10 Powerful Tips for Rebuilding Your Life After Incarceration — Financially, Mentally & Physically
A New Beginning Starts with You
Leaving incarceration can feel like stepping into a new world — one full of unknowns. You may be asking:
“Where do I begin?”
“How can I get a job with my record?”
“Can I afford to live somewhere safe?”
“How do I get my life — and confidence — back?”
At Generations Co-Housing, we believe everyone deserves a second chance. We provide affordable housing in Phoenix for individuals starting over, but we also believe in supporting the whole person: mind, body, and finances.
Here are 10 practical, life-boosting tips to help you take control of your next chapter:
1. Secure Stable, Affordable Housing First
You can’t rebuild your life without a safe place to sleep.
Tip: Choose transitional housing like Generations Co-Housing that:
Doesn’t require a credit check
Accepts weekly payments (only $200/week here)
Welcomes formerly incarcerated individuals with no judgment
2. Start Small with Finances — But Start Today
Even if you don’t have much right now, every dollar matters.
Tip:
Open a free checking account at a credit union or local bank
Start a savings jar with any small income
Use free budgeting apps like Mint or Good budget
Look into second-chance banking programs
3. Prioritize Your Mental Health
Re-entry can be emotionally overwhelming. Guilt, anxiety, or even fear of rejection is real — but so is healing.
Tip:
Seek free or low-cost counseling services
Journaling daily can relieve stress
Attend peer support groups (many are online or local)
Practice mindfulness — YouTube is full of free guided meditations
4. Take Care of Your Body
You don’t need a gym membership to feel strong again.
Tip:
Do bodyweight workouts or walk 30 mins daily
Stay hydrated and eat what’s available, but smartly
Use food banks, local churches, or EBT assistance if eligible
5. Rebuild Skills That Make You Employable
Whether it’s learning how to send a resume or mastering a trade — your growth starts now.
Tip:
Explore free online courses (like Coursera, YouTube, or local library programs)
Google “Arizona Reentry Workforce Programs” for hands-on support
Write down your skills — yes, including the ones you learned inside
6. Apply for Jobs That Believe in Second Chances
Many employers are “felon-friendly” and actively hire those rebuilding their lives.
Tip:
Search job boards like Indeed, filtering “felon-friendly”
Apply at staffing agencies — many don’t check background
Consider delivery, warehouse, cleaning, or maintenance work to start
7. Build a Support System You Trust
Surrounding yourself with people who believe in you can change your life.
Tip:
Connect with support groups for re-entry
Stay in touch with family (when safe/healthy to do so)
Live in community housing where others are also rebuilding (like ours)
8. Handle Legal or ID Issues Early
Get your documents in order so nothing holds you back.
Tip:
Contact a local reentry office to get help with ID, birth certificate, or social security
Look into expungement or record-sealing options in Arizona
9. Set Goals, No Matter How Small
Even small wins matter — like going a week without a setback or saving $20.
Tip:
Write down 3 goals for this month
Break them into simple steps (ex: “Apply for 3 jobs this week”)
Celebrate progress, not perfection
10. Know You’re Not Alone — And You’re Not Broken
Your past is part of your story — not the whole story.
At Generations Co-Housing, you’re not just a tenant. You’re someone worthy of a second chance, a safe place to stay, and a community that has your back.
Ready to Rebuild?
If you're recently released and need housing, apply today at Generations Co-Housing. We offer affordable, flexible living options in Phoenix — and we welcome you with open arms.
Call us now at (480) 331-5188 or
Apply online to move in this week — no credit check required.
