What is the Homecoming Project?
The Homecoming Project helps people leaving prison begin their next chapter with a safe place to stay, steady support, and dignity.
The program also offers Community Hosts a meaningful way to earn extra income by opening a spare bedroom or ADU to a Program Participant. We partner with both homeowners and renters who have extra space and want to make a difference. Hosting is built on trust, respect, and care.
Where does the Homecoming Project operate?
The program operates in Alameda, West Contra Costa, San Francisco, and Los Angeles Counties. Program Participants are individuals who have served long prison terms and benefit most from having stability, consistent support, and genuine human connection during this critical transition.
How is the Homecoming Project similar to Airbnb?
Like Airbnb, The Homecoming Project leverages the potential of the sharing economy, but in this case we specifically support individuals leaving prison during a major life transition. Project staff assess the needs and preferences of each Program Program Participant and Community Host.
Both the Community Host and Program Program Participant get to know one another through guided matching sessions before the match is finalized, helping to create a compatible shared living arrangement.
Staff also assess the space to ensure it offers a supportive environment that can accommodate someone navigating an important transition. This home inspection is one part of the host application process.
Why is a shared economy approach necessary?
People leaving prison are 10 times more likely to experience homelessness than the general public. This is not because they lack effort or motivation—it’s because the odds are stacked against them.
Affordable housing is limited, and many housing options are closed to people with a criminal record. As a result, individuals leaving prison face real barriers to securing stable housing options. These barriers contribute directly to the prison-to-homelessness pipeline.
A shared economy approach offers a practical solution by using existing space within our communities. When Community Hosts open a spare room or back house, they help create stability during a critical transition—while receiving support and a daily stipend through the program.
Do Community Hosts and Program Participants need to know each other before applying?
No, and oftentimes they do not. We welcome applications from Community Hosts and Program Participants who already have an existing relationship—such as siblings, parents, grandparents, or spouses. However, we typically create matches between individuals who have never met.
In all cases, the goal is the same: to ensure comfort, alignment, and support for the Community Host and the Program Participant from the start. Whether people apply together or are newly matched, the process is thoughtful, guided, and designed to create a positive shared living experience.
How do you match Community Hosts with Program Participants?
The Homecoming Project carefully reviews each Program Participant’s application and identifies potential matches based on goals, daily routines, lifestyle preferences, and overall fit.
Community Hosts review a small number of potential matches and have the opportunity to meet with Program Participants through guided matching conversations. These conversations allow both the Community Host and Program Participant to ask questions and get to know one another.
Matches are finalized only when both parties feel comfortable, helping to create a shared living arrangement that is supportive, respectful, and well-matched.
How do you vet Community Hosts and Program Participants?
The Homecoming Project uses a thoughtful, multi-step process to ensure Community Hosts and Program Participants are vetted, prepared, supported, and well matched.
Vetting Community Hosts
A dedicated staff member works closely with prospective Community Hosts throughout the application process. To be eligible, Community Hosts must either own their home or have written permission from the homeowner, have a spare room with access to a bathroom for the Program Participant, and complete an initial interview with program staff. Lawful/Permitted ADUs can qualify.
Both Community Hosts and Program Participants—and any individuals over the age of 18 living in the home—are required to complete a limited background check that screens for sexual offense convictions and to support the matching process. At this time, individuals with a sexual offense conviction are not eligible to participate.
Vetting Program Program Participants
Program Program Participants are screened by Homecoming Project staff.
Screening includes an interview, a review of validated assessments required by the California Department of Corrections and Rehabilitation (CDCR), as well as a review of each Program Participant’s readiness, goals, and support needs. Program Participants are also asked to verify completion of at least three in-custody rehabilitative programs, demonstrating commitment to their personal growth and next steps.
Both Community Hosts and Program Participants—and any individuals over the age of 18 living in the home—are required to complete a limited background check that screens for sexual offense convictions. At this time, individuals with a sexual offense conviction are not eligible to participate.
Are there similar models currently in existence?
The Homecoming Project is one of the first programs of its kind. There is no other known model that subsidizes the use of existing and underutilized living spaces specifically to support individuals leaving prison during reentry.
How long will a Program Participant live with a Community Host?
A program Program Participant typically lives with a Community Host for six months during the program period. This timeframe is designed to provide stability and continuity during an important transition.
All placements are guided by the program and based on mutual fit, comfort, and readiness for shared living. Placements do not proceed without Community Host and Program Participant mutual consent.
What happens at the end of the program period?
At the end of the program period, Program Participants move on to their next stable housing option. The Homecoming Project has a 100% success rate of Program Participants transitioning into long-term housing at the conclusion of the program.
For Community Hosts, participation can continue. Community Hosts may be matched with Program Participants back-to-back, making this a reliable and low-lift way to generate income.
Do Program Participants typically leave before the program period ends?
Program Participants typically stay for the full six-month program period. In most cases, the timeline remains consistent and predictable for both the Program Participant and the Community Host.
If a Program Participant secures long-term housing earlier than expected, they are asked to provide at least seven days of notice to both Impact Justice and their Community Host. This helps ensure a smooth and respectful transition for everyone involved.
Information for Community Hosts
Who can be a Community Host?
Community Hosts are people with a spare room, backhouse or ADU – they live onsite & share their home with the Program Participant. Our Community Hosts are not reentry experts and don’t need to have all the answers—they offer a safe, welcoming environment and an open mind.
What is required of me as a community host?
Community Hosts provide a suitable shared living space for a Program Participant during the program period. In return, Community Hosts receive a daily stipend of $50 (up to $1,550 per month) to help offset housing-related costs, including utilities.
Community Hosts attend an initial orientation and three one-hour training sessions over a six-month period. Hosts are supported by a Housing Organizer who meets with them for monthly check-ins. The Organizer is available to answer questions and provide guidance throughout the program. There are no required day-to-day interactions with the Program Participant, but Community Hosts are encouraged to help create a respectful, stable, and supportive living environment.
Do I need any special experience or training to participate?
No. You do not need prior experience or specialized skills to participate.
Community Hosts attend an initial orientation and three one-hour training sessions over a six-month period. Hosts are supported by a Housing Organizer who meets with them for monthly check-ins. The Organizer is available to answer questions and provide guidance throughout the program. There are no required day-to-day interactions with the Program Participant, but Community Hosts are encouraged to help create a respectful, stable, and supportive living environment.
What kind of support will I receive as a Community Host or Program Participant?
You are not on your own. Both Community Hosts and Program Participants are supported by dedicated program staff who check in regularly, answer questions, and help navigate challenges as they come up.
Do I need to inform my neighbors about a Program Participant living in my home?
The Homecoming Project prioritizes confidentiality and privacy for both Community Hosts and Program Participants. Any decisions about sharing information are personal and should be cleared with the person whose information is being shared.
Do I need to inform my landlord about a Program Participant living with me?
Yes. If you rent your home or apartment, you must secure written approval from your landlord or property owner before participating in the Homecoming Project.
The Homecoming Project will support you through this process including providing necessary documentation. We regularly work with landlords and help make the approval process clear, straightforward, and easy to understand.
How do I get started as a Community Host?
Getting started is simple. Complete the application, and a member of the Homecoming Project team will reach out to guide you through the next steps and answer any questions.
Information for Participants
What is required of me as a participant?
As a participant, you are required to abide by the written agreement you sign that covers your participation in the Homecoming Project as well as your host’s house rules (rules must be pre-approved by the Homecoming Project). Participants must actively search for and secure a job or placement in an educational and/or employment program.
Program participants are required to meet in-person with their assigned community navigator and be in regular communication with them. They must also participate in community-based programming and services depending on their individually-tailored re-entry plans.
What does the life-coaching/mentoring/case management component entail?
Upon release from lengthy incarceration stays, participants likely will need wraparound supportive services that range in frequency and intensity for each person, depending on their needs related to employment, education, (long-term) housing, family reunification, behavioral health issues (mental health and/or substance abuse treatment), physical health care and wellbeing, benefits enrollment, identification, documentation and legal services, among other needs. The Community Navigator, or case manager, works closely with participants to identify what resources best address their individualized needs.
When do participants begin to identify and secure long-term housing?
Participants can begin looking for long-term housing immediately, knowing they have up to six months to find housing that meets their needs and that they can afford. The relationships people build with their hosts and members of the community often help people find long-term housing, and the six months also gives people time to find work and save the money needed for a security deposit.
Safety and Compliance
What happens if a participant or host is non-compliant with the Homecoming Project rules?
Upon acceptance, the host and participant must agree to and abide by program expectations and terms set by the Homecoming Project.. Non-compliance will result in discharge from participation in The Homecoming Project and as applicable, participants might be subject to further action from the parole department.
How does the program ensure the safety of hosts and participants?
The Homecoming Project staff conduct scheduled check-ins with participants and hosts and provide ongoing monitoring and support. We have written procedures establishing who participants and hosts should contact to address specific types of issues.
Research continues to underscore that individuals coming home from incarceration often experienced trauma and violence prior to and/or during their incarceration. To foster an environment that is mutually supportive and safe for hosts and participants alike, we conduct a due diligence process that includes background checks for hosts and anyone over the age of 18 who resides in the home. While most previous convictions do not disqualify someone from participating in the Homecoming Project or hosting a Homecoming Project participant, we do not accept participants with sex offense convictions on their record, nor do we accept hosts with prior sex offense convictions on their record.
Are participants permitted to just hang out at home all day?
No. Program participants are required to participate in community-based programming and services depending on their individually-tailored life plans.