Last Updated on: May 14, 2026
This page is for people leaving incarceration, their families, and case workers looking for reentry support in Rochester.
Rochester 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.
Notice: For statewide help and/or other New York cities, see our full guide to Reentry Programs in New York. You may also find our Reentry Survival Guide for Felons helpful.
List of Reentry Programs in Rochester, NY
Reentry Association of Western NY (RAWNY)
Address: 186–188 N. Water Street, Rochester, NY 14604
Phone: (585) 851-8886
Best For: People returning from any type of incarceration who need comprehensive support across housing, healthcare, employment, and legal assistance.
What It Offers: A one-stop reentry center providing housing help, job training, healthcare access, peer mentoring, legal assistance, and support obtaining identification and public benefits.
Judicial Process Commission (JPC)
Address: Danforth Community Center, 200 West Avenue, 2nd Floor, Rochester, NY 14611
Phone: (585) 325-7727
Best For: People returning from incarceration who need certificates of rehabilitation, RAP sheet reviews, mentoring, and civic restoration services.
What It Offers: Case management, mentoring, assistance obtaining certificates of rehabilitation and good conduct, peer support, and job readiness and employment assistance.
Center for Employment Opportunities (CEO) Rochester
Address: Rochester, NY
Phone: (585) contact via website
Best For: People recently released from incarceration who need paid work experience immediately combined with skills training.
What It Offers: Immediate paid employment, construction pre-apprenticeship training, job readiness coaching, and long-term job placement support.
Center for Community Alternatives (CCA)
Address: Multiple locations, Rochester, NY
Phone: (contact via website)
Best For: People impacted by the criminal legal system seeking recovery, housing, employment training, and civic restoration.
What It Offers: Permanent supportive housing, emergency housing, culinary and healthcare employment training, construction trades training, and recovery education.
Halfway Houses and Transitional Housing in Rochester
Stable housing is one of the biggest reentry needs in Monroe County. Some programs provide transitional housing directly, while others connect people to shelters, sober living, supportive housing, or coordinated entry services.
For a larger housing guide, visit Felon Friendly Apartments & Housing – How to Find Housing With a Criminal Record.
Spiritus Christi Prison Outreach
Address: 30 Millbank Street, Rochester, NY 14619
Phone: Admin Office: (585) 288-0504; Nielsen House (men): (585) 328-0801; Jennifer House (women): (585) 288-1074
Best For: Homeless individuals returning from jail or prison who need residential reentry support and ongoing case management.
What It Offers: Residential transitional housing at Nielsen House and Jennifer House, permanent supportive housing, case management, employment assistance, and community support.
Volunteers of America Upstate New York – Residential Reentry Center
Address: 214 Lake Avenue, Building C, Rochester, NY 14608
Phone: (585) 402-7211
Best For: Adults transitioning from incarceration who need housing, case management, and employment support combined with life skills training.
What It Offers: Transitional residential reentry center, specialized case management, employment assistance, and life skills training to support self-sufficiency.
Step by Step of Rochester
Address: 214 Lake Avenue, Building C, Rochester, NY 14608
Phone: (585) 402-7212
Best For: Women in correctional facilities or at risk of incarceration who need workshops on self-worth and healthy life skills.
What It Offers: Workshops addressing self-worth, healthy relationships, family reunification, and transition support for women re-entering the community.
Housing Solutions for People With Criminal Records in Monroe County
Housing can be difficult with a felony record, especially when landlords use background checks. Do not pay application fees until you ask whether felony records are automatic denials or reviewed individually.
For more help, read Felon Friendly Apartments & Housing – How to Find Housing With a Criminal Record. You may also want to review our guide to Public Housing for Felons.
211 Lifeline (Monroe County)
Address: Countywide resource
Phone: 211 or 1-877-356-9211; Text: 898211
Best For: Anyone needing housing, food, emergency assistance, social services, and local resource information.
What It Offers: Free information and referrals to local housing programs, homeless prevention services, emergency shelter, rental assistance, and social services.
Foodlink (Monroe County Food Bank)
Address: 1999 Mt. Read Boulevard, Rochester, NY 14615
Phone: (585) 328-3380 or 211
Best For: People experiencing food insecurity seeking access to emergency food and nutrition assistance.
What It Offers: Food pantry locator, emergency food distribution, mobile market access, nutrition education, and coordinated referrals to additional benefits.
Monroe County Department of Human Services
Address: 111 Westfall Road, Rochester, NY 14620
Phone: (585) 753-2000
Best For: People needing public benefits including SNAP (food stamps), Medicaid, and emergency assistance.
What It Offers: Public benefits applications and renewals, Medicaid enrollment, SNAP eligibility determination, Emergency Assistance for housing and utilities, and case management.
Emergency Food, Clothing, and Basic Needs
If you just got out of jail or prison and need food, clothing, hygiene items, emergency shelter, or benefits, start with these resources.
For more options, read Emergency Financial Help for Felons. You can also check whether you qualify for Food Stamps (SNAP) as a Felon.
Catholic Family Center – Community Resources Center
Address: 30 Hart Street, Rochester, NY 14605
Phone: (585) 423-9590
Best For: Low-income families and individuals needing emergency assistance, food, clothing, and supportive services.
What It Offers: Emergency financial assistance, food pantry access, clothing closet, utility assistance, case management, and referrals to community resources.
Action for a Better Community (ABC) – New Directions Clinic
Address: 33 Chestnut Street, Rochester, NY 14604
Phone: (585) 325-5116
Best For: Adults struggling with alcohol and drug use who need comprehensive treatment and life stabilization support.
What It Offers: Outpatient substance abuse treatment, counseling services in English and Spanish, case management, and referrals to housing and employment support.
Free or Low Cost Healthcare and Mental Health Help
Many people coming home from jail or prison need medication, therapy, addiction treatment, dental care, mental health care, or a primary doctor. These Rochester resources may help. You can also read our guide to Health Insurance for Felons for more coverage options.
Spiritus Christi Mental Health Center
Address: Rochester, NY
Phone: (585) 325-1186
Best For: Uninsured or underinsured individuals and families needing mental health care at no cost.
What It Offers: Free mental health counseling, case management, peer support meetings, health care navigation, housing and employment assistance, and crisis support.
Delphi Rise – Open Access Clinic
Address: 1350 University Avenue, Rochester, NY
Phone: (contact via website for current intake hours)
Best For: People released from incarceration with substance use or co-occurring mental health disorders needing rapid assessment and treatment.
What It Offers: Open access clinic for substance abuse evaluation and referral, treatment planning, recovery counseling, and care coordination.
Monroe County Addiction Services
Address: 111 Westfall Road, Rochester, NY 14620
Phone: (585) 753-5300
Best For: County residents needing substance abuse treatment coordination, recovery support, and harm reduction resources.
What It Offers: Addiction services coordination, peer support groups (in-person and virtual), naloxone distribution and training, overdose prevention education, and treatment navigation.
Westfall Associates Inc.
Address: 919 Westfall Road, Rochester, NY 14618
Phone: (585) 473-1500
Best For: Adults struggling with substance abuse who need comprehensive outpatient treatment services.
What It Offers: Behavioral therapy, trauma-informed counseling, individual and group counseling, family and marital counseling, motivational interviewing, and relapse prevention.
Rochester Psychiatric Center – Community Services
Address: Rochester, NY
Phone: (585) 241-1200
Best For: Individuals with serious mental illness needing community residence, career services, and peer support.
What It Offers: Supervised community residences, peer support, career services preparing people for employment, mobile crisis intervention, and housing support programs.
Catholic Family Center
Address: Multiple locations
Phone: (585) 262-7000
Best For: Youth and adults needing mental health and substance use treatment services.
What It Offers: Mental health treatment, substance abuse counseling, case management, specialized programs for LGBTQ+ individuals, and family support services.
SAMHSA National Helpline
Address: National phone and referral service
Phone: 1-800-662-4357
Best For: Substance abuse and mental health treatment referrals nationwide
What It Offers: SAMHSA provides free, confidential referrals to local treatment providers for mental health and substance abuse needs.
Legal Help, Expungement, and Documents
Legal help can make a major difference after incarceration. People may need help clearing records, reducing charges, getting IDs, handling warrants, dealing with child support, fixing tickets, or understanding employment rights. For more on record clearing, see our Felony Expungement & Sealing Information. You may also find our guides to Background Check Laws and Seven Year Background Check States helpful.
Legal Assistance of Western New York (LAWNY) – Rochester Office
Address: One West Main Street, 4th Floor, Rochester, NY 14614 (Telesca Center for Justice)
Phone: (585) 325-2520; Fair Housing: (866) 671-3247
Best For: Low-income Monroe County residents with housing, employment, criminal record, public benefits, and fair housing legal problems.
What It Offers: Free legal representation and advice for housing disputes, employment discrimination, criminal record expungement, public benefits denials, health insurance navigation, and veterans benefits.
JustCause (formerly Volunteer Legal Services Project)
Address: Telesca Center for Justice, 1 West Main Street, 5th Floor, Rochester, NY 14614
Phone: (585) 232-3051; Tenant Defense Hotline: (585) 504-6195
Best For: Low-income Monroe County residents with civil legal problems, evictions, family law, immigration, wills, and bankruptcy.
What It Offers: Free pro bono legal services from volunteer attorneys, representation in family law and eviction cases, immigration assistance, nonprofit formation help, and clinic-based legal advice.
Legal Aid Society of Rochester
Address: Rochester, NY
Phone: (585) 232-4090
Best For: Low-income Monroe County residents needing legal representation in civil matters including housing, family law, education, and consumer issues.
What It Offers: Direct legal representation, child advocacy, family law services, housing assistance, education advocacy, domestic violence support, and youth advocacy.
Empire Justice Center
Address: 1 West Main Street, Rochester, NY 14614 (Telesca Center for Justice)
Phone: (585) 454-4060
Best For: Low-income New Yorkers needing civil legal advocacy for systemic change and individual matters.
What It Offers: Direct legal services, systemic advocacy, policy reform work, training and technical assistance, and litigation support for civil legal matters.
Employment Help for Felons in Rochester
Finding a job with a criminal record is difficult but not impossible. These resources help people with records find work. You can also read our guide to Employment Help for People With Criminal Records and Jobs For Felons & Companies for national employment resources.
RochesterWorks!
Address: 100 College Avenue, Suite 200, Rochester, NY 14607
Phone: (585) 258-3500; English TTY: (800) 662-1220; Spanish TTY: (877) 662-4886
Best For: Monroe County job seekers including those with criminal records needing free career services, training, and employment support.
What It Offers: Career counseling, resume help, job search training, Individual Training Grants up to $6,000, workshops, online training, job board access, and employer referrals.
Pathstone Corporation – Reentry Services
Address: 400 East Avenue, Rochester, NY 14607
Phone: (585) 340-3342
Best For: Justice-involved young adults ages 18-24 and returning citizens seeking paid training, job placement, and tuition assistance.
What It Offers: Free career training and certifications in high-demand industries, job placement support, earn while you learn opportunities, tuition assistance up to $325, and job developer support.
Urban League of Rochester – Workforce Development
Address: Rochester, NY
Phone: (contact via website)
Best For: Justice-impacted young adults ages 18-24 and recently released adults needing employment training in construction, manufacturing, and food service.
What It Offers: Job training in high-demand fields, paid work experience, GED preparation, case management, occupational training, mentoring, and leadership development.
Rochester Public Library – Job Seekers Toolkit & Business Insight Center
Address: 115 South Avenue, Rochester, NY 14604
Phone: (585) 428-7300
Best For: Job seekers and entrepreneurs needing free resources for resume writing, career planning, and business development.
What It Offers: Borrowable resources for career planning, resume writing, cover letters, job search strategies, test preparation, business planning, and business technology access.
Monroe BOCES Adult Career Centers
Address: East and West locations in Monroe County
Phone: (contact via website for specific locations and services)
Best For: Adults seeking industry-aligned workforce training in partnership with employers and educational providers.
What It Offers: Occupational training, apprenticeship coordination, GED programs, ESOL instruction, and customized employer-driven training.
Goodwill Workforce Development
Address: Multiple locations, Rochester area
Phone: (contact via website)
Best For: Individuals facing barriers to employment who need job readiness support and work preparation.
What It Offers: Job readiness services, career exploration, interview preparation, work-readiness coaching, and employment placement support.
Education and Job Training for Felons
Building new job skills and earning credentials opens doors after incarceration. These education and training resources serve people with criminal records. For more options, read our guide to Education for Felons and Free & Low-Cost Scholarships for Felons.
OACES – Office of Adult and Career Education Services
Address: Rochester City School District, multiple locations
Phone: (contact via Rochester City School District)
Best For: Adults seeking GED preparation, ESOL instruction, and vocational training including trades.
What It Offers: GED and ESOL programs, automotive technologies, electrical trades, culinary arts instruction, and workforce preparation.
Literacy Rochester
Address: Rochester, NY
Phone: (contact via website)
Best For: Adults needing tutoring in reading, math, ESOL, and digital literacy skills.
What It Offers: Reading and math tutoring, ESOL instruction, digital literacy and computer skills, resume writing, job application help, and online learning support.
Rochester Educational Opportunity Center
Address: Brockport, NY area (serving Greater Rochester)
Phone: (contact via website)
Best For: Low-income and first-generation adults seeking college preparation, academic advising, and transfer assistance.
What It Offers: College entrance exam prep, financial aid navigation, academic advising, degree planning, transfer assistance to SUNY, and supportive services.
Substance Abuse Treatment and Recovery Services
People returning from incarceration often need substance abuse treatment, recovery support, and mental health counseling. These Rochester resources provide evidence-based treatment. For more on treatment options and recovery, read our guide to Substance Abuse Treatment for Felons.
Delphi Rise – Comprehensive Recovery Services
Address: Multiple locations, Rochester area
Phone: (contact via website for intake and service locations)
Best For: People with substance use disorders needing assessment, outpatient treatment, recovery support, and peer-led services.
What It Offers: Open access evaluation clinic, prevention and education services, recovery counseling and treatment, peer support, care coordination, and transportation assistance.
Catholic Charities – Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services
Address: Multiple Monroe County locations
Phone: (585) 262-7000
Best For: Adults and youth needing integrated mental health and substance use treatment services.
What It Offers: Substance abuse treatment, mental health counseling, case management, family support, residential treatment options, and specialized programs for underserved populations.
YWCA Rochester – Residential Substance Abuse Treatment
Address: 175 North Clinton Avenue, Rochester, NY 14604
Phone: (585) 546-5820
Best For: Women needing inpatient residential treatment for substance abuse with trauma-informed care.
What It Offers: Residential inpatient treatment, comprehensive substance abuse assessment, mental health screening, stabilization services, and aftercare planning.
Villa of Hope – Adolescent and Young Adult Treatment
Address: Rochester, NY
Phone: (contact via website)
Best For: Youth and young adults ages 16+ needing medically supervised treatment for substance use and mental health conditions.
What It Offers: Medically supervised withdrawal and stabilization, individual and group therapy, crisis intervention, family services, and ongoing recovery support.
Rochester Public Health Department – Addiction Services
Address: 111 Westfall Road, Rochester, NY 14620
Phone: (585) 753-5300
Best For: County residents seeking addiction treatment coordination and harm reduction resources including naloxone.
What It Offers: Treatment coordination and referral, peer support groups, free naloxone kits, overdose prevention training, fentanyl test strips, and community education.
SAMHSA National Helpline
Address: National referral line
Phone: 1-800-662-4357
Best For: People who need free, confidential referrals to local substance abuse or mental health treatment
What It Offers: SAMHSA connects callers to treatment providers, support groups, and community-based organizations nationwide.
Family, Youth, and Community Support
Reentry affects families, children, and the whole community. These organizations may help with mentoring, family support, youth programs, community connection, and advocacy.
Center for Youth Services
Address: Multiple locations, Monroe County
Phone: (585) 473-2464
Best For: Youth affected by incarceration and justice involvement needing programs, support, and opportunity.
What It Offers: Community-based programming, mentoring, counseling, substance abuse prevention, family strengthening services, and restorative practices.
Spiritus Christi Church – Prison Ministry
Address: 121 N Fitzhugh Street, Rochester, NY 14614
Phone: (585) 325-1180
Best For: People in incarceration and their families needing spiritual support, mentoring, and community connection.
What It Offers: Spiritual counseling, peer mentoring, family support groups, crisis intervention, and community building for people affected by incarceration.
Rochester Storybook Project
Address: Monroe County Jail, Rochester, NY
Phone: (585) 309-6345
Best For: Incarcerated parents seeking to maintain connection with their children through recorded stories.
What It Offers: Book recording program where incarcerated parents record stories to send to their children with physical books.
Other Helpful Resources
These guides may also help if you are rebuilding your life in Rochester and Monroe County:
Reentry Programs in New York State
Best For: Statewide reentry help
What It Offers: A larger list of New York reentry programs, housing resources, job help, legal support, and basic needs resources.
Jobs For Felons & Companies
Best For: People looking for work with a criminal record
What It Offers: A list of companies and job types that may be more open to hiring people with felony convictions.
Felon Friendly Apartments & Housing
Best For: People who need housing after incarceration
What It Offers: Practical advice for finding apartments, asking about background checks, and locating housing options that may review applicants individually.
Emergency Financial Help for Felons
Best For: People who need immediate help with money, food, bills, or basic needs
What It Offers: Emergency assistance ideas and places to look for short-term help.
Grants for Felons
Best For: People looking for financial assistance to rebuild after incarceration
What It Offers: A guide to grants that may be available to people with felony records.
Scholarships for Felons
Best For: People with records who want to pursue education
What It Offers: A list of scholarships that may be available to formerly incarcerated people and those with criminal records.
Resources for Felons
Best For: General reentry help
What It Offers: A broader collection of resources for people with felony records.
What Makes a Good Reentry Program in Rochester?
A good reentry program should do more than hand you a phone number. Look for programs that offer direct help, clear intake steps, realistic services, and staff who understand criminal records.
Strong reentry programs usually help with:
- Housing or housing referrals
- Job readiness and employer connections
- Substance abuse or mental health support
- Legal aid or expungement referrals
- Identification documents
- Family reunification
- Case management
- Transportation or basic needs referrals
- Long-term support, not only one appointment
Tips for Choosing a Reentry Program in Rochester
Call before you go. Ask whether you need an appointment, ID, proof of release, probation paperwork, parole paperwork, Medicaid information, or referral documents.
Ask these questions:
- Do you work with people who have felony convictions?
- Do you help with housing, or only give referrals?
- Do you help people who are homeless right now?
- Do you help with jobs or only resume classes?
- Do you help with expungement or record clearing?
- Is there a waitlist?
- Do I need to live in Rochester or Monroe County?
- Do you accept walk-ins?
- Are services free?
- What should I bring to my first appointment?
Disclaimer
This page is for general information only. Reentry program details, eligibility rules, phone numbers, locations, funding, and services can change at any time. Always contact the program directly before visiting. Help For Felons does not guarantee that any organization will accept you, provide housing, offer financial help, remove a criminal record, or place you in a job. This information is not legal advice. Program information on this page was gathered from official program websites, county and city sources, and direct program listings. If you find outdated or incorrect information, please contact us.
