Housing is the first domino. Without a confirmed address, parole and probation supervision in Nevada cannot begin, employment cannot start, and benefits cannot be accessed. Nevada's Division of Parole and Probation requires an approved address before release is authorized. The housing search begins before the gate opens.
Nevada has two NDOC-operated transitional housing centers -- one in Las Vegas, one in Reno -- that provide work-and-release transitional housing before full release. Hope for Prisoners in Las Vegas is one of the most formally studied and established reentry programs in the country, with LVMPD as an active partner. Nevada currently has no statewide fair chance housing law, and Nevada landlords may refuse housing based on any arrest or conviction.
The Housing Landscape in Nevada
Nevada Department of Corrections (NDOC, doc.nv.gov) operates two state-run transitional housing centers:
Casa Grande Transitional Housing (CGTH) has operated since December 2005. The facility serves non-violent, non-sex crime offenders within 18 months of their parole eligibility date. The primary purpose is to allow residents to seek work and secure permanent housing before release. CGTH has expanded to serve parolees, probation violators, and ex-offenders. Programming includes partnerships with AA, NA, God Behind Bars, and Hope For Prisoners for addiction management and religious programming. NDOC manages CGTH's reentry and programming operations.
Northern Nevada Transitional Housing (NNTH, 225 Sunshine Lane, Reno, NV) opened in October 2015. NNTH functions as a community assignment facility where residents work in the community, earning income to make restitution payments to victims and criminal justice agencies and to accumulate savings for post-release life. NNTH offers vocational training through local community partners, educational opportunities from high school equivalency through master's degrees through community college partnerships, and treatment services.
NDOC's Programs Division uses evidence-based risk and needs assessments at intake and provides reentry-specific programming, mental health programming, vocational and educational programming, and substance abuse treatment. Placement in CGTH or NNTH is determined through the NDOC case management process.
Hope for Prisoners (hopeforprisoners.org, Las Vegas; 702-586-1371) is Nevada's most established community reentry organization, described as the only program of its kind in the state. It serves men, women, and young adults from state and federal correctional facilities, local jails, rehabilitation centers, and specialty court programs. Partners include the Las Vegas Metropolitan Police Department, NDOC, Bureau of Prisons, Nevada Division of Parole and Probation, the Eighth Judicial District Court, the City of Las Vegas Municipal Court, and the International Church of Las Vegas. UNLV completed a formal research evaluation of the Hope for Prisoners program. Housing partners include Beacon of Hope Transitional Living and Freedom House Sober Living in Las Vegas.
WestCare Nevada operates substance abuse and transitional housing programs in Las Vegas, accepting returning citizens on a conditional basis. Harris Springs location (1200 Harris Springs Rd., Las Vegas; 702-385-2090) provides 56 beds. The Women and Children's Campus (5659 Duncan Dr., Las Vegas; 702-385-2090) provides 130 beds.
HELP of Southern Nevada provides crisis assistance including housing programs and emergency shelter connections for people in need including returning citizens in Clark County.
For federal inmates, the Bureau of Prisons coordinates RRC placement for Nevada federal inmates. Federal RRC placement is coordinated by the BOP unit team beginning 17 to 19 months before the projected release date. Under the First Step Act, earned programming credits can result in RRC placement up to 12 months before release. Families do not apply to federal RRCs directly.
Nevada's eviction procedures (summary eviction) are among the fastest in the country. Once someone is in housing, lease compliance is critical. Families and returning citizens should understand their lease terms before moving in.
Federal Restrictions on Public and Subsidized Housing
Federal law divides criminal history restrictions on federally assisted housing into mandatory lifetime bans and discretionary bans. Both apply in Nevada.
Mandatory lifetime bans apply regardless of which Nevada housing authority is involved:
Anyone subject to a lifetime registration requirement under a state sex offender registration program is banned from admission to public housing and most HUD-assisted programs. This is federal statute and no Nevada housing authority can waive it.
Anyone convicted of manufacturing methamphetamine on federally assisted property is permanently barred from all HUD-assisted housing.
Certain drug-related convictions carry mandatory restrictions depending on the specific program and conviction type, though PHAs retain some discretion in this category.
Discretionary bans apply to all other criminal history. Nevada PHAs may consider criminal history but are not required to impose blanket denials. HUD guidance from 2016 encourages individualized assessment. Nevada PHAs vary in how broadly they apply discretionary standards. The Housing Choice Voucher program (Section 8) is administered locally -- in Clark County through the Southern Nevada Regional Housing Authority (SNRHA) and in Washoe County through the Reno Housing Authority.
Nevada has no statewide fair chance housing law limiting private landlord use of criminal history. Nevada landlords can currently refuse housing based on any arrest or conviction, with no state-mandated lookback limits or individualized assessment requirement. The Nevada Housing Justice Alliance (nvhousingjustice.org) advocates for fair chance housing legislation but no statewide law has passed as of the time of sourcing.
For Families
If anyone in the family lives in public or subsidized housing, this section requires immediate attention before release.
Adding a returning family member with certain criminal convictions to a household in public or HUD-assisted housing can constitute a lease violation and result in termination of the voucher or eviction of the entire household. Families in public housing must contact their specific housing authority before the person comes home. In Clark County, contact SNRHA. In Washoe County, contact the Reno Housing Authority. The conversation happens before release, not after.
For families in private rental housing, Nevada has no statewide fair chance housing law. Landlords may use criminal history including arrest records in tenant screening without state restrictions. Nevada's fast summary eviction process means that lease violations can move to eviction very quickly -- lease compliance is essential.
What families can do before release:
Contact the housing authority immediately if anyone in the household lives in public or subsidized housing. Get the specific policy before the person arrives.
Contact the NDOC case manager about CGTH or NNTH eligibility and placement in the region of intended release.
For Las Vegas: contact Hope for Prisoners (hopeforprisoners.org; 702-586-1371) before release -- they serve people from state and federal facilities, and families can call on behalf of the person still inside.
For Las Vegas: contact WestCare Nevada (702-385-2090) about available beds at Harris Springs or the Women and Children's Campus.
Call Nevada 211 (dial 211) for housing referrals and reentry services by county.
Contact HELP of Southern Nevada if the person will be in Clark County and needs emergency housing support.
Confirm all housing with the assigned parole or probation officer. An approved address is required before release.
State Resources
NDOC Reentry Program (doc.nv.gov): CGTH and NNTH state transitional housing centers; reentry-specific, mental health, vocational, educational, and substance abuse programming; contact through NDOC case manager.
Casa Grande Transitional Housing (CGTH): NDOC-operated; Las Vegas area; non-violent, non-sex offenders within 18 months of parole eligibility; work-and-release model. Contact through NDOC.
Northern Nevada Transitional Housing (NNTH, 225 Sunshine Lane, Reno): NDOC-operated; work in community; vocational training; post-secondary education through community colleges; treatment.
Hope for Prisoners (hopeforprisoners.org, Las Vegas; 702-586-1371): Men, women, and young adults from state/federal facilities, jails, specialty courts; LVMPD partner; Beacon of Hope Transitional Living and Freedom House Sober Living as housing partners.
WestCare Nevada (702-385-2090, Las Vegas): Harris Springs (56 beds, substance abuse); Women and Children's Campus (130 beds, 5659 Duncan Dr.); accepting returning citizens conditionally.
HELP of Southern Nevada: Crisis assistance, emergency shelter connections, housing programs for Clark County.
Southern Nevada Regional Housing Authority (SNRHA, snrha.org): Public housing and Housing Choice Vouchers for Clark County.
Nevada Legal Services (nevadalegalservices.org): Free civil legal assistance for eligible low-income Nevadans, including housing rights and expungement.
211 Nevada: Dial 211 for free referrals to housing, reentry services, shelter, and emergency assistance by county.
Frequently asked questions
Can a felon get into public housing in Nevada?
It depends on the conviction type and the specific Nevada housing authority. Federal law mandates lifetime bans from HUD-assisted housing for people subject to lifetime sex offender registration and for people convicted of meth production on federally assisted property. Outside those mandatory bans, Nevada PHAs have discretion to consider criminal history but are not required to impose blanket bans. In Clark County, contact SNRHA (snrha.org). In Washoe County, contact the Reno Housing Authority. Policies vary; contact the specific PHA for their current screening criteria.
What are the federal housing bans for felons?
Two are mandatory everywhere: (1) lifetime sex offender registration bars admission from HUD-assisted housing, and (2) conviction for manufacturing meth on federally assisted property is a permanent bar. Beyond those, PHAs have discretion to consider other criminal history but are not required to impose blanket bans. HUD guidance from 2016 discourages blanket denials and encourages individualized assessments considering the offense, time elapsed, and evidence of rehabilitation.
Can my family lose Section 8 if my person moves in?
Yes. Allowing a person with a disqualifying criminal history to reside in a Section 8 or public housing unit can constitute a lease violation and result in termination of the voucher or eviction of the entire household. Nevada's summary eviction process is one of the fastest in the country -- eviction can proceed very quickly after a lease violation. Contact the housing authority before the person comes home. The conversation with the PHA happens before release, not after.
How does transitional housing work in Nevada?
NDOC operates two state transitional housing centers: Casa Grande Transitional Housing (CGTH, Las Vegas area) for non-violent non-sex offenders within 18 months of parole eligibility, and Northern Nevada Transitional Housing (NNTH, 225 Sunshine Lane, Reno) where residents work in the community and accumulate savings. Both use a work-and-release model. Placement is through NDOC case management. Hope for Prisoners in Las Vegas provides community reentry services with housing partner connections (Beacon of Hope and Freedom House). WestCare Nevada provides substance abuse transitional housing in Las Vegas. For federal inmates, BOP coordinates RRC placement beginning 17 to 19 months before release; under the First Step Act, programming credits can result in placement up to 12 months before release.
What are Casa Grande and NNTH transitional centers?
Casa Grande Transitional Housing (CGTH) has operated in the Las Vegas area since December 2005. It is an NDOC-operated facility for non-violent, non-sex crime offenders within 18 months of parole eligibility, allowing residents to seek work and secure housing before release. It has expanded to serve parolees and probation violators. Northern Nevada Transitional Housing (NNTH, 225 Sunshine Lane, Reno) opened in 2015 as a community assignment facility where residents work in the community, make restitution payments from earned income, and access vocational training, post-secondary education through community college partnerships, and treatment. Both facilities are NDOC-operated with placement through the NDOC case management process.
How does federal RRC placement work in Nevada?
The BOP unit team begins reviewing federal inmates for RRC eligibility 17 to 19 months before the projected release date. Federal RRC placement for Nevada inmates is coordinated by the applicable BOP regional management office. Under the First Step Act, earned programming credits can result in RRC placement up to 12 months before release. Families cannot apply to RRCs directly. Hope for Prisoners in Las Vegas is also a partner with the Bureau of Prisons for reentry services. Families can help by ensuring the planned release address is clearly documented with the BOP case manager well in advance.
Can landlords in Nevada refuse to rent to ex-felons?
Yes. Nevada has no statewide fair chance housing law. Landlords can currently refuse housing based on any arrest or conviction, with no state-mandated lookback limits or individualized assessment requirement. This is one of the most permissive private rental screening environments in the series. Nevada Legal Services (nevadalegalservices.org) provides free guidance on housing rights. Hope for Prisoners (702-586-1371) can connect returning citizens in the Las Vegas area to housing-friendly landlords and partners.
What housing programs help returning citizens in Nevada?
NDOC (doc.nv.gov) operates CGTH (Las Vegas area) and NNTH (Reno) state transitional housing centers. Hope for Prisoners (hopeforprisoners.org, 702-586-1371) provides comprehensive reentry services in Las Vegas with transitional housing partner connections. WestCare Nevada (702-385-2090) provides Las Vegas substance abuse transitional housing. HELP of Southern Nevada provides Clark County emergency housing access. SNRHA (snrha.org) provides Clark County public housing and Section 8. Nevada Legal Services (nevadalegalservices.org) provides free housing rights help. 211 Nevada (dial 211) provides county referrals.
How do I find housing before my person is released?
Contact the NDOC case manager about CGTH or NNTH eligibility and placement. For Las Vegas: contact Hope for Prisoners (702-586-1371) -- families can call before release. Contact WestCare Nevada (702-385-2090) about available beds. Call Nevada 211 for county-specific referrals. If the family home is in public housing, contact the PHA -- SNRHA in Clark County or Reno Housing Authority in Washoe County -- immediately. Confirm all housing with the assigned parole or probation officer before release.
Do sex offenders face housing limits in Nevada?
Yes. Nevada restricts registered sex offenders on parole from residing within 1,000 feet of schools, daycare centers, and parks. Many Nevada transitional housing programs, including CGTH, explicitly do not serve individuals convicted of sex offenses. NDOC and Division of Parole and Probation supervision conditions for registrants may impose additional restrictions. Families of registrants must work directly with the supervising officer to identify compliant housing well before release. Confirm the current Nevada statute (NRS §213.1243 or current equivalent) and required distances at publish time. ---