Help after prison or jail in Iowa
We've found 11 places in Iowa for people after prison or jail, mostly in Des Moines, Cedar Rapids and Davenport, and 6 that serve the whole state. Our volunteers haven't confirmed these yet, so a quick call ahead is worth it. Most of them help with shelter & housing (7), food (4) and id & documents (3).
Places in Iowa
Iowa Non-Driver ID Card
Iowa DOT issues non-driver ID cards at DMV service centers and county treasurer offices. Bring proof of identity, residence and Social Security number; the card arrives by mail within 30 days.
Iowa HHS Self-Service Portal (SNAP, Medicaid, FIP)
Single online application for SNAP food assistance, Medicaid and FIP cash assistance in Iowa. Apply at hhsservices.iowa.gov or call the department's general line.
211 Iowa
Free referral line that points Iowans to food, shelter, utility help and other local programs. Dial 2-1-1 or text your ZIP code; live chat runs seven days a week.
Iowa Department of Corrections – Reentry
The state prison system runs reentry planning at roughly 180, 90 and 30 days before release, with reentry coordinators and reach-in contacts between institutions and community-based corrections. Ask your counselor or reentry coordinator about your release plan; the central office number is for general inquiries.
Iowa Legal Aid
Free civil legal help for low-income Iowans, including housing, family and benefits matters. Phone intake runs limited morning and afternoon windows; apply online if you have no hearing in the next week.
Iowa Vital Records
State office that issues certified Iowa birth certificates. Order online through VitalChek, by mail, or in person at the Lucas Building; a $20 nonrefundable search fee applies per record and cash is not accepted.
Central Iowa Shelter & Services
Low-barrier 24/7 emergency shelter and meals at no cost for men and women in Des Moines, with case managers who work toward permanent housing. The campus also has 81 efficiency apartments for voucher holders, including units set aside for veterans.
Hope Ministries
Des Moines rescue mission serving free meals, safe shelter and a residential life recovery program for men, women and children. Call the main line to ask about getting in.
Willis Dady Homeless Services
Cedar Rapids emergency shelter with 35 beds for single men, 10 for veterans, and apartments for single women or families, plus case management and employment help. Shelter entry goes through Waypoint's coordinated entry voicemail line, not the shelter door.
Humility Homes & Services
Davenport's emergency shelter and housing agency for single adults and families, with a separate line for veterans. Help is available around the clock by phone or the online Get Help form.
Inside Out Reentry Community
Iowa City drop-in resource center and mentoring program for people returning from incarceration, with life skills classes, job readiness, housing help and a peer-led recovery group. Also helps people still incarcerated anywhere in Iowa build a release plan.
National lines that work in Iowa
988 Suicide & Crisis Lifeline
Call or text 988 for any mental health or substance use crisis. Available to anyone in any program.
Lifeline free phone program
Free or discounted phone and service for people on Medicaid, SNAP, SSI, or low income. Apply online or through a carrier.