Last Updated on: May 5, 2026
San Jose, CA has several strong reentry resources for people with criminal records. Below you will find an updated list of all reentry tools, programs and resources. You will find support with housing, employment, legal aid, education, mental health, substance use counseling, and related reentry needs and more.
For statewide help, see our full guide to Reentry Programs in California.
List of Reentry Programs in San Jose, CA – Santa Clara County
Santa Clara County Reentry Resource Center
Address: 151 W. Mission St., San Jose, CA 95110
Phone: (408) 535 4299
Best For: People recently released from jail or prison, people on supervision, and people with pending criminal court matters.
What It Offers: This is the main reentry hub for San Jose and Santa Clara County. Services may include case management, housing referrals, behavioral health support, substance use treatment referrals, food, clothing, hygiene supplies, medical and psychiatric care, public benefits help, legal assistance, and employment connections.
Santa Clara County Diversion and Reentry Services
Address: 151 W. Mission St., San Jose, CA 95110
Phone: (408) 535 4299
Best For: People who need a countywide reentry starting point.
What It Offers: The county reentry system connects clients to health care, behavioral health services, housing support, employment help, food, clothing, record clearance, peer support, and other services that can reduce barriers after incarceration.
Goodwill of Silicon Valley Reentry and Justice Involved Support
Address: 1080 N. 7th St., San Jose, CA 95112
Phone: (408) 998 5774
Best For: People with criminal records who need work experience, job readiness, and help getting hired.
What It Offers: Goodwill’s Reentry and Justice Involved Support Program serves adults with criminal backgrounds referred by the Santa Clara County Reentry Resource Center. The program focuses on job readiness, training, employment support, and helping participants move toward full time work.
Goodwill New Opportunity Work Program
Address: 1080 N. 7th St., San Jose, CA 95112
Phone: (408) 869 9246
Best For: Reentry clients who need job readiness, paid work experience, digital literacy, and employment placement.
What It Offers: The NOW program may include job readiness training, behavioral programming, Moral Reconation Therapy, digital literacy, case management, subsidized work experience, and job placement support.
Center for Employment Opportunities San Jose
Address: 521 Parrott St., San Jose, CA 95112
Phone: Contact through website
Best For: People returning from incarceration who need immediate employment support and job coaching.
What It Offers: CEO provides reentry employment services for people coming home from incarceration. Services may include transitional work, job coaching, employment readiness, placement help, and long term job retention support.
Catholic Charities of Santa Clara County Support for Incarcerated and Reentry Programs
Address: 2625 Zanker Road, Suite 201, San Jose, CA 95134
Phone: (408) 468 0100
Best For: People who need broad reentry support, housing navigation, employment help, health care connections, and basic needs help.
What It Offers: Catholic Charities helps people who are unhoused or recently released from incarceration through support services that may include housing help, employment support, health care connections, and other assistance.
Roots Community Health Reentry Services
Address: 1898 The Alameda, San Jose, CA 95126
Phone: (408) 490 4710
Best For: Formerly incarcerated people who need reentry navigation, health care connections, job help, and housing related support.
What It Offers: Roots helps formerly incarcerated people with navigation services, employment support, housing connections, health care connections, and other transition services.
Halfway Houses and Transitional Housing
Housing is one of the hardest parts of reentry. Start with the Reentry Resource Center and local shelter access lines first, then ask each program if they work with people who have criminal records. Also see Felon Friendly Apartments & Housing: How to Find Housing With a Criminal Record.
Santa Clara County Reentry Housing and Shelter Resources
Address: 151 W. Mission St., San Jose, CA 95110
Phone: (408) 535 4299
Best For: Reentry clients who need emergency shelter, transitional housing, or housing referrals.
What It Offers: The county reentry system provides shelter and housing resource information for people involved in reentry. It may connect clients to shelters, supportive housing resources, and local homeless service providers.
HomeFirst Services of Santa Clara County
Address: 2011 Little Orchard St., San Jose, CA 95125
Phone: (408) 539 2100
Best For: Adults and families experiencing homelessness in Santa Clara County.
What It Offers: HomeFirst provides emergency shelter, housing assistance, interim housing, permanent housing support, outreach, and related services for people experiencing homelessness.
HomeFirst Santa Clara County Housing Services
Address: 2011 Little Orchard St., San Jose, CA 95125
Phone: (408) 539 2100
Best For: People who need shelter, housing support, homelessness prevention, or case management.
What It Offers: HomeFirst operates housing and shelter services across Santa Clara County. The organization also provides prevention services and supportive services for people at risk of homelessness.
LifeMoves Adult Services
Address: San Jose, CA
Phone: (650) 685 5880
Best For: Single adults, veterans, and people experiencing homelessness who need shelter and case management.
What It Offers: LifeMoves provides interim shelter, case management, housing focused support, employment help, medical respite, and other services designed to help people move toward stable housing.
LifeMoves Family Services
Address: San Jose, CA
Phone: (650) 685 5880
Best For: Families and single women experiencing homelessness.
What It Offers: LifeMoves provides interim housing and supportive services for families and individuals who are trying to return to stable housing.
PATH Santa Clara County
Address: San Jose, CA
Phone: Contact through website
Best For: People experiencing homelessness who need outreach, housing navigation, and supportive services.
What It Offers: PATH provides supportive services for formerly homeless residents, field based services for vulnerable renters, and housing focused programs in Santa Clara County.
Casa de Clara Catholic Worker
Address: 318 N. 6th St., San Jose, CA 95112
Phone: (408) 297 8330
Best For: Women and children who need shelter, food, showers, and basic support.
What It Offers: Casa de Clara is connected to the San Jose Catholic Worker community and may provide shelter, food distribution, showers, mail services, and support for people on the margins.
Housing Solutions
For long term housing, do not rely on one application. Apply broadly, ask about criminal record screening before paying application fees, and keep records of who you contacted. Also read Felon Friendly Apartments & Housing: How to Find Housing With a Criminal Record.
Here4You Shelter Hotline
Address: Santa Clara County, CA
Phone: (408) 385 2400
Best For: People who need shelter access or housing referral information in Santa Clara County.
What It Offers: Here4You helps connect people to shelter options and housing referrals in Santa Clara County. Call first because many shelters require referral instead of walk in access.
Santa Clara County Office of Supportive Housing
Address: 2310 N. First St., Suite 201, San Jose, CA 95131
Phone: (408) 278 6400
Best For: People seeking county housing programs, shelter information, supportive housing, or homelessness prevention resources.
What It Offers: The Office of Supportive Housing manages housing and homelessness programs in Santa Clara County, including shelter information, supportive housing programs, and housing system coordination.
City of San Jose Homeless Services Guide
Address: 200 E. Santa Clara St., San Jose, CA 95113
Phone: (408) 535 3860
Best For: People who need a city level guide to shelter, outreach, health care, food, and housing services.
What It Offers: The City of San Jose provides a homeless services guide that lists local shelter, outreach, health, and support resources.
HomeFirst Homelessness Prevention Services
Address: Santa Clara County, CA
Phone: (408) 516 5100
Best For: Low income residents at risk of losing housing.
What It Offers: HomeFirst’s prevention services may help qualifying households with limited financial assistance and support designed to prevent homelessness.
Emergency Food, Clothing, and Basic Needs
If you need food, clothing, hygiene items, or emergency help, contact these places as soon as possible. You may also want to read Emergency Financial Help for Felons.
Sacred Heart Community Service
Address: 1381 S. First St., San Jose, CA 95110
Phone: (408) 278 2160
Best For: People who need food, clothing, rent help, utility help, public benefits assistance, or job support.
What It Offers: Sacred Heart Community Service provides food, clothing, housing assistance, utility assistance, public benefits help, education support, and employment related services.
Sacred Heart Food and Clothing Program
Address: 1381 S. First St., San Jose, CA 95110
Phone: (408) 278 2160
Best For: People who need groceries, clothing, and hygiene supplies.
What It Offers: Sacred Heart provides food and clothing services for low income residents and families in need.
Second Harvest of Silicon Valley Get Food
Address: 750 Curtner Ave., San Jose, CA 95125
Phone: (800) 984 3663
Best For: People who need free groceries or prepared meals.
What It Offers: Second Harvest helps people find free food distribution sites, groceries, prepared meals, and CalFresh application help in Santa Clara and San Mateo Counties.
Second Harvest of Silicon Valley Contact Center
Address: 750 Curtner Ave., San Jose, CA 95125
Phone: (408) 266 8866
Best For: People who need food bank contact information or help finding the correct food assistance program.
What It Offers: Second Harvest provides food bank support, food locator tools, and information about free grocery and meal resources.
The Window at Catholic Charities
Address: 95 S. Market St., San Jose, CA 95113
Phone: (408) 241 5600
Best For: People who are unhoused, recently released, or in need of food, clothing, housing, employment, or health care connections.
What It Offers: The Window connects people to basic needs help, housing support, employment resources, health care connections, and multiple services.
Free or Low Cost Healthcare and Mental Health Help
Medical care, mental health care, medication, and addiction treatment can make reentry more stable. If you are in crisis, call 911 or go to the nearest emergency room.
Santa Clara Valley Healthcare Reentry Mobile Health Center
Address: 151 W. Mission St., San Jose, CA 95110
Phone: (408) 885 5000
Best For: People recently released from jail or prison who need medical care, mental health care, and social service connections.
What It Offers: The Reentry Mobile Health Center provides medical and mental health care for people recently released from jail or prison. Social workers may also help with income, food, shelter, and transportation needs.
Gardner Health Services
Address: 160 E. Virginia St., Suite 100, San Jose, CA 95112
Phone: (408) 457 7100
Best For: Uninsured, low income, and Medi Cal patients needing medical, dental, mental health, or family health services.
What It Offers: Gardner Health Services provides medical care, dental care, mental health services, optometry, WIC services, and community health support.
Gardner Health Center
Address: 195 E. Virginia St., San Jose, CA 95112
Phone: (408) 457 7100
Best For: People who need primary care, family medicine, women’s health, chiropractic care, nutrition services, or member support.
What It Offers: Gardner Health Center provides primary care and other health services in San Jose.
Gardner Alum Rock Health Center
Address: 1783 Alum Rock Ave., Suite 50, San Jose, CA 95116
Phone: (408) 457 7100
Best For: East San Jose residents who need primary care or community health services.
What It Offers: Gardner Alum Rock Health Center provides health services for people in San Jose, including care for Medi Cal, Medicare, uninsured, and private insurance patients.
Roots South Bay Clinic
Address: 1898 The Alameda, San Jose, CA 95126
Phone: (408) 490 4710
Best For: People who need community based medical care, behavioral health referrals, medication support, and reentry friendly services.
What It Offers: Roots South Bay Clinic provides primary care, behavioral health referrals, medication support, and community health services.
Santa Clara County Behavioral Health Services
Address: 828 S. Bascom Ave., Suite 200, San Jose, CA 95128
Phone: (800) 704 0900
Best For: People needing mental health or substance use treatment access in Santa Clara County.
What It Offers: County behavioral health services may include mental health care, addiction treatment referrals, crisis services, outpatient services, and support based on eligibility and need.
Legal Help, Expungement, and Documents
Clearing a record, getting ID, and fixing old legal issues can improve housing and job options. For more background check guidance, see our Background Check Laws Overview.
Santa Clara County Public Defender Reentry Expungement Program
Address: 120 W. Mission St., San Jose, CA 95110
Phone: (408) 535 4290
Best For: People who need help with expungement, record clearance, felony reduction, or post conviction relief.
What It Offers: The Public Defender’s Reentry Expungement Program helps eligible people request record clearance and related post conviction relief. Call to ask about eligibility and appointments.
Santa Clara County Automated Clean Slate
Address: 120 W. Mission St., San Jose, CA 95110
Phone: (408) 299 7700
Best For: People who want to check whether their record has been automatically cleared under California law.
What It Offers: The Public Defender’s Office provides information about automatic record relief and a request form to check whether eligible arrests or convictions have been sealed.
Clear My Record Santa Clara County
Address: Online resource for Santa Clara County residents
Phone: (408) 535 4290
Best For: People who want a simple starting point for record clearance in Santa Clara County.
What It Offers: Clear My Record explains how to start the Santa Clara County record clearance process and directs people to the Public Defender intake line.
San Jose State University Record Clearance Project
Address: One Washington Square, San Jose, CA 95192
Phone: Contact through website
Best For: People who cannot afford private legal help and want assistance understanding record clearance options.
What It Offers: The Record Clearance Project provides legal information and assistance for people seeking a second chance through record clearance.
SJSU Record Clearance Project Legal Services
Address: One Washington Square, San Jose, CA 95192
Phone: Contact through website
Best For: People who need help understanding expungement, felony reductions, RAP sheets, and employment rights after conviction.
What It Offers: The Record Clearance Project provides free legal services that may include court representation, record review interviews, expungement help, felony reductions, and presentations on record clearance.
Santa Clara County Probation Clear and Expunge Records for Adults
Address: 2314 N. First St., San Jose, CA 95131
Phone: (408) 435 2000
Best For: Adults looking for information about expungement, early termination, or felony reduction.
What It Offers: The Probation Department explains options for record clearance, expungement, early termination, and felony reductions in Santa Clara County.
Santa Clara County Clerk Recorder Birth and Death Certificates
Address: 110 W. Tasman Drive, First Floor, San Jose, CA 95134
Phone: (408) 299 5688
Best For: People who need a birth certificate or vital record for ID, housing, benefits, or employment.
What It Offers: The Clerk Recorder’s Office provides birth and death certificate services for eligible applicants.
Employment Help
Employment is one of the biggest parts of successful reentry. Start with programs that understand justice involved job seekers, then apply widely. You can also use our main guide to Jobs For Felons & Companies.
Goodwill of Silicon Valley Career Services
Address: 1080 N. 7th St., San Jose, CA 95112
Phone: (408) 998 5774
Best For: People who need job search help, training, resume support, and employment placement.
What It Offers: Goodwill helps job seekers with career services, training, employment preparation, and specialized support for people experiencing homelessness, veterans, people with disabilities, and formerly incarcerated individuals.
Goodwill of Silicon Valley NOW Program
Address: 1080 N. 7th St., San Jose, CA 95112
Phone: (408) 998 5774
Best For: Adults with criminal backgrounds referred by the Santa Clara County Reentry Resource Center.
What It Offers: The NOW program provides reentry focused employment support, job readiness, workforce guidance, and help moving toward full time work.
Center for Employment Opportunities San Jose
Address: 521 Parrott St., San Jose, CA 95112
Phone: Contact through website
Best For: People on parole, probation, or recently released from incarceration who need fast employment support.
What It Offers: CEO provides employment and reentry services for people returning from incarceration, including transitional work opportunities, job coaching, placement support, and long term career support.
Center for Employment Training San Jose
Address: 701 Vine St., San Jose, CA 95110
Phone: (408) 534 5360
Best For: People who need hands on training for trades, medical, business, construction, truck driving, or technical careers.
What It Offers: CET provides career training programs designed to prepare students for entry level jobs in fields with hiring demand.
Santa Clara County Reentry Employment Services
Address: 151 W. Mission St., San Jose, CA 95110
Phone: (408) 535 4299
Best For: Reentry clients who need job readiness, digital skills, employment referrals, and support getting hired.
What It Offers: County reentry employment services connect clients to Goodwill’s NOW program, job readiness support, digital literacy, case management, and employment placement help.
Sacred Heart Community Service
Address: 1381 S. First St., San Jose, CA 95110
Phone: (408) 278 2160
Best For: Low income job seekers who need employment support and help stabilizing basic needs.
What It Offers: Sacred Heart provides employment related help along with food, clothing, public benefits, housing assistance, and other services that support job readiness.
Substance Abuse Help
If you are on parole, probation, court supervision, or rebuilding after release, getting treatment early can help protect your freedom, housing, job, and family relationships.
Reentry Resource Center Alcohol and Drug Resources
Address: 151 W. Mission St., San Jose, CA 95110
Phone: (408) 535 4299
Best For: Reentry clients who need substance use assessment, outpatient treatment, mental health connection, or service linkage.
What It Offers: The Reentry Resource Center connects clients to substance use treatment services, mental health care, outpatient treatment, and other reentry support.
Santa Clara County Substance Use Treatment Services
Address: 828 S. Bascom Ave., Suite 200, San Jose, CA 95128
Phone: (800) 488 9919
Best For: People who need alcohol or drug treatment, assessment, detox referrals, outpatient treatment, or recovery support.
What It Offers: County substance use services can connect eligible residents to treatment programs, assessments, referrals, and recovery support.
Santa Clara County Behavioral Health Services
Address: 828 S. Bascom Ave., Suite 200, San Jose, CA 95128
Phone: (800) 704 0900
Best For: People who need mental health services, addiction treatment access, crisis support, or behavioral health referrals.
What It Offers: Behavioral Health Services provides access to county mental health and substance use services, including crisis services and referrals.
Santa Clara Valley Healthcare COMPASS Clinic
Address: Valley Health Center Moorpark, San Jose, CA
Phone: (408) 885 5000
Best For: Adults dealing with substance use challenges who need medical and recovery support.
What It Offers: The COMPASS Clinic provides addiction related medical care, psychosocial support, and transitional support for adults working toward recovery.
Pathway Society
Address: San Jose, CA
Phone: Contact through website
Best For: People seeking substance abuse treatment and recovery support in Santa Clara County.
What It Offers: Pathway Society provides substance use treatment and counseling services for adults and families affected by alcohol and drug addiction.
Family, Youth, and Community Support
Reentry affects the whole family. These programs may help with youth, family stability, shelter, counseling, and community support.
Bill Wilson Center
Address: 3490 The Alameda, Santa Clara, CA 95050
Phone: (408) 243 0222
Best For: Youth, young adults, individuals, and families needing housing, counseling, mental health care, and supportive services.
What It Offers: Bill Wilson Center provides housing programs, counseling, mental health care, youth services, family support, and advocacy in Santa Clara and Santa Cruz Counties.
Bill Wilson Center Housing Services
Address: 3490 The Alameda, Santa Clara, CA 95050
Phone: (408) 243 0222
Best For: Youth, young adults, and families who need housing support.
What It Offers: Bill Wilson Center offers housing services for youth and families, including shelter connection, housing programs, and supportive services.
Bill Wilson Center Drop In Center
Address: 693 S. 2nd St., San Jose, CA 95112
Phone: (408) 925 0231
Best For: Homeless youth and young adults who need drop in support, respite, basic needs, or service connection.
What It Offers: The Drop In Center provides food, showers, clothing, personal care items, phone access, computer access, laundry, and connection to housing support.
Bill Wilson Center Safety Net Shelter
Address: 3490 The Alameda, Santa Clara, CA 95050
Phone: (408) 243 0222
Best For: Homeless or runaway youth ages 12 to 17 who need short term emergency shelter.
What It Offers: Safety Net Shelter provides short term emergency shelter and support for homeless, runaway, or at risk youth.
Santa Clara County Youth Shelter Services
Address: Santa Clara County, CA
Phone: (408) 243 0222
Best For: Youth and families looking for county shelter access information.
What It Offers: Santa Clara County directs youth shelter needs to Bill Wilson Center and provides information about crisis support, shelter, and counseling.
Other Helpful Resources
These Help For Felons guides can help with jobs, housing, food, school, legal issues, and survival after release.
Reentry Programs by State
Address: Online resource
Phone: Not applicable
Best For: People who want reentry help in other states or cities.
What It Offers: A state by state guide to reentry programs, housing help, food help, legal aid, employment support, and other services.
Jobs For Felons & Companies
Address: Online resource
Phone: Not applicable
Best For: People with criminal records looking for companies that may consider applicants with felonies.
What It Offers: Employer research, hiring guidance, job search tips, and company pages for justice involved job seekers.
Temp Agencies That Hire Felons
Address: Online resource
Phone: Not applicable
Best For: People who need fast job leads and are willing to start with temporary or contract work.
What It Offers: A guide to staffing agencies that may work with people who have criminal records.
How to Explain a Felony to an Employer
Address: Online resource
Phone: Not applicable
Best For: People preparing for job interviews and background check conversations.
What It Offers: Practical advice on explaining a felony honestly without oversharing or hurting your chances.
Felon Friendly Apartments & Housing: How to Find Housing With a Criminal Record
Address: Online resource
Phone: Not applicable
Best For: People with criminal records looking for apartments, private landlords, transitional housing, or alternative housing options.
What It Offers: Housing search strategies, application tips, and warnings about wasting money on applications where felonies are automatic denials.
Can Felons Get Section 8 or Public Housing?
Address: Online resource
Phone: Not applicable
Best For: People who want to understand public housing and voucher rules with a criminal record.
What It Offers: Information about Section 8, public housing, bans, waiting lists, and how criminal history may affect eligibility.
Emergency Financial Help for Felons
Address: Online resource
Phone: Not applicable
Best For: People who need urgent help with food, bills, shelter, transportation, or basic needs.
What It Offers: A practical guide to emergency assistance options for people with criminal records.
Financial Help for Felons
Address: Online resource
Phone: Not applicable
Best For: People who need help with money, bills, grants, benefits, and financial recovery.
What It Offers: A broader guide to financial assistance options and support resources.
Can Felons Get Food Stamps?
Address: Online resource
Phone: Not applicable
Best For: People who need food assistance after release.
What It Offers: Information about SNAP food benefits and how felony records may affect eligibility.
Expungement Guide for Felons
Address: Online resource
Phone: Not applicable
Best For: People who want to learn how record clearing may work.
What It Offers: General guidance about expungement, record sealing, eligibility, and why clearing a record can help with jobs and housing.
Background Check Laws Overview
Address: Online resource
Phone: Not applicable
Best For: People who want to understand how criminal background checks work.
What It Offers: A plain language overview of background check rules, lookback periods, state differences, and employer screening issues.
How to Go Back to College With a Criminal Record
Address: Online resource
Phone: Not applicable
Best For: People with criminal records who want education, training, or a degree.
What It Offers: Guidance on college admissions, financial aid, program choice, and education planning after a conviction.
Reentry Programs in California
Address: Online resource
Phone: Not applicable
Best For: People looking for reentry help outside San Jose or across California.
What It Offers: A statewide guide to California reentry programs, housing help, legal help, employment support, health care, and basic needs resources.
What Makes a Good Reentry Program?
A good reentry program should do more than hand you a phone number. The best programs help with the real barriers that keep people stuck after incarceration.
- Look for programs that offer:
- Case management and follow up
- Housing referrals or shelter access
- Employment help or job training
- Help getting ID, benefits, and documents
- Mental health or substance use treatment connections
- Legal help for record clearance or court related issues
- Food, clothing, hygiene supplies, and transportation support
- Experience working with people who have criminal records
Tips for Choosing a Reentry Program in San Jose
Start with the Santa Clara County Reentry Resource Center because it is built specifically for people coming home from jail, prison, supervision, or court involvement.
- Call before going in person because hours, intake rules, and referral requirements can change.
- Ask directly if they work with people who have felony records, parole, probation, warrants, sex offense convictions, violent convictions, or recent releases.
- Bring ID if you have it, release paperwork, probation or parole paperwork, benefit letters, medical cards, and any documents related to housing or court.
- Do not pay housing application fees until you ask whether criminal records are automatic denials or reviewed individually.
- Apply to several programs at once. Waiting lists are common in San Jose and Santa Clara County.
Disclaimer
This page is for general information only. Program details, eligibility rules, addresses, phone numbers, and services can change. Some programs may have waitlists, referral requirements, income rules, supervision requirements, or restrictions based on conviction type. Always contact the organization directly before visiting or applying.
This is not legal advice. For legal questions about expungement, record clearance, warrants, probation, parole, housing rights, or employment discrimination, contact a qualified attorney, legal aid organization, or the Santa Clara County Public Defender’s Office.
