Re-entering society after incarceration is a significant challenge, but Indiana offers numerous grants and assistance programs to help felons rebuild their lives. Grants for felons in Indiana provide support for basic needs, housing, education, employment, and more.
Basic Needs Grants For Felons in Indiana 2025
Felons in Indiana are eligible for help with rent, buying food, paying for utilities, and covering medical expenses.
Help For Felons To Buy Food
If you meet the income limits, SNAP (Food Stamps) gives you a monthly grant to buy food at grocery stores and farmer’s markets.
Single-person households can get up to $292 per month. Each additional person in your household adds approximately $220 to your monthly award.
How much can you get: https://www.snapscreener.com/screener/indiana
LIHEAP/ EAP Energy Grants For Felons Indiana
Felons may qualify for heating and cooling grants. Low-income Indiana residents can apply for Energy Assistance Program grants twice a year to help with energy bills. If you’re in danger of having your utilities shut off, emergency payments are also available.
Learn more HERE.
Cash Grants For low-Income Families In Indiana
Indiana felons with children under 18 may be eligible for TANF. The Temporary Assistance for Needy Families program gives recipients a monthly allowance to spend on basic needs.
TANF grants pay between $248 to $1241 per month depending on your family size and income.
Indiana Grants Rent For Felons
Indiana runs income-based rent assistance programs to help tenants in private and public housing.
Housing Programs
Felons can apply for rent assistance but will have to pass a criminal background check before being approved for support. Public housing authorities assess criminal backgrounds on a case-by-case basis, so your felony doesn’t mean you can’t get help.
How much can you get? Once approved for rent assistance you won’t have to spend more than 30% of your income on housing.
Learn more: https://www.in.gov/ihcda/
Rapid Re-housing Program
This program is for homeless people in Indiana. Support which lasts for up to 12 months includes financial assistance for security and utility deposits and partial rent payments.
Learn more HERE.
Free Grants In Indiana For Phone & Internet
Felons can qualify for free cell phone service through the Lifeline program offered by providers like Life Wireless.
Get unlimited free calls and texts and 4.5 GB of data per month. Eligibility is based on your income (under $20,331 for a single person).
Learn more HERE.
Grants For Felons Without Health Insurance
To get free and low-cost health insurance, apply to Indiana’s Medicaid or Medicare programs. Your felony won’t affect your eligibility for health cover.
If you aren’t eligible for Medicaid or Medicare, you may qualify for cover under the Healthy Indiana Plan (HIIP).
HIP Basic: Free health plan with low co-pays for doctor’s office visits and prescriptions ($4 to $8) and hospital stays (up to $75).
HIP Plus: Includes basic health care plus vision and dental care. There are no co-pays, instead you pay a small monthly amount (between $1-$20).
Learn more: https://www.in.gov/fssa/hip/about-hip/about-the-hip-program/
Modest Needs Grants
Modest Needs provides grants for working individuals and families facing unexpected financial hardships.
Focused on those who don’t qualify for traditional aid, these grants are paid directly to service providers to prevent minor setbacks causing long-lasting financial problems.
Employment Grants For Felons Indiana
Several programs provide employment training and job search support for felons in Indiana. Your local job center will connect you with program providers in your area.
Workforce Innovation and Opportunity Act (WIOA)
The WIOA helps felons find jobs by offering free skills training and certifications for in-demand jobs. Felons are one of the marginalized groups the WIOA is designed to help. Sign up through your local local Job Center or re-entry program.
Work Opportunity Tax Credit (WOTC)
The WOTC gives employers a financial incentive to hire former felons. This incentive boosts your chances of getting hired because employers can get a tax credit worth up to 40% of your first year’s wages.
While many large companies already participate in the WOTC program, smaller employers don’t often know about the incentive.
Giving a WOTC letter of introduction to prospective employers makes you a more attractive candidate. Get your letter from your local Job Center.
Indiana Manpower Placement and Comprehensive Training (IMPACT)
If you’re a felon receiving SNAP or TANF you’re eligible for the IMPACT program. IMPACT provides:
- Free job skills training
- Certified training programs
- GED programs
- Career assessments
- Resume writing assistance
- Job readiness and interview skills workshops
- Community service and work experience placement
- Job leads local to your area
- Transportation assistance
- Child care assistance
- Vouchers for work-related clothing
Learn more: https://www.in.gov/fssa/dfr/impact-job-training/
Education Grants in Indiana for Felons
Studying for a degree or vocational certification is one of the best ways to build a solid foundation for your new life, and you can get money to help you cover the cost. Free grants in Indiana for education include:
Pell Grants: Felons on a low income are eligible for a grant of up to $7,395 per year to pay for college or trade school.
Federal Supplemental Educational Opportunity Grants: Felons with exceptional financial need may qualify for an annual grant of $4,000 while they’re enrolled in trade school or college.
Indiana Adult Student Grant: Provides $2,000 per year to qualifying students enrolled at Ivy Tech Community College or Vincennes University.
Additional Resources For Indiana Felons
Join your local reentry program to access a second chance program for felons in Indiana. Reentry organizations can also help with housing, employment, skills training, education, medical care, and support.
Local churches and nonprofits in Indiana are another source of flexible assistance programs for felons. Services often include:
- Food and clothing
- Transportation vouchers
- Financial aid for bills
- Rehabilitation support
Your felony won’t be held against you when you apply for help.
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