Below is a list of organizations and online databases with local resources:
UPDATED 10/03/2022
Education After Incarceration - An article with some information on pursuing higher education after incarceration.
Charitable Pharmacy of Ohio - Provides prescriptions for non-narcotic at no charge for residents of Franklin County.
CostPlusDrugs - Cost Plus Drug Company offers hundreds of common (and often life-saving) prescription medications at the lowest possible prices.
TAPP - Manufacturing Employment Opportunities serving second chance clients
Center for Employment Opportunities - Looking for a job? CEO has immediate job openings serving second chance clients fresh back in the workplace
Registering to Vote as a Returning Citizen | Voter Registration Form
MCS T.O.U.C.H - Provides opportunities to incarcerated and formerly incarcerated individuals to obtain: Industry Recognized Certifications, Employment in-demand sectors, Comprehensive support services, & Peer-to-peer Mentoring
COTA//PLUS - COTA/PLUS integrates technology with a micro-transit solution to provide customers with improved access to jobs, healthcare, destinations, and more and is operated by trained COTA personnel
Emergency Services for Returning Citizens - Quick Sheet from Franklin County
Financial Empowerment Services -Free, professional, one-on-one, financial counseling as a public service to empower you in pursuit of your goals. This resource is available to all Central Ohio residents. Sessions with an FEC counselor are one-on-one and personal client data is not shared.
List of ODRC Reentry Coordinators and Administrators
Community Transition Program | Available Housing Subsidies for Reentry - for persons who exited Ohio prisons after April 1, 2019, and participated in recovery services while incarcerated
Ohio Hotel & Lodging Association Hotels Willing to Help- List of OH hotels that are willing to provide shelter for homeless individuals
Help I Need Transportation! Local organization that provides assistance with auto repair and other transportation concerns for those in need. https://helpineedtransportation.com/
How to get to local food pantries via COTA - Need to get to a food pantry via COTA during the pandemic? Route found in this document.
Call 2-1-1 or visit http://www.211centralohio.org to reach thousands of social service, government, and community resources in Central Ohio to meet any need.
Central Ohio Restored Citizen Collaborative - helps highlight various reentry collaboration events and resources. They also have an updated 2019 resource guide of services that help people coming home from incarceration.
First Step Friday - A reentry resource fair is held on the first Friday of every month from 10 am - 12:30 pm at 1111 E. Broad St., Columbus. This event is like a "one-stop-shop" for reentry services. Click here for more information.
Franklin County Reentry Coalition - resources for reentry in Franklin County including food, housing, and shelter, identification, clothing, transportation, job training, healthcare, public benefits, etc. information- https://reentry.franklincountyohio.gov/
Netcare's Mental Health Crisis Line - 614-276-2273 or online at www.netcareaccess.org
The Franklin County Reentry Advisory Board has resources for reentry in Franklin County including food, housing, and shelter, identification, clothing, transportation, job training, healthcare, public benefits, etc. information
ReLink hosts an updated and searchable database of shelters and crisis shelters.
Rentful In Franklin County, there are lots of resources to help pay rent and stop evictions. But those tools can be confusing and hard to find. This website provides simple, reliable, and easy-to-access links to the Central Ohio programs that keep us safe at home. This website also dispels common myths, provides eviction info customized to Franklin County, and highlights some of the places you can go to get even more help.
Shelter Intake for Homelessness - 24/7 intake for single men/women and homeless families is done over the phone by HandsOn Central Ohio. Call 614-274-7000 for intake.
The Ohio Department of Rehabilitation and Correction is encouraging all community partners that are willing to transport families of the incarcerated to facility events and visitation to join and participate in the ODRC facilitated Facebook page, Transportation Information for Families of Incarcerated Ohioans. Connect here: Transportation Information for Families of Incarcerated Ohioans or visit www.drc.ohio.gov/family. For more information on how to post a transportation opportunity to the page, click here.
Shuttle Bus to Adult Parole Authority / ODRC New Building for Public Transit Users - "4545 Fisher Express" is a free shuttle service for APA clients who use public transportation to get to the Columbus Adult Parole Authority office, located at 4545 Fisher Rd., Columbus, Ohio 43228. Pick up and drop off is at the COTA Bus Stop (Stop lD 2635) on westbound W. Broad Street near Lechner Avenue (in front of the Ohio Department of Public Safety, located at 1970 W. Broad Street, Columbus OH 43223). This location is on the #10 COTA route which travels east and west and stops every 10-15 minutes throughout the day. For a handout with details, click here.