My husband is in prison,we live in Texas, and he should be getting out in less than a year. I would like to know how hard is it to find a job and a place to live? Would I be able to find a place and have it under my name? or because we are married it has to under both of ours? I'm very concerned because I know he wants to finish school and get on the right track. He is not in there for violent reasons. He is in there for posession of a controlled substance and white collar crime (getting a car in someone elses name). I know it is bad but he knows that if he doesn't change I am leaving him for sure. I almost did but I'm willing to give it a chance. We have no kids and right now I am doing fine on my own working and going to school. I live with my mom right now, but when he is out she does not want him around. I would just like some info and some tips as to how difficult it may be. Thank you to anyone who responds to my post, I greatly appreciate it!

I can't answer your questions, as I have pretty much the same ones! He's got about 4 months left, and we are in Florida. I did find a a place called the Workforce Alliance that says they have education and employment services for ex-offenders, I've asked them to send me some information.

I'm sure someone from Texas will be able to help you. WELCOME to PTO!!! :D

Thank you for responding. If you recieve any helpful information please let me know. It may help me here too!!
Thank you!

I'm going to have the same problems with finding a place to live. My Sweetie will be coming home in 2005 and he needs me to get a place at least 6-8 months before he comes home so the PO can do a home check. I have a job, so that's not the issue with me, however, it will be for him when he comes home.

I hope you find the anwers to your questions...I would like to have info too.

Welcome to PTO :wave:

Your husband is very fortunate to have a wife who is standing by him as it's rare.
I, too, was fortunate. My wife went apartment hunting two months before I got out. She worked two jobs to save up enough for the deposit and first and last month's rent. She had no problem renting a decent place, but only her name was on the application. The landlords usually do a credit check. If you should have a credit problem, then more of a deposit may be required. When I got out, she notified the landlord, per the rental agreement, that an additional person was living in the apartment.

Me getting a job was another story. It can be tough. If possible, subscribe to your local newspaper for him three months before he gets out. That way, he will know what the job scene is from the want ads. Also, you can check monster.com and the job section of USA Today for him and print out things that might work for him.

Good luck.

You can also find your local newspaper online and most of them have their want ads online, so you could print those out for him.

It's hard to find a job, and around here they seem to have gotten pretty strict with checking for criminal records, but it may not be as strict there. Just have him keep trying and maybe you could ask around to see if there are employers more inclined to hire ex-cons, because there are some that are more willing to give them a start. You could probably find that out by calling the employment office.

Just a note to thank you all for your respose and suggestions. I hope that I can provide the same support to you all. We all know that these are trying times in our lives, but I know some good has to come of it.
Thank You!!

I wanted to know how it went for you Christine2829, because I am in the same situation you are/were in. My guy will be out in a few more days and although I am in a house now.He wants us to relocate to Arkansas and get work there. But I am unsure of how the job situation there as well as a place to live.

CHRISTINE I THINK IT JUIST DEPENDS ON THE TYPE OF WORK HE WANTS TO DO, IT COULD BE HARD TO GET A JOB BUT IF I WAS HIM I WOULD BE UPFRONT ABOUT HIS PAST AND YOU NEVER KNOW WHO WILL GIVE HIM A BREAK.

THEE IS SOME SORT OF PROGRAM IN TEXAS THAT HELPS PEOPLE ON PAROLE GET WORK, I CAN'T THINK OF THE NAME BUT MAYBE SOMEONE ELSE CAN GIVE IT TO YOU.

It's called project RIO and it is available to inmates for up to one year after release; it is through Texas Workforce Commission.

WOW! WHEN MY HUSBAND GOT OUT LAST TIME WE WENT APARTMENT SHOPPING TOGETHER AND IT WAS ONE OF THE HARDEST THINGS EVER! HE HAS FELONYS AND THAT IS ONE OF THE TOUGEST THINGS TO GET AROUND- WITH JOBS IT SEEMS TO COME EASY FOR HIM BUT YEAH I SAY IT IS HARDER THEN U THINK.

I found my permanent job by going through a Temporary Employment Agency. I worked at a number of different jobs as a temporary employee. One day my supervisor at the temporary job told me not to go back to the agency on Monday but to come to work for him! He didn't care about my felony, he said that hard workers are hard to find. :D