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Just Got Out? Here's Where to Start.
Coming home after jail or prison means a lot of paperwork lands on you at once, often with nowhere stable to sit down and do it. This guide starts with the help that covers your most urgent needs — cash and a place to stay — and moves into the steps that clear the way for jobs and housing later.
Not everything here will apply to you, and some of it depends on where you live or your income. Start with whichever step matches what you need most right now.
Your first week out
Apply for General Assistance if you have a disability and don't have a stable place to stay
It provides short-term cash and housing help, about $831 a month, for adults with a severe disability who are homeless or at risk while they wait on an SSI decision.
Oregon General Assistance Program (GA)
Ask about free help applying for SSI while you're on General Assistance
General Assistance is meant to bridge you until Social Security decides your SSI claim, and free help with that application comes with it.
Oregon General Assistance Program (GA)
Call the DMV if your license was suspended for unpaid fines
Oregon's fine remittance program forgives qualifying traffic fines that led to a suspension, so you may only need to pay the standard reinstatement fee to get your license back.
Oregon DMV Fine Remittance / License Reinstatement
Your first month
Connect with Central City Concern's Flip the Script if you're in Multnomah County and on supervision
It's culturally specific reentry navigation for Black and African American people leaving prison — housing, employment, health care, and peer support in one place.
Central City Concern Flip the Script
Enter the monthly Multnomah Project Reset lottery to get court fines and fees wiped out
Each month it randomly picks 60 people with income below 80% of the area median to have their Multnomah County fines and fees forgiven — though debts like restitution and child support can't be cleared this way.
Multnomah Project Reset
Clearing your record
Look into a set-aside (expungement) for eligible arrests or convictions
If the court grants it, your record is sealed from Oregon state agencies, which can open up jobs and housing that run a background check — free filing help is available.
Criminal Record Set-Aside (Expungement)
Keep your ID, release paperwork, and any court orders together in one folder
Every program above will ask for identification or a case number, and having it ready in one place speeds up each application.
Ask each program you contact whether it can also point you toward the others on this list — reentry staff often know which office to call next better than any checklist.
Not sure which of these fit your household? Answer a few questionsand we’ll rank everything for you.
Every program for this moment
Reentry support after prison
Program: Central City Concern Flip the Script
Culturally specific reentry navigation and support — housing, employment, health care, and peer support — for people leaving prison.
Who it’s for: People who live in Multnomah County — Black/African American people leaving prison and on supervision in Multnomah County
See the rule
“Flip the Script (FTS) Re-Entry program provides services, including navigation, direct support, and resources, to men and women being released from prison and on supervision in Multnomah County.” Official site ↗
This is a candidate, not a decision. Funding and application windows change and are not published anywhere we can check — confirm directly with the program before you rely on it.
Last verified 2026-07-06 · Report incorrect information
Clear an eligible criminal record
Program: Criminal Record Set-Aside (Expungement)
Court sealing of eligible arrests or convictions so they no longer show in Oregon state records, with free filing help available.
Who it’s for: People with an eligible past arrest or conviction that meets Oregon's waiting-period rules
See the rule
“If the court grants a Motion to Set Aside, the record is sealed for Oregon state agencies.” Official site ↗
This is a candidate, not a decision. Funding and application windows change and are not published anywhere we can check — confirm directly with the program before you rely on it.
Last verified 2026-07-06 · Report incorrect information
Traffic-fine forgiveness to get your license back
Program: Oregon DMV Fine Remittance / License Reinstatement
Forgiveness of qualifying traffic fines that led to a license suspension, so eligible Oregonians can get their license back by paying only the standard reinstatement fee. DMV 503-945-5000.
Who it’s for: Oregonians whose license was suspended for unpaid fines or missing an Oregon court date
See the rule
“A remission of fines is the forgiveness of fines and fees that were imposed on a person for violating a traffic law.” Official site ↗
This is a candidate, not a decision. Funding and application windows change and are not published anywhere we can check — confirm directly with the program before you rely on it.
Last verified 2026-07-06 · Report incorrect information
Short-term cash & housing help
Program: Oregon General Assistance Program (GA)
Short-term cash and housing help (about $831 a month) for adults with a severe disability who are homeless or at risk while waiting on an SSI decision — plus free help with the SSI application. Call 1-866-535-8431.
Who it’s for: People with a disability — adults with no children who are homeless or at risk of homelessness and waiting on an SSI decision
By phone
See the rule
“provides short-term financial help for individuals with severe disabilities who are experiencing homelessness or at risk of homelessness.” Official site ↗
“Up to $649 per month in housing assistance $109 in utility assistance per month $73 in cash assistance per month” Official site ↗
“Have a severe disability that meets Social Security disability criteria” Official site ↗
This is a candidate, not a decision. Funding and application windows change and are not published anywhere we can check — confirm directly with the program before you rely on it.
Last verified 2026-07-19 · Report incorrect information
Get court fines & fees wiped out
Program: Multnomah Project Reset
A monthly lottery that clears Multnomah County court fines and fees for 60 people. Entering doesn't guarantee you're picked, and some debts (like restitution and child support) can't be cleared.
Who it’s for: People with Multnomah County court fines and fees whose income is below 80% of the area median (a monthly lottery picks 60 people)
See the rule
“Every month, 60 qualifying individuals will be randomly selected to have their Multnomah County fines and fees waived.” Official site ↗
“If you are 80% below the Area Median Income for Portland you may qualify to have your Multnomah County fines and fees forgiven through Multnomah Project Reset.” Official site ↗
This is a candidate, not a decision. Funding and application windows change and are not published anywhere we can check — confirm directly with the program before you rely on it.
Last verified 2026-07-05 · Report incorrect information
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