in the network
- Federal Bonding Program: Provides fidelity bonds to employers who hire people with criminal records, reducing their risk — contact NYC SBS for enrollment
- Work Opportunity Tax Credit (WOTC): Employers who hire recently released individuals may receive a federal tax credit — this incentive can make employers more willing to hire
Benefits Restoration After Release
- Medicaid: Apply immediately upon release — you may qualify for same-day enrollment. See our Medicaid guide.
- SNAP: Apply at ACCESS HRA — most people released from incarceration qualify. See our SNAP guide.
- SSI/SSDI: Suspended during incarceration, not terminated. Contact Social Security immediately upon release to restore benefits. See our SSI/SSDI guide.
- Cash Assistance: Apply through HRA — criminal record does not automatically bar eligibility for most benefit programs. See our cash assistance guide.
Comprehensive Reentry Resource Hubs in NYC
- The Fortune Society — The Castle: (212) 691-7554 | 625 West 140th Street, Manhattan — housing, employment, substance use, mental health, education all under one roof
- Osborne Association: (718) 707-2600 | Multiple NYC locations
- Exodus Transitional Community: (212) 234-5400 — East Harlem; comprehensive services including housing, employment, mental health
- Center for Employment Opportunities (CEO): (212) 422-4430 — immediate transitional employment and placement for people recently released
- Reentry Net NYC: reentry.net/nyc — comprehensive directory of NYC reentry services searchable by type and borough
Frequently Asked Questions
Can I be denied NYC shelter because of my criminal record?
Generally no. DHS shelter intake should not turn away people solely based on criminal record. However, certain specific offenses may affect placement in particular shelter programs. If you are denied shelter, contact Legal Aid Society at (212) 577-3300 immediately — you have the right to shelter in NYC.
How soon after release can I apply for SNAP and Medicaid?
Immediately. Apply the day of release at a069-access.nyc.gov (ACCESS HRA) or by calling 311. Medicaid enrollment can be same-day in many cases. SNAP benefits can begin within 30 days of application. Do not wait — benefits enrollment is one of the most time-sensitive first steps.
What if an employer rejects me because of my criminal record?
If the employer asked about your record before a conditional offer, that is a likely Fair Chance Act violation. File a complaint with the NYC Commission on Human Rights at (212) 416-0197. If they rejected you after a conditional offer without the required individualized assessment, that may also be a violation. Consult the Commission or Legal Aid Society.
I was released from state prison, not city jail. Are these services available to me?
Yes. All NYC reentry services are available to people released from state prison who are now residing in NYC. The Fortune Society, Osborne Association, and Reentry Net NYC specifically serve state prison returnees. Contact DOCCS (NYS Department of Corrections) for additional state-level reentry coordination if you were released from a state facility.
