Second Chances Need an Address: Fair Chance Housing After Prison June 22, 2026 If we invest in education and workforce development for formerly incarcerated people, but deny them housing afterward, are we undermining reentry before it begins? Housing is one of the strongest predictors of successful reentry after incarceration, yet millions of Americans with criminal records continue to face barriers to securing stable housing. Maryland’s new Fair Chance Housing Act aims to change that by limiting how landlords use criminal background checks during the rental process. As states explore new approaches to reentry, Maryland’s law raises an important question: if housing is the foundation of successful reintegration, what becomes possible when more people are given a fair chance to secure a place to call home? Maryland’s Fair Chance Housing Act Signals A New Approach Maryland has taken a major step toward reshaping reentry in America. In May 2026, Governor Wes Moore signed the Maryland Fair Chance Housing Act into law. The legislation limits how landlords can use criminal background checks during the rental process and delays those checks until after a conditional housing offer is made. The law also requires landlords to evaluate applicants based on their current qualifications as tenants rather than automatically rejecting them because of past convictions. Every year, more than 600,000 people return to communities from state and federal prisons across the United States. Millions more cycle through local jails. Many leave incarceration determined to rebuild their lives, reconnect with family, maintain sobriety, and secure employment. Yet stable housing remains out of reach for many returning citizens. Housing often determines whether reentry succeeds or fails. Without stable housing, maintaining employment becomes difficult. Accessing healthcare becomes harder. Family reunification becomes unstable. Recovery from addiction faces a greater risk. The first weeks after release can quickly spiral into crisis. Maryland’s new Fair Chance Housing law recognizes a simple reality: a second chance needs an address. Fair Chance Housing and the Reality of Reentry The Maryland Fair Chance Housing Act changes when and how landlords can use criminal history during the rental process. Under the law, landlords cannot immediately request or evaluate certain criminal history information before extending a conditional housing offer. The legislation also limits which convictions can be considered and requires landlords to review evidence of rehabilitation and individual circumstances before denying housing. Supporters describe the law as one of the most progressive statewide Fair Chance Housing measures in the country. Senator Shaneka Henson, who sponsored the bill, framed the issue clearly: “People who have served their time deserve a fair chance at stable housing,” Henson said. “Stable housing strengthens families and contributes to safer communities.” The law reflects growing national recognition that criminal background checks often function as permanent barriers long after someone has completed their sentence. Research consistently shows that stable housing improves reentry outcomes and lowers the likelihood of reincarceration. Housing is a vital element of successful reentry. Without housing, it is difficult to obtain employment, re-establish ties to family, access health treatment services, or comply with supervision requirements. Office of the Assistant Secretary for Planning and Evaluation U.S. Department of Health and Human Services Why Stable Housing Matters After Prison Housing serves as the foundation for nearly every other aspect of reentry. The U.S. Department of Health and Human Services described housing as a “foundational element of reentry success” because it provides stability for employment, healthcare access, family reunification, and behavioral health treatment. Formerly incarcerated individuals are nearly ten times more likely to experience homelessness than the general population. Researchers have also found that people without stable housing face higher risks of rearrest and reincarceration. A 2024 federal report identified several major barriers facing returning citizens seeking housing, including landlord discrimination, limited affordable housing, restrictions in subsidized housing programs, unemployment, and a lack of coordinated support systems. Housing instability also impacts recovery from substance abuse. Housing affected every aspect of my reentry. At one point, I was very close to homelessness, causing tremendous anxiety. For over 30 years I had been housed, whether in prison, jail, transitional housing, or with family; The possibility of ending up on the street after doing everything I was supposed to do was overwhelming. Jude Meraz, The Last Mile Alumnus The connection between housing and public safety is increasingly difficult to ignore. For TLM Alumni Natasha Towle, stable housing has provided the breathing room she needed to focus on rebuilding her life after incarceration. After serving six years in prison, she now balances a full-time job, college coursework, and independent living. “The rental assistance has allowed me to save more money and focus on building long-term stability instead of always worrying about making ends meet,” Towle said. She also emphasized the value of ongoing support during reentry. “Stable housing and supportive services create a foundation that helps people stay focused on positive goals, employment, financial stability, and becoming productive members of their communities.” The Hidden Contradiction in Reentry Many reentry programs focus heavily on education and workforce development. Organizations across the country help incarcerated individuals build technical skills, earn certifications, prepare for interviews, and secure meaningful employment after release. Yet those same individuals can often struggle to rent an apartment despite holding jobs and participating in rehabilitation programs. Research from the Urban Institute found that formerly incarcerated people face barriers to employment, healthcare, mental health services, and housing simultaneously after release. The same report described housing as both a literal and figurative platform for successful reintegration. Without housing stability, even motivated individuals can lose momentum quickly. Stable housing and supportive services create a foundation that helps people stay focused on positive goals, employment, financial stability, and becoming productive members of their communities. Natasha Towle, The Last Mile Alumnus Returning citizens often rely on temporary arrangements with family or friends. Those situations can become unstable due to overcrowding, financial strain, parole restrictions, or interpersonal conflict. For many people leaving incarceration, one denied rental application can trigger a chain reaction that affects employment, transportation, healthcare access, and family stability. Fair Chance Housing policies aim to interrupt that cycle before it begins. TLM Alumnus Jude Meraz experienced many of those challenges firsthand. Released after serving more than three decades in prison, he was fortunate to have family support and transitional housing during his early years of reentry. Even so, securing long-term housing remained difficult. After a divorce left him living with relatives and struggling to save money, he found himself unable to secure housing on his own. “At one point, I was very close to homelessness, and the thought of that caused tremendous anxiety,” Meraz said. “The possibility of ending up on the street after doing everything I was supposed to do was overwhelming.” His experience reflects a reality faced by many returning citizens who secure employment but still struggle to find stable housing. How The Last Mile Supports Housing Stability The Last Mile has expanded its reentry efforts to directly address housing instability among formerly incarcerated individuals. One example is the ARG Pathways Home Rental Assistance Program, a reentry initiative funded by California’s Adult Reentry Grant. The program helps eligible TLM alumni secure and maintain stable housing by providing rental assistance, utility assistance, case management, financial coaching, and other resources to promote long-term success after release. Don Caballero, Housing & Reentry Manager at The Last Mile, oversees the organization’s ARG Pathways Home Rental Assistance Program, a housing-stability initiative funded with a $1.4 million Adult Reentry Grant from the California Board of State and Community Corrections. “We can provide up to $1,275 a month to help subsidize their rent,” Caballero said. “We can also provide help for gas, work clothes, car maintenance, anything that’s going to help you to make sure that you’re able to continue with your workforce, continue with your job search, making sure that you’re not going to lose your housing.” For TLM Alumnus Thailee Nguon, who spent more than two decades incarcerated after entering prison at age sixteen, housing support has created opportunities that extend far beyond monthly rent payments. Nguon said the program’s rental assistance has helped him save money while pursuing longer-term goals. “The monthly financial support is a great feature of the program. It helps me tremendously by providing me with the option to save more funds to invest in future aspirations,” he said. Caballero explained that the program originally focused on supporting participants immediately before release. Over time, the approach expanded to support formerly incarcerated alumni released within the last ten years. The work reflects a growing understanding across the reentry field: employment support alone is not enough if housing remains unstable. The Last Mile gives people a reason to believe that their future can look different from their past. When someone is given the right support, they can build, contribute, lead, and become a living example of what second chances should look like. Terrell Lemons, The Last Mile Alumnus Fair Chance Housing And The Future Of Reentry A person can complete rehabilitation programs, secure employment, maintain sobriety, and still struggle to find a safe place to live. That reality undermines reentry efforts across the country. The Maryland Fair Chance Housing Act offers a different approach. The law acknowledges that stable housing creates stronger foundations for employment, recovery, and public safety. Programs like The Last Mile continue proving that investment in returning citizens can produce meaningful outcomes when support systems remain in place after release. If similar housing protections and reentry services expanded nationwide, the impact could extend far beyond individual success stories. Communities could experience lower recidivism rates, stronger families, reduced homelessness, and safer neighborhoods. Second chances require opportunity. They also require stability. Housing is often the difference between surviving after release and truly rebuilding a life. TLM Alumnus Terrell Lemons sees housing as the difference between surviving and planning for the future. “For me personally, this support has helped me save money, think beyond just surviving month to month, and start looking toward goals I once did not believe were realistic,” he said. “Buying a home is something many people in my situation never thought they could do.” Creating Lasting Change Through Fair Chance Housing Terrell’s experience highlights what Fair Chance Housing policies ultimately seek to create: the conditions that allow people to move beyond immediate survival and begin building lasting stability. The stories in this article are different, but they point to the same conclusion. Stable housing enables people to focus on work, education, family, financial security, and long-term goals. It provides a foundation for recovery, personal growth, and successful reintegration into society. Maryland’s Fair Chance Housing Act recognizes that reality. It acknowledges that a record should not become a lifelong barrier to something as fundamental as a safe place to live. As more states explore ways to reduce recidivism and strengthen communities, housing deserves a central place in the conversation. At The Last Mile, we believe that education, employment, and stable housing work together to create lasting change. Through programs like ARG Pathways Home, we are helping returning citizens secure the foundation they need to move forward with confidence and purpose. If you believe everyone deserves a fair opportunity to rebuild their life after incarceration, consider supporting The Last Mile. Your support helps provide education, career pathways, reentry services, and critical resources that empower people to succeed long after they leave prison. By Robert Roche, VP of Marketing at The Last Mile. Want articles like this one in your inbox? Subscribe to The Last Mile Marker. This is a biweekly newsletter offering in-depth insights, critical updates, and inspiring stories on criminal justice reform and second chances.