Re-Entry Resource Guide
Missouri, Kansas & Texas support, sorted by state.
Employment, housing, identification, health and recovery, legal support, benefits, and second-chance hiring resources for people returning home from jail or prison. A conviction does not automatically disqualify someone from work, housing, training, or assistance — eligibility depends on the program, the offense, supervision conditions, location, and provider rules.
Start here
Four things to do first
Immediate basic needs
Dial 211 in Missouri, Kansas, or Texas for local shelter, food, utility, transportation, health, and legal referrals. Texas also answers at (877) 541-7905.
Employment
Start with the state workforce system: JobsMoGov/MoJobs, KANSASWORKS, or Texas Workforce Solutions/WorkInTexas. Ask specifically for justice-involved, re-entry, Federal Bonding, and WOTC help.
Before release
Ask institutional re-entry staff, a case manager, or probation and parole staff about IDs, benefit applications, medication continuity, housing referrals, and job placement before the release date.
Safety
For an emergency, call 911. For a mental-health or substance-use crisis, call or text 988. For urgent housing or food, 211 is usually the fastest local referral.
Choose a state
The Missouri Department of Corrections runs re-entry centers in every state prison plus a statewide Office of Re-Entry Services, which connects people with employers, housing, ID, benefits, health care, treatment, and transportation.
Showing 29 resources in Missouri
Re-Entry coordination
- Missouri
Missouri DOC Office of Re-Entry Services
Statewide re-entry coordination and prison re-entry centers; connections to housing, work, ID documents, benefits, medical care, treatment, transportation, and partner employers.
- Email: DOC.Reentryinfo@doc.mo.gov
- Missouri
Missouri Re-Entry Process (MRP)
The state's coordinated re-entry framework — useful when preparing for release or when a community partner needs a state re-entry contact.
- Phone: 573-751-2389
Employment and workforce
- Missouri
JobsMoGov / Missouri Job Centers
State workforce services: job search, job-center support, training, and employer connections. Ask about job readiness and re-entry employment support.
- Visit a local Missouri Job Center
- Missouri
Honest Jobs
Nationwide fair-chance job board and ZIP-code resource finder for work, housing, transportation, legal help, health care, and food.
- Search by Missouri ZIP code
Hiring incentives
- Missouri
Missouri Federal Bonding Program
Free six-month fidelity coverage for employers hiring eligible at-risk workers, including people with records. It eases employer concerns; it is not a job guarantee.
- Phone: 800-877-8698
Housing
- Missouri
Missouri Re-Entry Housing Map
County-selectable housing-resource map from the Missouri Department of Mental Health. Use it to find housing providers and filter by housing need.
- Search online for “Missouri re-entry housing map”
Food and meals
- Missouri
Harvesters Community Food Network
Enter an address or ZIP code to find the nearest ongoing food pantry or mobile distribution in the Kansas City area. Some sites allow someone else to pick food up for you — ask the partner agency first.
- Search by ZIP code on the Get Help page
- Missouri
Feeding Missouri
Statewide directory for locating a food pantry in any Missouri county.
- Search by county
- Missouri
National Hunger Hotline
Live help finding food in your area, in English and Spanish.
- 1-866-3-HUNGRY (1-866-348-6479)
- 1-877-8-HAMBRE (Spanish)
- Text 914-342-7744 for an automated reply
- Missouri
Nourish KC (Kansas City Community Kitchen)
Free lunch Monday through Friday, 11 a.m. to 2 p.m. All are welcome, no questions asked.
- 750 Paseo Blvd., Kansas City, MO 64106
- 816-800-0889
- Missouri
Hope Faith Ministries
Breakfast Monday through Friday 8:30–10 a.m. and lunch 11 a.m.–12:30 p.m., plus day services on site.
- 705 Virginia Ave., Kansas City, MO
- Missouri
Metro Lutheran Ministry
Boxed food and sack lunches Monday through Friday, 8:30–11 a.m., plus other basic-needs assistance.
- 3031 Holmes, Kansas City, MO
- 816-931-0027
- Missouri
Morning Glory Ministries
Breakfast Tuesday through Friday, 7:15–8 a.m., and lunch Saturday and Sunday, 12–12:30 p.m.
- 1112 Broadway Blvd., Kansas City, MO
- Missouri
Neighbor 2 Neighbor
Breakfast Monday through Friday, 9–10:30 a.m., and lunch Monday through Friday, 11 a.m.–12:30 p.m.
- 3551 Wabash, Kansas City, MO
- Missouri
Bishop Sullivan Center — One City Café
Free lunch Monday through Friday, 12–1 p.m., and dinner 4:30–6:30 p.m. The center may also help with food, rent, and utilities depending on funding.
- 3936 Troost Ave., Kansas City, MO
- 816-231-0984
- Missouri
Kansas City Serve and Lift Center (Catholic Charities pantry)
Walk-in pantry Monday through Thursday, 8:30 a.m.–noon and 1–3:30 p.m. An online shopping portal lets you choose your own groceries. Open to anyone in the 27-county service area.
- 8001 Longview Road, Kansas City, MO 64134
- 816-929-1498
- Missouri
One World Pantry (University Health)
Pantry open Monday through Friday, 9 a.m.–5 p.m. Call about current availability and any qualifications.
- 2301 Charlotte St., Kansas City, MO — UH3 Pavilion
- 816-404-6325
- Missouri
Community Action Agency of Greater Kansas City
Connects people to more than 30 partner food and toiletry pantries across Jackson, Clay, and Platte counties.
- 816-358-6868
- Missouri
Double Up Food Bucks Heartland
Doubles SNAP dollars spent on fresh fruit and vegetables at participating stores and markets.
- Check participating locations online
- Missouri
Kansas City Mutual Aid free fridges
Free refrigerators and pantries open 24/7, no questions asked, restocked regularly.
- 31st and Cherry, Kansas City, MO
- Farewell KC — 6515 Stadium Drive, Kansas City, MO 64129
Clothing and hygiene
- Missouri
Cherith Brook Catholic Worker
Showers, clothing, and hot meals on service mornings — breakfast Monday, Tuesday, and Thursday, with dinner on Thursday evenings.
- 3308 E. 12th St., Kansas City, MO
- Missouri
Our Spot KC — $0 Boutique
Free clothing, accessories, and essentials, including an LGBTQ+ affirming clothing closet.
- 816-979-3991
- Missouri
Redemptorist Center
Food pantry, clothing, and housewares Tuesday and Thursday, 10 a.m.–1 p.m. Clothing for people who are homeless is 9–10 a.m. on those same days.
- 207 Linwood Blvd., Kansas City, MO
- 816-931-9942
- Missouri
True Light Family Resource Center
Clothing closet for adults and children. Call for current open hours.
- 712 E. 31st St., Kansas City, MO 64109
- 816-381-9310
- Missouri
Hope Network (Raytown)
Clothing boutique and choice-style food pantry on set weekly evenings. Bring a photo ID; call for current hours and eligibility.
- 10500 E. 350 Hwy., Raytown, MO 64138
- 816-778-1147
- Missouri
Dress for Success Kansas City
Professional interview and work clothing plus employment support for women.
- Referral or appointment usually required
Basic needs and 211
- Missouri
Missouri 211
Local referrals for shelter, food, utilities, transportation, and health care. Ask for re-entry, transitional housing, or homeless-services navigation.
- Dial 211
Legal aid and record relief
- Missouri
Legal Services of Missouri
Statewide civil legal-aid directory for housing, benefits, family, consumer, and record-relief issues.
- Find the legal-aid program for your county
- Missouri
Missouri Public Defender expungement resources
State-produced directory of regional legal resources for expungement help. Eligibility varies by charge and history — get individual legal advice before filing.
- Ask a public defender office for the expungement resource list
Missouri job-search and housing notes
- Be accurate about a record if an employer asks. A “felony-friendly” listing does not mean every conviction, license, worksite, or supervision condition will be accepted.
- Ask a Job Center, re-entry specialist, or employer whether the Federal Bonding Program and the federal Work Opportunity Tax Credit apply. These are employer incentives, not cash paid to the applicant.
- For a local employer list, use MoDOC re-entry contacts and Honest Jobs, then confirm each employer's current background-screening and licensing rules directly.
How to use this guide
For job seekers
- Prepare a short, truthful explanation of your record that takes responsibility, says what has changed, and moves the conversation back to your qualifications. Share only what is asked for.
- Bring ID, a résumé or work history, certifications, references, release paperwork if relevant, and proof of completed training or treatment.
- At a workforce center, ask specifically for: job leads open to justice-involved applicants, résumé and interview help, training, transportation support, Federal Bonding, and WOTC information for an employer.
- Before accepting a job, confirm supervision travel limits, curfew, reporting times, occupational licenses, employer background rules, transportation, wages, and schedule.
For employers
- Missouri
- Use MoDOC Re-Entry Services to reach its employer network. Missouri's Federal Bonding program is free to employers for eligible hires for the first six months.
- Kansas
- Use KANSASWORKS and the Kansas Federal Bonding Program. ReSpECT WORKS provides specialized pathways for eligible justice-involved job seekers.
- Texas
- Use TWC Re-Entry resources, Workforce Solutions offices, WorkInTexas, fidelity bonding, and TDCJ's re-entry and employment pathways.
- National
- The U.S. Department of Labor's re-entry resources link to American Job Centers, the National Reentry Resource Center, and hiring tools for justice-involved workers and employers.
This guide is information and referral only. It is not legal, medical, housing, benefits, or employment advice, and it does not guarantee services, housing placement, record relief, benefits, or a job offer. Programs, phone numbers, and eligibility change — call or check the linked page before traveling or applying.
Last reviewed: September 13, 2026