Reentry resources for Whatcom County. Statewide programs are included alongside local ones.
Washington Department of Social and Health Services
Provides monthly cash grants to eligible low-income adults who are age 65 or older, blind, or likely to meet SSI disability criteria
Washington State Department of Health
Corrects and amends birth certificate records for births that occurred in Washington State from 1907 to present
King County Solid Waste Division
Free textile recycling bins for clothing, bedding, shoes, linens, and other textiles
Oxford Houses in Washington State
Operates low-cost, clean and sober housing for those in recovery, providing separate houses for single men and for single women with limited housing for single adults with children.
King County Superior Court
Seminar on how parental conflict affects children
State of Washington
Job search portal for Washington State government employment positions
Washington State Health Care Authority
Free or low-cost health care including medical, dental, and vision care
Washington State Department of Corrections
Structured pre-release residential reentry with services
Cash aid, HEN referral, and SSI application help for low-income disabled adults
Bridge cash for likely-SSI adults; HEN rent/essential-needs referral
Suspends not terminates during incarceration; auto-reinstates on release
Vacate voided drug-possession convictions; LFO refunds
Bars licensing disqualification based solely on criminal history
Free training and state certification for a paid Medicaid-billable peer-support career (reentry peer navigation)
State pledge scholarship covering public-rate tuition and book allowance
Waive collection fees, consolidate fines, release third-degree suspension holds
Serve part of sentence in community under EM
Up to $700/mo for 6 mo to DOC-approved vendors
Individual Reentry Plan, essential needs, housing/ID/jobs, warm handoffs
Hunger Free Washington
Monthly benefits for buying groceries, averaging $327 per month per household in Washington
Open/modify child-support orders; help for reentering parents
Resolve debts owed to DSHS (overpayments); NOT criminal LFOs
Vocational rehab and employment support for people with disabilities
TBI information, referral, and free support groups
Court-ordered DV intervention treatment; state-certified programs
Case management and waiver long-term supports for developmental disability
Free fidelity bonding insurance for high-risk hires
Federal tax credit to employers hiring ex-felons and other target groups
Statewide reentry resource wiki incl. Spanish-language links
County-by-county reentry resource lists
Waive interest; remit/reduce/convert unpaid discretionary LFOs
Reimburses landlords for damage, some unpaid rent, survivor damages; lowers risk of renting to barrier tenants
Live vacancy search + house contacts for interviews
Reentry housing, SUD/mental health treatment, employment
Regain driver license where court debt drove suspension
Start SSI app/reinstatement + SS card before release
Suspend/reinstate around incarceration
Suspend/reinstate around incarceration
Free replacement SS card
Cash for some families ineligible for federal TANF
Employment services for job seekers
Vacate eligible misdemeanor/gross-misdemeanor convictions
Register or update voter registration online
Restore/register to vote after felony
Supervised early transition to community with electronic monitoring and support
Reentry navigators for essential needs, housing, ID, employment, benefits enrollment
Verify state-credentialed SOTP providers for registrants and supervised clients
Certified birth and other WA vital records, $25 each
Self-service reinstatement steps by suspension type
Issue/replace WA state identification card
Vocational counseling and employment supports for people with disabilities
Searchable map of WAQRR-certified residences, Oxford & Tribal homes
Auto-restored voting rights at release; re-register to vote
Advocacy, CRP reentry grants to CBOs
Issue/replace ID card
Federal tax credit up to $2,400 for hiring ex-felons
Sliding-scale grant (not a loan) for tuition at colleges and approved apprenticeships
Washington State Department of Social and Health Services
Online SNAP (Basic Food) application portal
Court interpreters in 40+ languages, plus sign language
Apply/enroll in Apple Health and qualified health plans
Criminal appeals contracting; trial-defense funding; Blake relief
Free confidential 1:1 business advising, workshops, market research from 30+ advisors
Registers all state apprenticeships; ARTS program directory; paid earn-while-you-learn training
Statewide reentry policy, reports, partner coordination
WorkSource
Publicly-funded statewide partnership providing employment and training services to job seekers and employers
DSHS child-care subsidy for working/training parents
Statewide civil legal-aid intake and advice; referral to NJP offices for record relief, LFO, housing
Free guidance on why a license is suspended and how to fix it, incl. LFO-hearing request
988 Lifeline and 24-hour Crisis Line
24/7 mental-health and substance-use crisis line; mobile crisis dispatch
One Parish One Prisoner matched support teams, chaplaincy, restorative justice circles, families-of-the-incarcerated support
Inside-prison education/mental health/cultural chapters, TEACH college pathway, reentry and reintegration assistance
CDFI coaching, classes, and small-business loans for under-banked entrepreneurs
Free independent-living services and disability supports
Court order barring most state licensing bodies from denying solely on record; negligent-hiring/renting shield
Free child-care referral and financial-help guidance
Peer-led reentry navigation, LFO-reduction advocacy, fellowship, Gamechanger meetings, volunteer/organizing roles
On-campus navigator connecting students to food, housing, childcare, and benefits
Reentry legal clinics including CROP petitions and record relief
DentistLink.org
Low-cost dental care resource for Medicaid, uninsured, and insured patients
Rapid Rehousing and Homelessness-to-Homeownership tracks
Advocacy and funding for Indigenous prisoner rights and religious freedom; funds NARS religious services
Matched savings (up to $2 per $1, max $4,000) for a first home, education, or business, with financial coaching
Benefits enrollment, healthcare navigation, free counseling, leadership/civic programs; bridge to Latino nonprofits
Building-trades union membership and apprenticeship; case-by-case review of records
National union-endorsed pre-apprenticeship curriculum giving direct-entry advantage into registered trades
24/7 survivor crisis support and referral
Detention and deportation defense, legal orientation, direct representation, attorney referrals, community education
Workforce funding, tools/book scholarships, SNAP-linked training support at 34 colleges
Putting Kids First
Online parenting class covering positive parenting skills for every age, meeting CPS and court requirements for family reunification
General rule against license denial solely for a record; sealed/vacated convictions cannot disqualify
Navigators for transcripts, financial aid, enrollment, apprenticeship; campus reentry offices (New Chances, HP3, Seattle Central, Pierce CBEN, Skagit)
Guidance discouraging blanket record bans; how to present rehabilitation evidence to landlords
Native American cultural services around reentry
Statewide phone/online navigation to reentry, housing, food, health, legal; Spanish and other languages
Directory of 70+ DV survivor programs; safety resources
Live referral to food, shelter, benefits, reentry; Coordinated Entry front door
Immigration-consequences advising, ICE Detainee Locator, reentry resource lists
Free 24/7 referral to SUD treatment, MAT/MOUD, crisis, recovery
Statewide directory and coordination of the CILs
Peer support for non-crisis emotional support
WorkSource
Full job/training services; justice-involved support
Help finding reduced cost dental clinics and services in your area
Hunger Free Washington
Assistance with completing Basic Food (SNAP) application
Weld Seattle
Provides transitional housing for individuals who are reintegrating post-prison/jail and also willing to actively engage in recovery.
Department of Social and Health Services (DSHS)
Interview and processing for Basic Food (SNAP) applications
Know-your-rights guidance on voting restoration
Second-chance hiring support in construction
Monthly EBT food benefits
Reentry legal and support guide
Civil legal aid incl. LFO relief and reentry barriers
DOC verification letter to DOL ~45 days pre-release; DOC badge as proof
Weld Seattle
Reentry housing and community-support program for people coming home after incarceration
Self-run drug/alcohol-free shared homes, no time limit
Bridge to College, scholarships (tuition, rent, bus), employment/housing help
WA-specific housing and treatment for registrants
Jail transition, SUD treatment, case mgmt, housing, supported employment
Cash assistance and job services for families with children
Set aside eligible convictions to reduce background-check barriers
Curated list of reentry organizations
Pre-apprenticeship (MC3), trades pathways, reentry policy advocacy
30,000+ resource database: housing, food, utilities, health, mental health
Free reentry, record, LFO, benefits legal guides and forms
Individual Employment Plans, job readiness, WOTC/bonding education
Construction pre-apprenticeship for men (CTAP, 20 credits) and women (TRAC, 16 wks) built with trades unions
Develops plans for housing, money management, and rehabilitation treatment
Waive or reduce non-restitution court debt and interest; unlocks record vacating and relicensing
Vacate eligible felonies and misdemeanors; 2024 update dropped post-LFO wait, allows LFO reduction
Certified copy of WA birth certificate
Home Advantage, House Key Opportunity, HomeChoice with downpayment assistance; free homebuyer education
Driver-license reinstatement once fines/SR-22/suspension resolved; many unpaid-ticket suspensions lifted
AirTalk Wireless
Free or discounted cell phones and service plans with monthly service discount up to $9.25 (or up to $34.25 for Tribal territories)
enTouch Wireless
Free cell phone service with talk, text, and data for eligible Washington State residents
Nigel Malden Law
Vacating a conviction removes it from the public court record and lets you lawfully state you were not convicted.