Housing is the first domino. Without a confirmed address, parole supervision in Pennsylvania cannot begin, employment cannot start, and benefits cannot be accessed. Pennsylvania's Board of Parole and county probation officers require an approved address before release is authorized. The housing search begins before the gate opens.
Pennsylvania releases tens of thousands of people from state and county correctional facilities each year. Approximately six in ten people released from Pennsylvania state prisons are rearrested within three years. The Commonwealth's reentry system combines PA DOC-contracted Community Corrections Centers (halfway houses), county-level reentry coalitions, and a well-developed urban nonprofit network in Philadelphia, Pittsburgh, and Harrisburg. Philadelphia is the largest single concentration of reentry housing resources in the state.
The Housing Landscape in Pennsylvania
Pennsylvania Department of Corrections (PA DOC, pa.gov/agencies/doc) contracts with private operators and operates some facilities directly as Community Corrections Centers (CCCs) -- the Pennsylvania equivalent of halfway houses. CCCs provide supervised transitional housing for people on parole or in intermediate punishment programs. Programming typically includes case management, cognitive behavioral therapy, employment services, life skills, and substance abuse programming. Placement in a CCC is coordinated through PA DOC case management and the Parole Board; families do not apply directly.
County-level structures vary significantly across Pennsylvania's 67 counties. Philadelphia County has the Office of Reentry Partnerships (1425 Arch Street, Philadelphia) and the most developed urban reentry infrastructure in the state. Allegheny County (Pittsburgh) has its own Re-Entry Program and the Foundation of HOPE program at Allegheny County Jail. Berks County (Reading) has Connections ASO (connectionswork.org). Families should identify the county reentry coalition in the county of intended release.
The Kintock Group (kintock.org, Philadelphia; 215-291-7600) is a major PA DOC-contracted CCC operator in Philadelphia, providing structured community corrections and transitional support.
Philadelphia -- primary reentry housing providers:
Ready, Willing & Able Philadelphia (rwaphila.org; 1221 Bainbridge Street, Philadelphia, PA 19147; 215-795-3255): Provides transitional housing, paid transitional work, recovery support, and accountability-based programming for homeless and formerly incarcerated men. One of Philadelphia's most established transitional housing and employment programs.
Gaudenzia (gaudenzia.org; 1306 Spring Garden Street, Philadelphia, PA 19123; 215-849-7200): Provides residential recovery support and structured housing for people rebuilding after incarceration and substance use disorders.
Impact Services Corporation (impactservices.org; 1952 E. Allegheny Avenue, Philadelphia, PA 19134; 215-739-1600): Reentry workforce support, case management, benefits enrollment assistance, and housing connections in Philadelphia.
Why Not Prosper (whynotprosper.org, Philadelphia; 610-716-1113): Women's reentry, housing-focused help, advocacy, and long-term support for women rebuilding their lives after prison or jail.
Prison Society (prisonsociety.org; 230 S. Broad Street, Suite 605, Philadelphia, PA 19102; 215-564-4775): Statewide advocacy, prison reentry support, family support, and guidance for people returning home from state prison across Pennsylvania.
Pittsburgh/Allegheny County:
Foundation of HOPE Reentry and Prevention Program (foundationofhope.org; 901 Pennsylvania Avenue, Suite 3A, Pittsburgh, PA 15233 as of November 2025): Interfaith pre- and post-release program for returning citizens; HOPE Pod at Allegheny County Jail for people currently incarcerated; intensive case management, peer support, mentoring, and PIRC (Positive Initiative to Reinforce Change) support groups; housing, employment, and social service referrals.
Allegheny County Re-Entry Program: County government reentry services for individuals serving county sentences.
Berks County:
Connections ASO (connectionswork.org; 19 N. 6th Street, 4th Floor, Reading, PA 19601; 484-260-3860): Reentry services before and after release, employment help, case management, and support for families affected by incarceration in Berks County.
Statewide and other areas:
Redemption Housing (redemptionhousing.org): Faith-based transitional housing community providing spiritual, physical, mental, and emotional support for people affected by incarceration. Focused on holistic programming and long-term recovery.
PA 211 (pa211.org; dial 211): Statewide resource hub connecting returning citizens and families to housing, employment, and reentry services by county.
For federal inmates, the Bureau of Prisons coordinates RRC placement for Pennsylvania federal inmates through BOP RRM Philadelphia. 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.
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 Pennsylvania.
Mandatory lifetime bans apply regardless of which Pennsylvania 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 Pennsylvania 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. Pennsylvania PHAs may consider criminal history but are not required to impose blanket denials. HUD guidance from 2016 encourages individualized assessment. Pennsylvania PHAs vary significantly in how broadly they apply discretionary standards -- Philadelphia Housing Authority, Allegheny County Housing Authority, and local PHAs each set their own policies. Contact the specific housing authority for their current policy.
Pennsylvania has no statewide fair chance housing law limiting private landlord use of criminal records. Philadelphia has a Fair Criminal Records Screening Standards ordinance providing some local protections for private rental housing within the city. Confirm the current scope of Philadelphia's ordinance and whether any other Pennsylvania municipalities have adopted similar protections at publish time.
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 outside Philadelphia, Pennsylvania has no statewide fair chance housing law. Landlords may use criminal history in tenant screening without state restrictions.
Pennsylvania's county-by-county structure means that resources vary dramatically by where the person will live. Philadelphia and Allegheny County have the most developed reentry infrastructure. Rural counties have significantly fewer transitional housing options; in those areas, the parole officer and PA 211 are the primary connection points.
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 PA DOC case manager about CCC (Community Corrections Center) eligibility and placement in the region of intended release.
Identify the county reentry coalition in the county of intended release -- resources vary significantly by county.
For Philadelphia: contact the Office of Reentry Partnerships, Ready Willing & Able (215-795-3255), Gaudenzia (215-849-7200), and Impact Services (215-739-1600).
For Pittsburgh/Allegheny County: contact Foundation of HOPE (foundationofhope.org; new address 901 Pennsylvania Ave, Suite 3A, Pittsburgh) and Allegheny County Re-Entry Program.
For Berks County (Reading): contact Connections ASO (484-260-3860).
Call PA 211 (dial 211 or pa211.org) for county-specific housing and reentry service referrals.
Confirm all housing with the assigned parole officer. An approved address is required before release.
State Resources
PA DOC Community Corrections Centers (pa.gov/agencies/doc): Contracted transitional housing (halfway houses) for parolees and intermediate punishment participants; contact through PA DOC case manager or Parole Board.
City of Philadelphia Office of Reentry Partnerships (1425 Arch Street, Philadelphia): Reentry information and connections to resources for Philadelphia residents.
Ready, Willing & Able Philadelphia (rwaphila.org; 1221 Bainbridge Street, Philadelphia, PA 19147; 215-795-3255): Transitional housing, paid transitional work, and recovery support for men.
Gaudenzia (gaudenzia.org; 1306 Spring Garden Street, Philadelphia, PA 19123; 215-849-7200): Residential recovery and structured housing in Philadelphia.
Impact Services Corporation (impactservices.org; 1952 E. Allegheny Avenue, Philadelphia, PA 19134; 215-739-1600): Reentry workforce, case management, and housing connections in Philadelphia.
Why Not Prosper (whynotprosper.org, Philadelphia; 610-716-1113): Women's reentry housing help and advocacy.
Prison Society (prisonsociety.org; 230 S. Broad St., Suite 605, Philadelphia, PA 19102; 215-564-4775): Statewide reentry support and family guidance.
Foundation of HOPE Reentry and Prevention (foundationofhope.org; 901 Pennsylvania Ave., Suite 3A, Pittsburgh, PA 15233 as of November 2025): Pittsburgh/Allegheny County; pre- and post-release; case management; mentoring; PIRC support groups.
Connections ASO (connectionswork.org; 19 N. 6th Street, 4th Floor, Reading, PA 19601; 484-260-3860): Berks County reentry, employment, and family support.
Redemption Housing (redemptionhousing.org): Faith-based transitional housing community; holistic support.
PA 211 (pa211.org; dial 211): Free statewide referrals to housing, reentry services, shelter, and emergency assistance by county.
Pennsylvania Legal Aid Network (palawhelp.org): Free civil legal assistance for eligible low-income Pennsylvanians, including housing rights and Clean Slate expungement guidance.
Frequently asked questions
Can a felon get into public housing in Pennsylvania?
It depends on the conviction type and the specific Pennsylvania 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, Pennsylvania PHAs have discretion to consider criminal history but are not required to impose blanket bans. Policies vary significantly across Philadelphia Housing Authority, Allegheny County Housing Authority, and local PHAs statewide. Contact the specific housing authority 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 Pennsylvania?
PA DOC contracts with private operators to run Community Corrections Centers (CCCs) -- Pennsylvania's halfway houses -- for parolees and intermediate punishment participants. CCC placement is coordinated through PA DOC case management and the Parole Board. Urban nonprofit programs (Ready Willing & Able, Gaudenzia, Impact Services in Philadelphia; Foundation of HOPE in Pittsburgh) provide additional transitional housing and wraparound services. County reentry coalitions serve as coordination hubs. For federal inmates, BOP RRM Philadelphia 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 PA DOC Community Corrections Centers?
Community Corrections Centers (CCCs) are Pennsylvania's state DOC-contracted halfway houses -- residential facilities providing supervised transitional housing for people on parole or in intermediate punishment programs. CCCs provide case management, cognitive behavioral programming, employment services, life skills, and substance abuse programming. Placement is through PA DOC case management and Parole Board processes; families do not apply directly. The Kintock Group (kintock.org; 215-291-7600) is one of the major CCC operators in Philadelphia. Contact the PA DOC case manager or Parole Board about CCC eligibility and placement in the county of intended release.
How does federal RRC placement work in Pennsylvania?
The BOP unit team begins reviewing federal inmates for RRC eligibility 17 to 19 months before the projected release date. BOP RRM Philadelphia manages Pennsylvania placements. 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. The BOP coordinates based on the release plan, community of release, and available beds. Families can help by ensuring the planned release address is clearly documented with the case manager well in advance.
Can landlords in PA refuse to rent to ex-felons?
Pennsylvania has no statewide fair chance housing law. Private landlords in most Pennsylvania counties may use criminal history in tenant screening without state restrictions. Philadelphia has a Fair Criminal Records Screening Standards ordinance providing some local protections within the city -- confirm current scope at publish. Landlords using background check services must comply with the federal FCRA. HUD guidance advises that blanket criminal history bans may violate the federal Fair Housing Act through disparate impact. Pennsylvania Legal Aid Network (palawhelp.org) provides free guidance on housing rights.
What housing programs help returning citizens in PA?
PA DOC (pa.gov/agencies/doc) contracts with CCC operators for parole-connected halfway house placement. Kintock Group (kintock.org, 215-291-7600) operates CCCs in Philadelphia. Ready Willing & Able (rwaphila.org, 215-795-3255) provides transitional housing and paid work in Philadelphia. Gaudenzia (gaudenzia.org, 215-849-7200) provides residential recovery housing in Philadelphia. Impact Services (impactservices.org, 215-739-1600) provides reentry workforce and housing connections in Philadelphia. Foundation of HOPE (foundationofhope.org) serves Pittsburgh/Allegheny County. Connections ASO (connectionswork.org, 484-260-3860) serves Berks County. PA 211 (dial 211) provides county referrals. Pennsylvania Legal Aid Network (palawhelp.org) provides free housing rights help.
How do I find housing before my person is released?
Ask the PA DOC case manager about CCC placement eligibility in the county of intended release. Identify the county reentry coalition for that county. For Philadelphia: contact the Office of Reentry Partnerships, Ready Willing & Able (215-795-3255), Gaudenzia (215-849-7200), and Impact Services (215-739-1600). For Pittsburgh: contact Foundation of HOPE (foundationofhope.org). For Reading/Berks County: contact Connections ASO (484-260-3860). Call PA 211 (dial 211 or pa211.org) for county-specific 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 Pennsylvania?
Pennsylvania's Megan's Law / SORNA does not impose a blanket statewide distance-based residency restriction comparable to those in many other states. However, individual parole supervision conditions for registered sex offenders in Pennsylvania may impose specific housing restrictions, and some counties and localities have adopted local ordinances. Many transitional housing programs and CCCs in Pennsylvania will not accept registered sex offenders or have specific conditions. Families of registrants must work directly with the supervising parole officer to identify compliant housing well before release. Confirm the current Pennsylvania sex offender supervision requirements and any applicable local ordinances at publish time. ---
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