Client Resources

General Resource Directories

Massachusetts Reentry Resource Directory: Use this directory to find local resources across the state.  This list of resources is not exhaustive. Do not rely on it as your only list of services.

Coming Home Directory Greater Boston: A Directory of Reentry Services Available to People Returning from Incarceration to Greater Boston.

Coming Home Worcester: Coming Home Central, Metrowest and Western Massachusetts is an online directory of services available to ex-offenders returning to, or currently living in the Central, Metrowest and Western Massachusetts area. The directory is a resource that presents important information for ex-offenders about the services available in our community. Download PDF: Coming Home Worcester_Western and Southest MA_2020

Reentry Supports & Organizations

Statewide: MassHealth Behavioral Health Supports for Justice Involved Individuals (BH-JI): BH-JI is a statewide program that helps people leaving jail or prison within 6 months, people who have recently left jail or prison, people on parole, and people on probation to connect with behavioral health services and social supports in the community. Individuals needs to be eligible for MassHealth (not required to have active MassHealth), and have a substance use disorder and/or mental health support need. To find the BHJI vendor in your area, go HERE.

Barnstable County: The Incarcerated Veterans Transition Program (IVTP), through Volunteers of America Massachusetts (VOAMASS) Reentry and Diversion and part of the Department of Labor Veterans’ Employment Training and Service (VETS) initiative, helps prepare qualified veterans who are currently incarcerated and recently released to find employment. Currently serving Plymouth, Bristol, and Barnstable counties, IVTP provides job and life skills coaching, health care referrals, and personalized case management that focuses on the unique issues experienced by veterans. Referral for IVTP services can be done HERE.

Bristol County: The Bristol County Reentry Project (BCRP), a project of Steppingstone, Inc., is an important initiative that aims to support individuals who are transitioning back into their communities after being incarcerated. The BCRP seeks to provide a range of services and resources to help these individuals successfully reintegrate into their communities and reduce the likelihood of recidivism. One of the key components of the BCRP is the development of individualized reentry plans. Each plan is tailored to the specific needs of the individual being served and is designed to help them achieve their goals and objectives as they progress through the different stages of reentry and recovery. Admission Criteria includes being in pre-trial status at the Bristol County House of Correction, probationers or parolees who have violated conditions of probation or parole in the community who have been returned to custody, or who are at risk of being returned to custody, 18 years of age or older, have a substance use disorder, and returning to Fall River or New Bedford communities. Phone Number: 774-202-5984

The Incarcerated Veterans Transition Program (IVTP), through Volunteers of America Massachusetts (VOAMASS) Reentry and Diversion and part of the Department of Labor Veterans’ Employment Training and Service (VETS) initiative, helps prepare qualified veterans who are currently incarcerated and recently released to find employment. Currently serving Plymouth, Bristol, and Barnstable counties, IVTP provides job and life skills coaching, health care referrals, and personalized case management that focuses on the unique issues experienced by veterans. Referral for IVTP services can be done HERE.

Essex County: Through Volunteers of America Massachusetts (VOAMASS) Reentry and Diversion, the Essex Medication Re-Entry Grant Expansion (EMRGE) program, formerly known as the Essex Medication-Assisted Treatment (EMAT) program, is a six-month wraparound services program for individuals with an opioid use disorder (OUD). EMRGE utilizes trauma-informed behavioral health treatment, therapeutic counseling, and medication to help individuals recover from OUD. The program also connects participants to community-based resources to help with the transition from incarceration back into society after release and reduce recidivism.

Franklin County: The Franklin County Sheriff’s Department (FCSO) Reentry Program & Reentry Services team provides free assertive, community support to people recovering from incarceration, addiction, mental health symptoms and other adversities in life. Goals for the first 10 days are focused on attending to basic needs, establishing ongoing community supports, and building resiliency through a sustainable lifestyle of holistic wellness. There are specific resources for women, including housing supports and emergency services for survivors.

Hampden County: All-Inclusive Support Services (AISS): 736 State Street, Springfield, MA 01109, Phone: (413) 781-2050. AISS assists formerly incarcerated people in all aspects of their lives as they transition from incarceration into the community. Many face a range of issues such as addiction, mental health problems, lack of identifying documents, employment obstacles, financial concerns, limited education, poor housing situations (or lack of housing), etc. AISS is the bridge that carries the positive momentum begun during incarceration forward and assists individuals in the reentry process. For more information on the range of services offered, go HERE.

Middlesex County: Thrive Communities THRIVE’s mission is to empower communities to welcome and support our neighbors transitioning from incarceration. Founded in 2015 as a community-based response to the challenges faced by adults returning from prison, THRIVE disrupts cycles of incarceration, isolation, and social harm by organizing and supporting grassroots efforts for restorative reentry, community building, and leadership development among those most impacted by incarceration – returning citizens and local community members alike. Click HERE for more information on requesting support and walk-in hours.

Norfolk County: H.O.P.E. Center: 2015 Washington Street, Braintree, Massachusetts 02184, Phone: 781-751-3393, Email: info@hopecenterma.org. The H.O.P.E. Center is a program of the Norfolk County Sheriff’s Office. The center’s services are free and available to anyone who is looking for assistance and guidance regardless of race, ethnicity, sexual orientation, religion, gender, age, economic status or background. This is a welcoming environment where anyone can find help and hope for their future. Working with our staff, each client will receive a personalized plan for success and the support to achieve their goals. From assistance in obtaining basic needs to peer support groups to education and employment assistance, the H.O.P.E. Center is here to guide you.

Plymouth County: The Incarcerated Veterans Transition Program (IVTP), through Volunteers of America Massachusetts (VOAMASS) Reentry and Diversion and part of the Department of Labor Veterans’ Employment Training and Service (VETS) initiative, helps prepare qualified veterans who are currently incarcerated and recently released to find employment. Currently serving Plymouth, Bristol, and Barnstable counties, IVTP provides job and life skills coaching, health care referrals, and personalized case management that focuses on the unique issues experienced by veterans. Referral for IVTP services can be done HERE.

Suffolk County: Office of Returning Citizens, Boston: 30 Dimock Street, 2nd floor, Roxbury, MA 02119, Phone: 617-541-3887, Email: orc@boston.gov. Our office supports those who return to Boston after being released from state, federal, and county facilities each year. We envision a Boston where returning citizens can return to their families, flourish in their communities, and regain their sense of dignity. Go HERE to complete the online registration form.

Father’s UpLift Reentry Support offers specialized pre-release and community-based services for men facing challenges related to incarceration and re-entry. We believe that no father should be left behind. Every week, we enter the walls of correctional facilities, creating vital pathways for connection, hope, and healing. For over a decade, we have been dedicated to caring for fathers behind bars at the Suffolk County House of Correction. Our compassionate team conducts weekly visits, engaging with residents through personalized individual and group support sessions.  Our services go well beyond the confines of jails and prisons. When a father is released, our Homecoming team is ready to offer unwavering support as they embark on their journey back into the community. Bags for Dads are sturdy duffel bags thoughtfully packed with necessities like a comb, toothbrush, shampoo, deodorant, and more—everything a father needs to maintain his dignity and sense of self during a challenging time.

Louis D. Brown Peace Institute‘s Community Reentry Services Program (CVRSP) is a reintegration program that creates a pipeline from prison to progress for men in Massachusetts correctional facilities. The program helps reunite participants with their families and provides wraparound services that include employment, education, mentorship, housing and diverse counseling services. Get your FREE Community Reentry Kit, A sturdy 17” backpack filled with essential personal hygiene products; masks, socks and hand sanitizer; The Four Agreements: A Practical Guide to Personal Freedom (A Toltec Wisdom Book) by Don Miguel Ruiz; Coming Home Directory – a resource book of reentry services available to people returning from incarceration to Greater Boston; I AM – A book of poems written by participants in the Peace from Within Program at Plymouth County Correctional Facility. Please contact CRSP for more information or give us a call at 617-825-1917 ext. 103.

Worcester County: Open Sky Community Compass:454 Grove Street, Worcester, MA 01605, Phone: 508-318-7700, Email: CommunityCompass@openskycs.org. The Community Compass at Open Sky in Worcester is a free, walk-in service, providing supports for successful re-entry to anyone with an incarceration history (Department of Corrections or House of Corrections) in Massachusetts, including those who were awaiting trial or a section 35 commitment at MASAC. The Community Compass provides a judgement-free environment, staffed by people with lived experience. You are a person first and we are here to help you move beyond limitations you may perceive due to your history. Services include assistance accessing Food and Nutrition supports, Education, Employment, Housing, Health Care and Addiction Treatment, obtaining Identification Cards and other documents, in addition to other supports.

Peer Support Organizations

The Life After Prison (LAP) focuses on five components: healthcare, family, finance, stability and growth. We serve as a liaison for anyone impacted by incarceration. We also strive to raise public awareness surrounding incarceration and share recommendations to government officials on how to improve the reentry process. In addition to this we host a series of support groups, open forums, conferences, trainings, workshops, and events; in effort to decrease the recidivism rate, poverty levels and bridge the gap between loved ones and the criminal justice system. Click HERE to learn more about how to request services.

Transformational Prison Project (TPP): TPP’s mission is to provide spaces where those who have been harmed and those who have done the harming can come together and engage in dialogue—to build understanding and empathy toward those who have been victims of violent crime. TPP is committed to understanding individual harms and the systemic harms that affect communities, more specifically communities of color. TPP is led by four formerly incarcerated individuals who personally benefited from TPP’s programs while incarcerated.

Housing

Justice 4 Housing (J4H): 23 Bradston St., Fourth Floor, Boston, MA 02118, Phone: (857) 300-3009. J4H is a grassroots organization that provides housing and family reunification for Justice-Impacted Individuals (JIIs) through policy, advocacy and service. They believe in a Housing First model because a safe and stable home is crucial for a successful reentry. The Hands On Defense (HOD) Program provides legal advocacy support for Justice-Impacted Individuals (JIIs) who face barriers to obtaining permanent housing. Our advocates and Peer Leaders support constituents who are excluded from accessing permanent housing stemming from archaic discriminatory policies. The Hands On Defense Model disrupts the discriminatory process that public housing authorities use to deny Justice-Impacted Individuals access to public housing and housing vouchers at the appellate level. J4H also offers reentry housing and housing supports. Brie’s House addresses the housing needs of Formerly Incarcerated People (FIP) by providing safe and stable temporary housing for 12 individuals and no less than six months of wrap-around stabilization services. The Brie’s House program paves the way to permanent housing by providing housing search support, financial empowerment resources and a safe place for clients to begin rebuilding their lives.

Massachusetts Alliance for Sober Housing (MASH) is an affiliate of National Alliance for Recovery Residences (NARR) which established national standards for recovery residences (including sober housing). MASH used these standards to create Massachusetts standards for certified sober homes. hrough our network of certified sober housing and empirically based recovery principles, MASH’s goal is to help create and foster these safe living environments for those with substance use disorders.

New Beginnings Reentry Services (NBRS)’s Empowerment Home: 6 Roxbury, St Roxbury, Ma 02119, Phone: 781-807-1741, Email: info@nbreentry.org. Our mission is to reduce recidivism by advocating for and providing services to women who are reentering local neighborhoods and communities. Through our Community Engagement Center, we work to build alliances, collaborations, and networks to create positive changes in policies that negatively impact men & women involved in the criminal justice system. Clients learn to express feelings appropriately, improving their social skills and relationships while strengthening the innumerable roles they play in their personal and professional lives. Here are links to addition Housing Resources.

Positive Action Against Chemical Addiction, Inc. (P.A.A.C.A.): 360 Coggeshall St, New Bedford, MA 02746, Phone: (508) 997-9051. PAACA operates numerous scattered units of permanent supportive housing throughout New Bedford. The housing programs are for people in recovery who are transitioning from homelessness and are working or engaged in a training program. PAACA provides rental subsidies to individuals and families in the program as well as supportive services designed to assist clients stabilize the emotional and financial dimensions of their lives.

Employment

MassHire: Whether you’re in between jobs, seeking a new opportunity, or aiming for career growth, we’ve got you covered. Our comprehensive services include personalized career guidance, informative workshops, specialized training programs, valuable job referrals, expert resume assistance, and access to a wide array of job listings. Our 25 MassHire Career Centers connect jobseekers and businesses for employment opportunities, and our 16 MassHire Workforce Boards engage business in building long-term talent solutions across the Commonwealth. Register for MassHire JobQuest here.

MassAbility: (formerly Massachusetts Rehabilitation Commission (MRC)) empowers people with disabilities to live life on their own terms. Our programs and services expand possibilities in careers and training, home and community life, and legal rights and benefits – including disability determination for federal programs. From Home and Community Life to Career Services to Benefits and Rights, MassAbility services support your independence and self-determination. To find out which of our programs and services you are eligible for, please apply online through MassAbility Connect or call our Help Desk at 617-204-3665.

Project Place:1145 Washington Street, Boston, MA 02118, 617-542-3740
Project Place promotes a community of hope and opportunity for homeless and low-income individuals by providing the skills, education and resources needed to obtain and sustain employment and housing.

St. Francis House, 39 Boylston St., Boston, MA 02116, 617-542-4211
St. Francis established services for formerly incarcerated individuals returning to the community including individuals classified as Level 3 sex offenders. The Moving Ahead Program (MAP), which is a 14-week job and life skills training program. It is designed specifically to assist those who have experienced mental illness, homelessness, addiction, and/or incarceration.

Workforce Career Central, 340 Main Street, Suite 400, Worcester MA, 508-799-1600
Offer classes specific to the job challenges for ex-offenders including the New Leaf Workshop designed to provide strategies for managing the barriers to employment caused by having a CORI. Clients must take the introductory 2-hour Career Center Seminar first and then are able to attend the New Leaf Workshops along with any other seminars or workshops offered.

Training Resources of America Incorporated (TRA): TRA’s mission is to help educationally and economically disadvantaged youth and adults improve the quality of their lives by learning new skills, developing self-confidence and finding pathways to self-sufficiency. Our clients have been successful in increasing their basic reading, language and math levels, improving their English speaking/comprehension capabilities, obtaining a High School Equivalency Credential, learning new skills, developing self-confidence, finding and retaining gainful employment, improving opportunities for increased earnings and job advancement, and becoming active and productive members of their communities. Training sites are in Brockton, New Bedford, Quincy, and Worcester.

Education

Clark University Liberal Arts for Returning Citizens (LARC) is a tuition-free college credit program at Clark University for formerly incarcerated individuals. Through the power of a liberal arts education, students can transform their lives by improving their critical thinking and communication skills. Classes are offered during fall, spring, and summer terms. Click HERE to apply.

The Educational Justice Institute (TEJI) is a 501(c)(3) that provides transformative learning experiences for students. TEJI’s primary goal is to improve the quality of life for incarcerated women and men through education, while simultaneously raising the social consciousness of MIT students. TEJI manages the Massachusetts Prison Education Consortium (MPEC), a partnership of Massachusetts-based higher education organizations, government agencies, and businesses collectively responsible for establishing and sustaining an education pipeline that begins during incarceration and continues into the community.

MassReconnect provides free community college for adults 25 and older who do not already have a college degree. MassEducate covers the full cost of tuition and fees for all eligible students. Students may qualify for an allowance of up to $1,200 for books and supplies based on income level. Some students may also be eligible for an additional allowance (up to $1,200) to help with other costs of attending college.

Financial

The Fountain Fund increases economic opportunities for formerly incarcerated people to improve their lives and remain in their communities. We provide low-interest loans and financial coaching to formerly incarcerated people, helping them build credit and achieve their self-determined goals. The Fountain Fund also advocates for public policy that increases economic opportunities and reduces obstacles for formerly incarcerated people. Inquire about a loan HERE or contact Jay Vilar at jvilar@fountainfund.org.

Second Chance Cars is a Massachusetts 501c3 corporation that provides refurbished, affordable used cars to Eastern Massachusetts’ low-income veterans and returning citizens. Our cars allow their new owners a chance to obtain living-wage jobs and the ability to achieve their full potential. If you need a car to get, keep or grow your job? Second Chance Cars accepts recommendations for car recipients from the staff of our nonprofit partner organizations.

Working Credit is a not-for-profit organization that can help you establish and build a strong credit score and reap the benefits. Our mission is to partner with individuals and communities to interrupt the effects of structural racism by providing credit building education, one-on-one counseling, and access to the products people need to thrive financially. Our expert credit building counselors work with you one-on-one to help you learn how the credit system works, address your specific credit situation, and create a personalized plan to build and sustain a strong credit score. Click HERE to request services or ask a question.

Please note that the information provided on this page is not an endorsement of services nor is it a substitute for due diligence. While every effort is made to keep the information updated, there is no guarantee of its accuracy.

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