Housing is the first domino. Without a confirmed address, parole and probation supervision in New Hampshire cannot begin, employment cannot start, and benefits cannot be accessed. NHDOC requires an approved address before release is authorized. The housing search begins before the gate opens.
New Hampshire has a small prison population -- approximately 2,000 people, down from 2,800 in 2015, with recidivism declining from 52% to 40% in recent years. The state operates four transitional housing units and one transitional work center inside or adjacent to its correctional facilities. A significant new program launched January 1, 2025, making New Hampshire the second state in the country to implement the federal Community Re-Entry Medicaid pre-release program. Families planning a New Hampshire release should know about both the in-prison transitional housing pathway and this new healthcare resource.
The Housing Landscape in New Hampshire
New Hampshire Department of Corrections (NHDOC, corrections.nh.gov) operates four Transitional Housing Units (THUs) and one Transitional Work Center (TWC) through its Division of Rehabilitative Services. These facilities serve C1 and C2 inmates in the last two years of incarceration.
Shea Farm THU (Concord) serves women. North End THU (Concord) serves men. The Concord Transitional Work Center (TWC) reintroduces residents into the community through supervised building trades education, work opportunities, and job-shadowing. Calumet House (Manchester) is the second largest of NHDOC's transitional units with up to 68 residents, serving men.
C2 inmates in the THUs have facility work assignments while preparing for release. C1 inmates and parolees placed in THUs are permitted to work in the community on a pre-approved schedule, building employment history and savings before full release. Each resident at Calumet House is assigned a case manager who assists with the reentry process. Mental health specialists, a licensed alcohol and drug counselor, a psychiatrist, and a nurse practitioner visit the facilities regularly. The THUs primarily rely on community providers for programming. Placement in a THU or TWC is determined through the NHDOC case management process.
Community Re-Entry Program (launched January 1, 2025): New Hampshire is the second state in the country to implement the adult Community Re-Entry program. This NHDOC and NH DHHS joint initiative provides Medicaid-eligible adults with severe and persistent mental illness or substance use disorders a targeted set of health care and peer services beginning 45 days before release. Services include care coordination, pre-release behavioral health visits (two health care provider appointments and two peer-to-peer appointments), peer support, medication-assisted treatment (MAT), and a 30-day supply of all prescription medications upon release. Pre-release intakes with community-based providers are conducted via telehealth, establishing a clinical relationship before the physical release. Launched in state prison facilities, the program is expected to expand to county correctional systems. For families whose person has behavioral health needs, ask the NHDOC case manager about Community Re-Entry enrollment.
Hampshire House (1490-1492 Elm Street, Manchester, NH) is a federal Residential Reentry Center operated through the Bureau of Prisons, serving men and women referred by the Federal Bureau of Prisons, U.S. Probation, or the federal courts. 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.
Community Action Partnership of Strafford County (CAP) provides statewide reentry services including employment support, transitional housing, substance abuse treatment, counseling, education, and mental health services.
Harbor Homes (45 High Street, Nashua; 603-882-3616) provides low-income and formerly homeless individuals with affordable housing, primary and behavioral health care, employment support, and supportive services.
Families in Transition (101 Manchester St, Manchester; 603-625-6980) provides safe, affordable housing and comprehensive social services for individuals and families who are homeless or at risk of becoming homeless.
Keystone Hall (615 Amherst Street, Nashua; 603-881-4848) provides comprehensive residential and outpatient substance use disorder treatment, prevention, and trauma-informed recovery support.
Oxford Houses operate statewide (including Manchester) as peer-run, self-supported sober living homes -- accessible without a corrections referral and welcoming to people in recovery from incarceration.
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 New Hampshire.
Mandatory lifetime bans apply regardless of which New Hampshire 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 New Hampshire 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. New Hampshire's PHAs may consider criminal history but are not required to impose blanket denials. HUD guidance from 2016 encourages individualized assessment. The Housing Choice Voucher program (Section 8) is administered locally, so the specific policy depends on which New Hampshire PHA covers the relevant area.
New Hampshire has no statewide fair chance housing law limiting private landlord or PHA use of criminal history beyond the federal framework.
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. The conversation happens before release, not after.
For families in private rental housing, New Hampshire has no statewide fair chance housing law. Landlords may use criminal history in tenant screening without state restrictions.
For families whose person has a severe and persistent mental illness or substance use disorder: the new Community Re-Entry program (launched January 1, 2025) is one of the most significant reentry healthcare developments in New Hampshire in years. Ask the NHDOC case manager or the NH DHHS about enrollment 45 days before the projected release date. This program provides healthcare connections, peer support, and 30 days of prescriptions from day one of release.
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.
Ask the NHDOC case manager about THU or TWC placement eligibility and timeline (last two years of incarceration).
For people with behavioral health needs: ask the case manager about Community Re-Entry program enrollment beginning 45 days before release.
For federal inmates: discuss RRC placement at Hampshire House in Manchester with the BOP case manager.
Contact Community Action Partnership of Strafford County (CAP) for community-based reentry services.
For Nashua: contact Harbor Homes (603-882-3616) and Keystone Hall (603-881-4848).
For Manchester: contact Families in Transition (603-625-6980).
Call 211 New Hampshire (dial 211) for housing referrals and reentry services by county.
Confirm all housing with the assigned parole officer. An approved address is required before release.
State Resources
NHDOC Transitional Units (corrections.nh.gov/locations/transitional-units): Shea Farm THU (Concord, women); North End THU (Concord, men); Transitional Work Center (Concord, building trades); Calumet House (Manchester, up to 68 residents, men). Division of Rehabilitative Services.
NH Community Re-Entry Program (dhhs.nh.gov/programs-services/medicaid): Launched January 1, 2025; pre-release Medicaid services 45 days before release for adults with SMI or SUD; care coordination, behavioral health visits, peer support, MAT, 30-day prescriptions.
Hampshire House (federal RRC): 1490-1492 Elm Street, Manchester, NH; men and women referred by BOP, U.S. Probation, or federal courts.
Community Action Partnership of Strafford County (CAP): Statewide reentry services; employment, transitional housing, SUD treatment, counseling, education, mental health.
Harbor Homes (harbor-homes.org, 45 High Street, Nashua; 603-882-3616): Affordable housing, health care, employment, and supportive services.
Families in Transition (fit-nh.org, 101 Manchester St, Manchester; 603-625-6980): Safe affordable housing and social services for homeless and at-risk individuals and families.
Keystone Hall (keystonehall.org, 615 Amherst Street, Nashua; 603-881-4848): Residential and outpatient SUD treatment and trauma-informed recovery support.
New Hampshire Legal Assistance (nhla.org): Free civil legal assistance for eligible low-income New Hampshire residents, including housing rights and eviction defense.
211 New Hampshire: 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 New Hampshire?
It depends on the conviction type and the specific New Hampshire 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, New Hampshire PHAs have discretion to consider criminal history but are not required to impose blanket bans. Policies vary across New Hampshire's housing authorities. Contact the specific PHA in the relevant city or county for their current policy.
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. 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 New Hampshire?
NHDOC operates four Transitional Housing Units and one Transitional Work Center for C1 and C2 inmates in the last two years of their sentences. Shea Farm THU (Concord) and North End THU (Concord) serve women and men respectively. The Transitional Work Center in Concord provides building trades training. Calumet House in Manchester accommodates up to 68 male residents. C1 inmates and parolees in THUs work in the community on a pre-approved schedule. Each resident has a case manager. For federal inmates, Hampshire House in Manchester serves BOP, U.S. Probation, and court referrals. Under the First Step Act, programming credits can result in federal RRC placement up to 12 months before release.
What is the NH Community Re-Entry program?
The NH Community Re-Entry program, launched January 1, 2025, makes New Hampshire the second state in the country to implement the federal Community Re-Entry Medicaid initiative. It provides eligible adults with severe and persistent mental illness or substance use disorders a set of pre-release services beginning 45 days before release. Services include care coordination, two pre-release behavioral health provider appointments, two peer-to-peer appointments, peer support, medication-assisted treatment, and a 30-day supply of all prescription medications on release day. Services are provided via telehealth and on-site to establish clinical relationships before physical release. The program is jointly operated by NHDOC and NH DHHS. Ask the NHDOC case manager about enrollment if your person has behavioral health needs.
How does federal RRC placement work in New Hampshire?
Hampshire House at 1490-1492 Elm Street in Manchester is New Hampshire's federal Residential Reentry Center, serving men and women referred by the BOP, U.S. Probation, or federal courts. The BOP unit team begins reviewing federal inmates for RRC eligibility 17 to 19 months before the projected release date. BOP RRM Boston manages New Hampshire placements. Under the First Step Act, programming credits can result in RRC placement up to 12 months before release. Families cannot apply to federal RRCs directly. Families can help by ensuring the planned release address is clearly documented with the BOP case manager well in advance.
Can landlords in NH refuse to rent to ex-felons?
Yes. New Hampshire has no statewide fair chance housing law. Landlords may use criminal history in tenant screening without state restrictions. Landlords using background check services must comply with the federal FCRA, which requires consent and adverse action notices. HUD guidance advises that blanket criminal history bans may violate the federal Fair Housing Act through disparate impact. New Hampshire Legal Assistance (nhla.org) provides free housing rights guidance.
What housing programs help returning citizens in NH?
NHDOC operates four THUs and a TWC (corrections.nh.gov). The NH Community Re-Entry program (dhhs.nh.gov) provides pre-release Medicaid services. Hampshire House (Manchester) serves federal releases. Community Action Partnership of Strafford County (CAP) provides statewide reentry services. Harbor Homes (603-882-3616) provides affordable housing and health services in Nashua. Families in Transition (603-625-6980) provides Manchester housing and social services. Keystone Hall (603-881-4848) provides Nashua SUD treatment and housing. 211 NH (dial 211) provides county referrals. New Hampshire Legal Assistance (nhla.org) provides free housing legal help.
How do I find housing before my person is released?
Contact the NHDOC case manager about THU or TWC eligibility -- placement is in the last two years of incarceration. If your person has SMI or SUD needs, ask about Community Re-Entry program enrollment beginning 45 days before release. For federal inmates, discuss Hampshire House placement with the BOP case manager. Contact CAP for community reentry services. Contact Harbor Homes (603-882-3616) for Nashua and Families in Transition (603-625-6980) for Manchester. Call 211 NH for county referrals. If the family home is in public housing, contact the PHA immediately. Confirm all housing with the assigned parole officer before release.
Do sex offenders face housing limits in New Hampshire?
Yes. New Hampshire law restricts registered sex offenders from residing within 300 feet of school property and designated child care programs. Many transitional housing programs, including NHDOC's THUs, have restrictions or conditions for sex offenders. Supervision conditions set by the parole officer may impose additional housing restrictions. Families of registrants must work directly with the supervising officer to identify compliant housing well before release. Confirm the current New Hampshire statute (RSA 651-B:13 or current equivalent) and required distances at publish time. ---
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