The Exit Program - Housing For Ex Offenders

Safe, affordable housing represents an enormous need for men and women re-entering the community after a period of incarceration.
According to the Ohio Department of Rehabilitation and Correction (ODRC), 26,211 inmates were released in CY 2009, and only 13,073 were released to supervision. At any given time, the other 13,138 who were released to their committing counties could enter the shelter system without adequate reentry support.
Men and women who are just released from jail or prison often have nowhere to go but back to tough neighborhoods marked by high rates of poverty, unemployment and poor housing conditions"factors which can lead to criminal involvement. Many incarcerated individuals have severed ties with their families for a variety of reasons, and are faced with nowhere to go. They end up in the city's homeless emergency shelters.
Current federal and local regulations largely prohibit people with felony convictions from living in public housing and private landlords often run background checks to screen out people with criminal records. We have developed a unique mix of housing services in response to the immense challenges facing formerly incarcerated individuals who are homeless.
In 2012, The EXIT Program assisted 297 formerly incarcerated men with housing and supportive services with a 97% success rate. We expanded our housing program to Akron, Cincinnati, Chillicothe and Mansfield Ohio for a total of 93 beds for homeless offenders across the State.
Since our inception in 2002, over 600 low/moderate risk offenders have been assisted in their transition from jail and prison through The EXIT Program independent living housing program with stays ranging from 1 day to 6 years.
If you or someone you know is in need of our services, feel free to contact us at [email protected] to determine how we may be of assistance.