Help after prison or jail in Texas
We've found 10 places in Texas for people after prison or jail, mostly in Houston and San Antonio, and 7 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 food (4), shelter & housing (4) and benefits & cash (3).
What's different in Texas
TDCJ helps eligible people get a replacement Social Security card, a certified birth certificate and a state ID at release, and DPS lists TDCJ release certificates and inmate ID cards among its supporting documents.
$22. Mail orders must be notarized; in person, bring an original acceptable ID. Homeless youth can get one free, without a parent's consent.
From our guides, where every fact links to its official source.
Places in Texas
2-1-1 Texas
Free information and referral line for food, housing, health care, utility help and other local services anywhere in Texas. Dial 2-1-1 or the toll-free number, or use the English or Spanish live chat on the website.
Rehabilitation and Reentry Division
TDCJ division responsible for reentry planning, evidence-based programs, second-chance hiring and veteran services for people leaving Texas prisons. It runs a Reentry Hotline and publishes a Reentry Resource Guide.
The Beacon
Downtown Houston day center serving hundreds of homeless men and women daily with meals, housing case management, civil legal aid, counseling and mentoring.
Haven for Hope
San Antonio homeless campus with a low-barrier South Campus shelter and a North Campus transformational program for Bexar County residents. New arrivals are handled on a walk-in basis at the Intake Building during weekday business hours.
Lone Star Legal Aid
Free civil legal aid for low-income residents of East and Southeast Texas including Houston, with units for crime victims, public benefits, eviction defense, employment and civil matters tied to the criminal justice system.
Legal Aid of NorthWest Texas
Free civil legal services for low-income people across 114 counties in North and West Texas, including Dallas–Fort Worth. Handles eviction, family and domestic violence cases, public benefits, immigration, and removing barriers to employment and housing.
Vital Statistics Section
State office that issues certified Texas birth and death certificates and verifies marriage and divorce records. Orders can be placed online around the clock, by mail, in person, or through local county offices; you must be a qualified requester with acceptable ID and the fee.
Star of Hope Mission
Houston shelter operating a Men's Development Center at 1811 Ruiz St. and a Women and Family Development Center at 2575 Reed Rd. Stays run from one night to 18 months; no ID is needed to get in, and long-term housing requires sobriety.
Texas Identification Card
How to get a state ID card from DPS: fill out form DL-14A, book an appointment at a driver license office, bring proof of citizenship or lawful presence, Texas residency, identity and Social Security number, then pay the fee. A temporary card is issued on the spot and the permanent card arrives by mail in two to three weeks.
Your Texas Benefits
The state's online portal to apply for SNAP food benefits, TANF cash help, Medicaid and CHIP health coverage, WIC, and support services. Applications can also be made at an HHSC benefit office or community partner.
National lines that work in Texas
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.