Resources
Education
Community Learning Center
This Fort Worth, Texas school offers courses in HVAC, welding, aerospace manufacturing, accounting, forklift operation, CNC machining, and other areas. Tuition assistance is available.
Dallas College WorkReadyU
Dallas College offers free education and job training programs for qualified residents of Dallas County, Texas.
Educational Opportunity Center
Residents of Dallas County, Tarrant County, and Johnson County, Texas can take advantage of free education advising and resources, including GED, college, university, and trade school programs.
FreeWorld
This is a truck driving program that offers job placement assistance after you complete the courses and earn your Commercial Driver’s License (CDL).
Lone Star Truck Driving Academy
Learn to drive a Class 8 over-the-road semi truck in just five weeks and get your CDL. Tuition assistance is available.
ScholarShot
This organization offers financial aid and mentoring support to qualified high school graduates who have completed a FAFSA or TASFA application.
Entrepreneurship
Entre Capital
This is a community loan fund that supports second-chance businesses. If you have a criminal background, you may be eligible for a small business loan to launch your own enterprise!
Prison Entrepreneurship Program
PEP helps incarcerated people achieve their goals for starting their own small business when they return to society.
Health Care
Cost Plus Drug Company
An online pharmacy selling generic prescription drugs at far lower prices than traditional pharmacies, with no insurance required. One Cornbread Hustle employee saved an estimated $800 a year on a single prescription!
Housing
Chains of Grace
Transitional housing for recently-paroled people in the Midlothian, Texas area.
Come As You Are Assisted living
Group homes for those in addiction recovery, veterans, and behavioral health patients.
Community Enrichment Center
Help with housing from a North Richland Hills church group; applicants with criminal backgrounds are considered on a case-by-case basis.
Forgiven Felons
Founded by a former offender, this organization provides temporary / transitional housing, work assistance, and ministry in Texas.
Grace Place Properties
Second-chance apartments owned and operated by Grace Place Church in Duncanville, Texas. Many Cornbread Hustle employees have found help here.
Tarrant County Homeless Services Resource Guide
A comprehensive list of resources, websites, and phone numbers for the Fort Worth area.
The Way Back
This organization serves formerly-incarcerated adults in the Dallas / Fort Worth area who were released from prison or jail within the last 12 months. Assistance includes housing, documentation, education, training, and substance use treatment.
Job Preparation
CareerOneStop
Job training and placement for formerly-incarcerated people, from the U.S. Department of Labor.
South Dallas Employment Project
A collaboration of more than 140 Dallas organizations providing access to training, jobs, and more.
Talent Nova
Online assistance with creating résumés and cover letters, along with career coaching, and job interview preparation, specifically geared toward people with criminal backgrounds.
The Women’s Center
Serving Fort Worth, Texas, this organization offers career coaching to help people from diverse backgrounds find and keep jobs.
Workforce Solutions for Tarrant County
Training and job placement help in Fort Worth, Texas, and surrounding communities.
Personal Finance
IRS Free Tax Prep Help
Get free assistance with your federal income taxes, anywhere in the USA.
Pathfinders
Providing financial literacy education, coaching, asset-building, and other services. Based in Fort Worth, Texas.
Watermark Community Development Corporation
Backed by Watermark Church, this organization provides financial assistance, job training, and incubators for entrepreneurs and new small business owners in North Texas. A Cornbread Hustle employee was able to buy her first house with their help!
Reentry Assistance
City of Dallas Community Courts
For Dallas residents, the city’s Community Courts are in place to help former offenders get a fresh start.
Dallas Leadership Foundation
DLF offers assistance with obtaining health care, clothing, substance use counseling, and mentoring for formerly-incarcerated people in Dallas.
Go Further Connect
This organization provides a variety of resources for returning citizens.
Oasis Center
This Texas church-affiliated group provides a variety of assistance programs for first-time youth offenders and formerly-incarcerated people. Offerings include reentry, record expungement, counseling, coaching, workforce placement, and job preparation.
Prison to Purpose
Specializing in reentry services with support, advice, and guidance.
Tarrant County Reentry 1st Stop Center
The Tarrant County Reentry Coalition positions itself as the first place for returning citizens in Tarrant County, Texas to turn.
Texas Offenders Reentry Initiative
Created by best-selling author and nationally-recognized pastor T.D. Jakes, T.O.R.I. provides help to men and women before and after their release from prison.
Unlocking Doors
Serving former offenders and their families, this Texas organization works closely with individuals to help them restart their lives.
Social Care and General Assistance
2-1-1 Texas
Get help with a wide variety of services, by using this website or dialing 2-1-1 from any phone within Texas.
Center for Transforming Lives
Help with child care, financial education, housing, and counseling for women living in Tarrant County, Texas.
Cornerstone Assistance Network
Based in Fort Worth, Texas, Cornerstone provides services including health care, housing, reentry assistance, and emotional / spiritual support.
Fort Worth EnVision Center
A centralized hub providing resources and support, including housing, education, health care, and job training.
findhelp.org
Just enter your ZIP code to find free and low-cost assistance with money, health care, nutrition, and more.
Goodwill Industries
Free career counseling, training, resume preparation, and other job placement services can be found here.
USA.gov
Find links to all federal government resources here, including help with taxes, health care, loans, housing, and more.
Volunteers of America
In addition to volunteering opportunities, this organization can help you with housing, health care, reentry services, substance use disorders, and basic needs.
Substance Use Recovery
Alcoholics Anonymous
AA offers free help and support for those struggling with alcoholism. Private group meetings are held every day, in thousands of chapters nationwide.
Narcotics Anonymous
Offering a 12-step program modeled after AA, this group provides support for those looking to stay off of drugs and mind-altering substances.
North Texas Behavioral Health Authority
NTBA can connect you with a mental health or substance use recovery provider in the Texas counties of Dallas, Ellis, Hunt, Kaufman, Navarro, and Rockwall.
Oxford Houses
Oxford Houses are transitional addiction recovery homes nationwide. You can find Texas housing here.
Rehabs.org
This directory provides listings for rehabilitation treatment centers in all 50 states, and information on financial assistance for qualified patients.
SAMHSA National Helpline
Available 24/7, this is a free and confidential treatment referral and information service for help with addiction and substance use disorders. You can also call 800-662-4357.
Sober Living America
This is a faith-based addiction recovery and transitional housing program, with locations in Dallas and nationwide. It also offers career development and transportation services.
Transportation
Dallas Area Rapid Transit
Light rail and bus service throughout Dallas and Collin Counties in Texas.
Trinity Metro
Formerly known as The T, Trinity Metro provides bus service in Fort Worth, and manages the TEXrail and Trinity Railway Express train lines in Tarrant and Dallas Counties.
Veterans Assistance
National Veterans Outreach
Part of the American GI Forum, this operation provides employment services and housing assistance for veterans.
Off-Base Transition Training
The U.S. Department of Labor works with veterans to find jobs that are a great fit for their skills and experience.