Last Updated on: May 15, 2026
This page is for people leaving incarceration, their families, and case workers looking for reentry support in Allentown.
Allentown 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 Pennsylvania cities, see our full guide to Reentry Programs in Pennsylvania. You may also find our Reentry Survival Guide for Felons helpful.
General Reentry Programs in Allentown, PA
Community Action Lehigh Valley
Address: 833 Hamilton Street, Allentown, PA 18102
Phone: (610) 437-8069
Best For: People experiencing homelessness and families seeking comprehensive anti-poverty services and housing assistance.
What It Offers: Community Action provides the Sixth Street Shelter, Second Harvest Food Bank, housing counseling, weatherization, and neighborhood revitalization programs supporting reentrants in the Lehigh Valley.
PA CareerLink Lehigh Valley
Address: 555 Union Boulevard, Allentown, PA 18109
Phone: (610) 437-5627
Best For: Job seekers, including formerly incarcerated individuals, looking for employment training and placement services.
What It Offers: PA CareerLink offers job postings, job matching, on-the-job training (OJT), career counseling, apprenticeships, and employment services for people returning from incarceration.
Pinebrook Family Answers
Address: 402 North Fulton Street, Allentown, PA 18102
Phone: (610) 435-6905
Best For: People in Lehigh, Northampton, and Carbon counties needing substance abuse treatment and mental health services.
What It Offers: Pinebrook provides outpatient treatment, integrated primary care, case management, housing services, and telemedicine for individuals and families.
Pyramid Healthcare Allentown
Address: 1601 South Seventh Street, Allentown, PA 18103
Phone: (484) 514-8960
Best For: People struggling with substance abuse and co-occurring mental health disorders seeking intensive outpatient treatment.
What It Offers: Pyramid offers outpatient programs, partial hospitalization, intensive outpatient services (IOP), medication-assisted treatment (MAT), individual and group counseling with focus on recovery support.
Halfway Houses and Transitional Housing in Allentown
Stable housing is one of the biggest reentry needs in Lehigh 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.
Treatment Trends Inc – Halfway Home of Lehigh Valley
Address: 24 South 5th Street, Allentown, PA 18101
Phone: (610) 439-0218
Best For: People in recovery from substance abuse needing supervised, structured housing in an alcohol and drug-free environment.
What It Offers: Halfway Home provides transitional residential housing, case management, and support services for individuals recovering from addiction.
Treatment Trends Inc – Keenan House
Address: 18-22 South 6th Street, Allentown, PA 18101
Phone: (610) 439-0218
Best For: Individuals transitioning from addiction treatment to independent living with structured support.
What It Offers: Keenan House offers residential recovery housing, peer support, case management, and connections to employment and other reentry services.
Community Action Lehigh Valley – Sixth Street Shelter
Address: 833 Hamilton Street, Allentown, PA 18102
Phone: (610) 437-8069
Best For: Families, women with children, and homeless individuals needing emergency shelter and supportive services.
What It Offers: Sixth Street Shelter provides temporary housing, case management, job training referrals, education support, and assistance with housing placement and financial stability.
Livengrin Counseling Center
Address: 31 South Commerce Way, Suite 300, Bethlehem, PA 18017
Phone: (610) 738-0881
Best For: People recovering from substance abuse seeking residential treatment with counseling and support.
What It Offers: Livengrin provides residential treatment, outpatient services, intensive counseling, and recovery support for individuals with addiction issues.
Housing Solutions for People With Criminal Records in Lehigh 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.
Community Action Lehigh Valley – Housing Counseling
Address: 833 Hamilton Street, Allentown, PA 18102
Phone: (610) 437-8069
Best For: People seeking help with housing search, rental applications, landlord negotiations, and fair housing issues.
What It Offers: Housing counseling team provides pre-purchase counseling, mortgage foreclosure diversion, financial education, and assistance with finding rental housing.
Lehigh County Department of Human Services – Office of Income Maintenance
Address: 17 South 7th Street, Allentown, PA 18101
Phone: (610) 821-6509
Best For: People needing emergency assistance, housing help, TANF cash assistance, and benefits programs.
What It Offers: County DHS provides application assistance for housing support, emergency financial help, TANF benefits, and connections to supportive services.
Dial 211 – Lehigh Valley
Address: Countywide resource
Phone: 2-1-1 (dial from any phone)
Best For: Anyone seeking information about housing, shelters, emergency assistance, and local resources.
What It Offers: 211 is a free helpline connecting callers to local nonprofit, government, and social services including housing, food, healthcare, and emergency assistance.
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.
Second Harvest Food Bank
Address: 111 Industrial Drive, Allentown, PA 18109
Phone: (610) 841-4700
Best For: Families and individuals facing food insecurity in Lehigh, Northampton, Carbon, Monroe, Pike, and Wayne counties.
What It Offers: Second Harvest distributes nearly 10 million pounds of food annually through 200+ partner agencies, provides SNAP assistance, nutrition education, and food pantry services.
Allentown Area Ecumenical Food Bank
Address: 924 North 22nd Street, Allentown, PA 18104
Phone: (610) 433-8986
Best For: Lehigh County residents facing food insecurity seeking a client-choice food pantry model.
What It Offers: The Ecumenical Food Bank provides choice-based food pantry services, fresh produce, and access to food through partner organizations and retail recovery programs.
Salvation Army – Allentown
Address: 144 North 8th Street, Allentown, PA 18101
Phone: (610) 432-0129
Best For: People needing emergency food, shelter, clothing, and basic necessities.
What It Offers: Salvation Army provides emergency lodging, clothing, food assistance, emergency financial help (90-day grants for released individuals), and supportive services.
Lehigh County Department of Human Services – SNAP/Benefits
Address: 17 South 7th Street, Allentown, PA 18101
Phone: (610) 821-6509
Best For: Low-income individuals and families needing food assistance, cash assistance, and public benefits.
What It Offers: County DHS administers SNAP (food stamps), TANF cash assistance, home heating assistance, emergency help, and applications for Medicaid and other benefits.
Catholic Charities Ecumenical Soup Kitchen
Address: 179 West Chew Street, Allentown, PA 18102
Phone: (610) 435-1541
Best For: Hungry individuals and families needing hot meals and community support.
What It Offers: Catholic Charities operates a soup kitchen providing hot meals, and connects people to additional social services and support resources.
Jewish Family Service – Community Food Pantry
Address: Serves the 18104 zip code and Lehigh Valley
Phone: (610) 391-5883
Best For: Residents of Allentown (zip 18104) and across Lehigh Valley seeking choice-based food assistance.
What It Offers: JFS provides a choice-model food pantry, helping clients select foods for their families, and offers referrals to other social services.
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 Allentown resources may help. You can also read our guide to Health Insurance for Felons for more coverage options.
Lehigh Valley Hospital – Behavioral Health Services
Address: 1627 West Chew Street, Allentown, PA 18102 (Cedar Crest Campus main location)
Phone: (610) 402-8000 (main line) | (888) 402-LVHN (5846) for referrals
Best For: Individuals needing psychiatric care, mental health counseling, and crisis stabilization.
What It Offers: LVHN provides psychiatric evaluation, medication management, individual and group therapy, partial hospitalization programs (PHP), and intensive outpatient programs (IOP) for adults and adolescents.
NAMI Lehigh Valley
Address: Lehigh Valley (peer support and education services)
Phone: (610) 434-6364
Best For: Individuals with mental illness, their families, and caregivers seeking peer support and education.
What It Offers: NAMI provides free mental health support groups, educational classes, peer-to-peer mentoring, and advocacy for mental health awareness and recovery.
Pinebrook Family Answers
Address: 402 North Fulton Street, Allentown, PA 18102
Phone: (610) 435-6905
Best For: Individuals needing integrated mental health, substance abuse, and primary healthcare services.
What It Offers: Pinebrook offers individual psychotherapy, group therapy, trauma therapy, integrated primary care, telemedicine, and case management services.
Lehigh Valley Health Network – St. Luke’s Penn Foundation Mental Health
Address: 421 West Chew Street, Allentown, PA 18102
Phone: (610) 402-8000
Best For: People needing outpatient mental health services and intensive outpatient programs.
What It Offers: St. Luke’s provides mental health outpatient treatment, intensive outpatient programs, individual counseling, and psychiatric services on a sliding fee scale.
Crossroads Treatment Centers – Allentown Suboxone Clinic
Address: 540 North 21st Street, Suite 202, Allentown, PA 18104
Phone: (610) 820-1010
Best For: People with opioid use disorders seeking medication-assisted treatment (MAT) with compassionate care.
What It Offers: Crossroads provides Suboxone treatment, individual and group counseling, psychiatric services, urine drug screens, and recovery support.
Lehigh Valley Health Services – Community Health Centers
Address: Multiple locations in Allentown and Lehigh County
Phone: (610) 625-5000
Best For: Uninsured and underinsured individuals needing affordable primary care and dental services.
What It Offers: LVHS provides medical care, dental services, behavioral health, pharmacy services, on a sliding fee scale based on income.
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.
North Penn Legal Services – Allentown Office
Address: 1627 West Chew Street, Allentown, PA 18102
Phone: (610) 969-3463
Best For: Low-income individuals needing free civil legal representation and housing, family law, and consumer protection help.
What It Offers: NPLS provides free legal representation for non-criminal civil matters including housing, employment, benefits, bankruptcy, debt, family law, and protection from abuse cases.
North Penn Legal Services – Bethlehem Office
Address: 559 Main Street, Bethlehem, PA 18018
Phone: (610) 317-8757
Best For: Lehigh and Northampton County residents needing free civil legal aid and housing assistance.
What It Offers: NPLS provides comprehensive free legal assistance with housing discrimination, eviction defense, family law, employment issues, and benefits.
Bar Association of Lehigh County – Modest Means Program
Address: Lehigh County
Phone: (610) 433-7094
Best For: People who don’t qualify for legal aid but can’t afford regular attorney fees.
What It Offers: The Modest Means Program connects people with volunteer attorneys offering reduced-fee legal services for various civil matters.
Lehigh County Public Defender’s Office
Address: 17 South 7th Street, Allentown, PA 18101
Phone: (610) 782-3270
Best For: People facing criminal charges who cannot afford private attorneys.
What It Offers: Public Defenders provide criminal defense representation, expungement assistance, and guidance on criminal record clearing.
PA Department of Motor Vehicles – ID Services
Address: Multiple locations in Lehigh County
Phone: (717) 787-2828
Best For: People needing identification documents after incarceration.
What It Offers: PennDOT provides driver’s licenses, non-driver photo ID cards, and identification services needed for employment and housing.
Employment Help for Felons in Allentown
Employment is the foundation of reentry success. Before applying anywhere, read our guide to Jobs for Felons & Companies and Background Check Laws.
PA CareerLink Lehigh Valley
Address: 555 Union Boulevard, Allentown, PA 18109
Phone: (610) 437-5627
Best For: Job seekers including formerly incarcerated individuals seeking employment, training, and career counseling.
What It Offers: PA CareerLink offers job search assistance, on-the-job training (OJT), apprenticeships, career counseling, and wage subsidies for employers hiring individuals with barriers to employment.
Workforce Board Lehigh Valley Job Masters
Address: Downtown Allentown satellite centers
Phone: (610) 841-1006
Best For: Workers seeking customized job training, employer connections, and workforce development services.
What It Offers: Workforce Board offers sector partnerships, apprenticeships, pre-apprenticeships, transitional subsidized employment, job fairs, and recruitment events.
Lehigh Carbon Community College – Career Development Programs
Address: 718 West Hamilton Street, Allentown, PA 18101
Phone: (610) 799-1253
Best For: People seeking career training, workforce certificates, and job readiness preparation.
What It Offers: LCCC offers workforce development certificates, career training programs, job readiness classes, and connections to employers.
Community Action Lehigh Valley – Job Training
Address: 833 Hamilton Street, Allentown, PA 18102
Phone: (610) 437-8069
Best For: Individuals seeking job training, career development, and employment support services.
What It Offers: Community Action provides job training referrals, career counseling, and connection to employment opportunities for reentrants.
Allentown Works
Address: Resource navigators serving priority neighborhoods in Allentown
Phone: (610) 820-6000
Best For: Allentown residents in priority neighborhoods seeking employment, training, and economic mobility support.
What It Offers: Allentown Works provides resource navigation, job search support, training referrals, apprenticeships, and connections to long-term employment pathways.
Chamber of Commerce for the Lehigh Valley
Address: Business networking and workforce development support
Phone: (610) 841-1006
Best For: Job seekers seeking employer connections and business networking for employment opportunities.
What It Offers: Chamber supports job fair participation, employer outreach, hiring programs, and connections to local businesses.
Education and Job Training
Education and training open doors to better jobs and economic stability. People coming out of incarceration often benefit from GED programs, vocational training, and college access.
The Literacy Center – Allentown
Address: 1132 Hamilton Street, Suite 300, Allentown, PA 18101
Phone: (610) 435-0680 (ext. 804)
Best For: Adults seeking GED preparation and high school equivalency certification.
What It Offers: The Literacy Center provides free GED classes, study skills sessions, math and language arts instruction, college counseling, and tutoring services.
Lehigh Carbon Community College – GED and Continuing Education
Address: 718 West Hamilton Street, Allentown, PA 18101 (Donley Center)
Phone: (610) 799-1253
Best For: Adults pursuing GED, ESL, and workforce development certificates.
What It Offers: LCCC offers GED classes, English as a Second Language (ESL) courses, workforce certificates, and career training programs.
HADC’s YouthBuild Allentown
Address: 513 West Chew Street, Allentown, PA 18102
Phone: (610) 432-6336
Best For: Young people ages 17-24 who left school without graduating and need GED, job training, and life skills.
What It Offers: YouthBuild provides GED instruction, hands-on construction training, life skills guidance, leadership development, community service, and living allowances.
Community Commitment of Lehigh Valley – GED Programs
Address: 701 South 10th Street, Allentown, PA 18103
Phone: (610) 439-2110
Best For: Adults seeking GED preparation and basic education services.
What It Offers: Community Commitment offers free GED classes, literacy instruction, and adult education programs.
Office of Vocational Rehabilitation (OVR)
Address: 45 North 4th Street, Allentown, PA 18102
Phone: (610) 821-6441 | 1-800-922-9536
Best For: Individuals with disabilities seeking vocational rehabilitation, job training, and employment support.
What It Offers: OVR provides vocational assessment, job training, counseling, job placement, assistive technology, and ongoing employment support for eligible individuals with disabilities.
Substance Abuse Treatment
Substance abuse is often connected to reentry. These programs offer treatment and recovery support specifically in Lehigh County.
Pyramid Healthcare Allentown
Address: 1601 South Seventh Street, Allentown, PA 18103
Phone: (484) 514-8960
Best For: Adults struggling with addiction and co-occurring mental health disorders seeking comprehensive treatment.
What It Offers: Pyramid offers intensive outpatient programs (IOP), partial hospitalization (PHP), medication-assisted treatment (MAT) with Vivitrol and Suboxone, individual and group counseling, and psychiatric services.
Treatment Trends Inc – Confront
Address: 1130 West Walnut Street, Allentown, PA 18102
Phone: (610) 439-0218
Best For: People struggling with alcohol and drug addiction seeking outpatient treatment and support.
What It Offers: Treatment Trends provides outpatient counseling, group therapy, individual treatment planning, case management, and connections to recovery support groups.
Livengrin Counseling Center
Address: 31 South Commerce Way, Suite 300, Bethlehem, PA 18017
Phone: (610) 738-0881
Best For: Individuals struggling with substance abuse seeking residential or outpatient treatment.
What It Offers: Livengrin provides residential treatment, outpatient programs, intensive counseling, peer support, and long-term recovery services.
Lehigh County Department of Human Services – Drug and Alcohol Services
Address: 17 South 7th Street, Allentown, PA 18101
Phone: (610) 782-3000
Best For: Lehigh County residents needing substance abuse assessment and treatment referrals.
What It Offers: County DHS coordinates treatment resources, provides referrals to local providers, and helps with accessing both free and paid treatment options.
Crossroads Treatment Centers – Allentown
Address: 540 North 21st Street, Suite 202, Allentown, PA 18104
Phone: (610) 820-1010
Best For: People with opioid use disorders seeking medication-assisted treatment and integrated care.
What It Offers: Crossroads provides Suboxone and other MAT options, individual and group counseling, psychiatric care, and comprehensive recovery support.
Pinebrook Family Answers – Substance Abuse Services
Address: 402 North Fulton Street, Allentown, PA 18102
Phone: (610) 435-6905
Best For: Individuals in Lehigh, Northampton, and Carbon counties needing integrated treatment for substance abuse and mental health.
What It Offers: Pinebrook offers outpatient substance abuse counseling, integrated primary care, telemedicine, trauma-informed care, and case management.
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.
Community Action Lehigh Valley – Generation Next Youth Programs
Address: 833 Hamilton Street, Allentown, PA 18102
Phone: (610) 437-8069
Best For: Youth and families seeking mentoring, education support, and youth development programs.
What It Offers: Generation Next provides youth mentoring, tutoring, leadership development, community service opportunities, and family support services.
Lehigh Conference of Churches – Community Support
Address: 457 West Allen Street, Allentown, PA 18102
Phone: (610) 433-6421
Best For: People and families seeking interfaith community support, spiritual guidance, and social services.
What It Offers: The Lehigh Conference of Churches provides community connections, spiritual support, social service referrals, and community advocacy programs.
Allentown School District – Adult Education and Family Services
Address: District offices in Allentown
Phone: (610) 820-6600
Best For: Adults and families seeking education, training, and family support services.
What It Offers: ASD provides adult education programs, family engagement, community partnerships, and educational access for all residents.
United Way of Greater Lehigh Valley
Address: Multiple locations in Lehigh Valley
Phone: (610) 625-5000
Best For: Individuals and families seeking connection to social services and community support.
What It Offers: United Way connects people to local nonprofits and services addressing poverty, education, health, housing, and family strengthening.
Other Helpful Resources
These guides may also help if you are rebuilding your life in Allentown/Lehigh County:
Reentry Programs in Pennsylvania
Best For: Statewide reentry help
What It Offers: A larger list of Pennsylvania 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.
Felony Expungement & Sealing Information
Best For: People wanting to clear or reduce criminal records
What It Offers: Information about Pennsylvania record sealing, expungement, and emerging technology impact rules.
What Makes a Good Reentry Program in Allentown?
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 Allentown
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 Allentown/Lehigh 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.
