Housing is the first domino. Without a confirmed address, parole and mandatory supervision in Texas cannot begin, employment cannot start, and benefits cannot be accessed. Texas Department of Criminal Justice (TDCJ) parole officers require an approved address before release is authorized. The housing search begins before the gate opens.
Texas releases approximately 70,000 people from state correctional facilities each year -- the largest state corrections system in the country. Despite this scale, there are currently only seven TDCJ-approved halfway houses statewide. Space is so limited that people who otherwise qualify for early release sometimes remain in prison waiting for a bed to open. Understanding the full landscape -- state halfway houses, transitional treatment centers, county-level resources, and the strong nonprofit network in Texas's major cities -- is essential for families planning a release.
The Housing Landscape in Texas
Texas Department of Criminal Justice (TDCJ, tdcj.texas.gov) Rehabilitation and Reentry Division (RRD) provides a three-phase Reentry Program for releasing adults. The RRD coordinates mental health and medical needs through the Texas Correctional Office on Offenders with Medical or Mental Impairments (TCOOMMI). Reentry hotline: 877-887-6151. RRD email: RRD@tdcj.texas.gov. The Texas State Law Library maintains an up-to-date reentry resource guide at guides.sll.texas.gov/reentry-resources.
TDCJ Residential Reentry Centers (RRCs) -- seven statewide: TDCJ's Parole Division contracts with private operators for seven halfway house facilities. These serve parolees and people on mandatory supervision placed there by the parole board. Given the small number of beds relative to releases, families and returning citizens should not assume RRC placement is available or automatic.
The seven TDCJ-approved facilities (as listed on tdcj.texas.gov/divisions/pd/halfway_houses.html):
Dallas: CoreCivic Dallas Transitional Center, 1554 East Langdon Road, Dallas, TX 75241; 214-742-1971.
Edinburg: Correctional Solutions Group Edinburg Transitional Center, 402 West Chapin Street, Edinburg, TX 78541; 956-380-5073.
El Paso (two buildings): CoreCivic El Paso Multi-Use Facility (North Building), 1700 Horizon Boulevard, El Paso, TX 79928; and CoreCivic El Paso Transitional Center (South Building), 1650 Horizon Boulevard, El Paso, TX 79928; both 915-852-1505.
Fort Worth: CoreCivic Fort Worth Transitional Center, 600 North Henderson Street, Fort Worth, TX 76107; 817-335-6053.
Houston: GEO Group facility -- confirm current address and contact at publish time.
TDCJ Transitional Treatment Centers (TTCs): Beyond the seven halfway houses, TDCJ's Rehabilitation and Reentry Division contracts for 15 residential TTCs and 60 outpatient sites statewide. TTCs provide substance abuse aftercare treatment; residential stays run 60 to 90 days. TTCs primarily serve parolees, mandatory supervision individuals, and probationers who have completed in-prison SUD treatment (IPTC, SAFPF). Aftercare through TTCs is a significant additional housing and treatment pathway for the SUD population.
Volunteers of America Texas (voatx.org): Major TDCJ- and BOP-contracted RRC operator in Texas:
- Hutchins (Dallas area): 800 W. Wintergreen Road, Hutchins, TX -- TDCJ and BOP residential reentry center
- Fort Worth RRC: 2710 Avenue J, Fort Worth, TX -- TDCJ and BOP residential reentry center
- Fort Worth Residential Treatment Center: 4700 S. Riverside Drive, Fort Worth, TX
- Resolana Program: Gender-specific pre-release classes for women in Dallas County Jail + post-release support; life skills; employment; cognitive behavioral programming
- MINT Program: Avenue J Fort Worth location; residential program for pregnant women
Texas Offenders Re-entry Initiative (T.O.R.I.): Works with shelters, transitional housing programs, and housing options to help individuals find safe and affordable housing. Also provides employment coaching including resume creation, interview skills, time management, and job application completion.
Texas ReEntry Services: Works with a variety of housing organizations to help returning citizens obtain temporary housing for up to two years; employment training.
Texas Criminal Justice Coalition (tcjc.org): Maintains an interactive county map to find local reentry resources throughout Texas -- one of the most practical statewide tools for families searching by location.
County and regional resources:
City of Houston / Harris County: Houston Reentry Programs (houstontx.gov); comprehensive city-level resource directory.
Bexar County (San Antonio): Bexar County Reentry Resource Directory; community resources by service type.
Tarrant County (Fort Worth): Tarrant County Reentry Coalition; local service coordination.
Travis County (Austin): Travis County Reentry Guide from the Justice and Public Safety Division.
For federal inmates, the Bureau of Prisons coordinates RRC placement for Texas federal inmates through BOP RRM Dallas and BOP RRM Houston. The Northern District of Texas has three confirmed federal RRCs: Dallas-Hutchins, Fort Worth, and Dismas House (Lubbock area). 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 Texas.
Mandatory lifetime bans apply regardless of which Texas 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 Texas 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. Texas PHAs may consider criminal history but are not required to impose blanket denials. HUD guidance from 2016 encourages individualized assessment. Texas PHAs vary significantly in how broadly they apply discretionary standards across Houston, Dallas, San Antonio, Austin, and hundreds of smaller PHAs. Contact the specific housing authority for their current policy.
Texas has no statewide fair chance housing law limiting private landlord or PHA use of criminal history beyond the federal framework. Confirm whether Austin or Dallas have adopted local fair chance housing ordinances 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, Texas has no statewide fair chance housing law. Landlords may use criminal history in tenant screening without state restrictions.
Texas's seven TDCJ halfway houses cannot meet demand. Families should not rely on TDCJ halfway house placement as a certainty. Beginning the independent housing search -- using county-level resources, the Texas Criminal Justice Coalition map, T.O.R.I., and the city-specific resources listed above -- is the most effective approach for most Texas families.
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 TDCJ RRD (877-887-6151; RRD@tdcj.texas.gov) about TDCJ halfway house eligibility and transitional treatment center placement for the SUD population.
Use the Texas Criminal Justice Coalition county map (tcjc.org) to find resources in the specific county of intended release.
For Dallas/DFW: contact VOA Texas (voatx.org) and the Tarrant County Reentry Coalition.
For Houston/Harris County: contact Houston Reentry Programs (houstontx.gov) and VOA Texas Houston.
For San Antonio/Bexar County: use the Bexar County Reentry Resource Directory.
For Austin/Travis County: use the Travis County Reentry Guide.
Contact T.O.R.I. and Texas ReEntry Services for housing navigation and employment support.
Call 211 Texas (dial 211 or tx.211.org) 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
TDCJ Rehabilitation and Reentry Division (tdcj.texas.gov/divisions/rrd; 877-887-6151; RRD@tdcj.texas.gov): Three-phase Reentry Program; seven contracted RRCs; 15 residential TTCs + 60 outpatient sites; community resources list.
TDCJ RRC list (tdcj.texas.gov/divisions/pd/halfway_houses.html): Current list of TDCJ-approved halfway houses.
Texas State Law Library Reentry Guide (guides.sll.texas.gov/reentry-resources): Comprehensive housing and community resources guide updated regularly.
Volunteers of America Texas (voatx.org): TDCJ and BOP contracted RRCs in Hutchins and Fort Worth; Resolana program for women; MINT program for pregnant women.
Texas Criminal Justice Coalition (tcjc.org): Interactive county map of reentry resources statewide.
T.O.R.I. (Texas Offenders Re-entry Initiative): Housing navigation and employment coaching.
City of Houston Reentry (houstontx.gov): Houston and Harris County reentry resources.
Tarrant County Reentry Coalition: Fort Worth/Tarrant County reentry coordination.
Bexar County Reentry Resource Directory: San Antonio/Bexar County resources.
Travis County Reentry Guide: Austin/Travis County reentry resources.
211 Texas (tx.211.org; dial 211): Free statewide referrals to housing, reentry services, shelter, and emergency assistance by county.
Texas Law Help (texaslawhelp.org): Free legal information including housing rights and expungement for Texas residents.
Frequently asked questions
Can a felon get into public housing in Texas?
It depends on the conviction type and the specific Texas 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, Texas PHAs have discretion to consider criminal history but are not required to impose blanket bans. Policies vary significantly across Houston, Dallas, San Antonio, Austin, and hundreds of Texas PHAs. Contact the specific PHA for 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 Texas?
TDCJ contracts with seven halfway houses statewide for parolees placed by the parole board -- space is severely limited and people sometimes remain in prison waiting for a bed. TDCJ also contracts for 15 residential Transitional Treatment Centers (TTCs) providing 60-90 days of SUD aftercare for those who completed in-prison treatment programs. VOA Texas operates TDCJ and BOP contracted RRCs in Hutchins (Dallas area) and Fort Worth. County-level resources provide additional transitional housing options in major Texas cities. For federal inmates, BOP RRM Dallas and BOP RRM Houston coordinate 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 TDCJ Residential Reentry Centers?
TDCJ's Parole Division contracts with private operators for seven halfway houses used to house parolees and people on mandatory supervision. Current facilities are in Dallas (CoreCivic, 1554 E. Langdon Road, 214-742-1971), Edinburg (Correctional Solutions Group, 402 W. Chapin Street, 956-380-5073), El Paso (CoreCivic, two buildings on Horizon Boulevard, 915-852-1505), Fort Worth (CoreCivic, 600 N. Henderson Street, 817-335-6053), and Houston (GEO Group -- confirm current address at publish). The Texas State Law Library (guides.sll.texas.gov/reentry-resources) maintains an updated list. Space is so limited that eligible parolees sometimes remain incarcerated waiting for a bed. Families should not count on TDCJ RRC placement; plan an independent housing option as well.
How does federal RRC placement work in Texas?
The BOP unit team begins reviewing federal inmates for RRC eligibility 17 to 19 months before the projected release date. BOP RRM Dallas and BOP RRM Houston each cover portions of Texas. The Northern District of Texas has three confirmed federal RRCs: Dallas-Hutchins, Fort Worth, and Dismas House (Lubbock area). 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. Families can help by ensuring the planned release address is clearly documented with the BOP case manager well in advance.
Can landlords in Texas refuse to rent to ex-felons?
Yes. Texas has no statewide fair chance housing law. Landlords may use criminal history in tenant screening without state restrictions. Confirm whether Austin or Dallas have enacted local fair chance housing ordinances at publish time. 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. Texas Law Help (texaslawhelp.org) provides free guidance on housing rights.
What housing programs help returning citizens in Texas?
TDCJ RRD (877-887-6151) coordinates seven RRCs and 15 residential TTCs for SUD aftercare. VOA Texas (voatx.org) operates TDCJ and BOP RRCs in Hutchins and Fort Worth. T.O.R.I. provides housing navigation and employment coaching. Texas ReEntry Services provides temporary housing connections for up to two years. City of Houston programs serve Harris County. Tarrant County Reentry Coalition serves Fort Worth. Bexar County Reentry Resource Directory serves San Antonio. Travis County Reentry Guide serves Austin. Texas Criminal Justice Coalition (tcjc.org) provides a county map. 211 Texas (tx.211.org, dial 211) provides county referrals. Texas Law Help (texaslawhelp.org) provides free housing rights information.
How do I find housing before my person is released?
Contact TDCJ RRD (877-887-6151) about RRC and TTC eligibility. Use the Texas Criminal Justice Coalition county map (tcjc.org) to find resources in the specific county. For Dallas/DFW: contact VOA Texas and Tarrant County Reentry Coalition. For Houston: use City of Houston Reentry Programs. For San Antonio: use the Bexar County Reentry Resource Directory. For Austin: use the Travis County Reentry Guide. Contact T.O.R.I. for housing navigation. Call 211 Texas for county referrals. Do not rely solely on TDCJ RRC placement -- with only seven halfway houses statewide, independent housing planning is essential. Confirm all housing with the assigned parole officer before release.
Do sex offenders face housing limits in Texas?
Yes. Texas law restricts registered sex offenders on parole from residing within 1,000 feet of schools, daycare centers, and playgrounds. Many TDCJ-contracted halfway houses and transitional treatment centers will not accept registered sex offenders or have specific conditions. Parole supervision conditions for registrants may impose additional restrictions. Families of registrants must work directly with the supervising parole officer to identify compliant housing well before release. Confirm the current Texas statute (Texas Penal Code §508.187 or current equivalent) and required distances at publish time. ---