The best thing you can do as far as the living arrangements is to move in a rural area away from all the crazy people. That is what I did and it was the best thing I ever did.

In a rural area you will not have to worry about residence restrictions PLUS you will not have to worry about any local or city ordinances they might pass because you will have be out of the city limits.

Country folk have better things to do than harass sex offenders. You don't have to live in such a remote place as the Unabomber did, as just a couple of miles away from the town will work.

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That's great advice! thank u!

I don't know where you live. I live in a major, NE city. Never had a problem. The cops have too much real crime and my neighbors don't give a damn. They know me and not my past!
Also, since I also and in a specialized field, I had no problem finding a job.

We are in Texas. Coolrich that's so great that you found something right away. But I think the problem is going to be the stigma of being convicted a sex offender that might limit his opportunities. He's thinking about working in the refineries. The pay is good & they often hire people even with felonies. I don't know why I'm stressing we don't even know how much time he's going to have to serve yet. The waiting is the hardest part.

My son was released to half way house in April after, serving 5 years. He was raised in Chicago area, sent by mistake to Michigan City, In. until June. He was 2 hours away from Chicago. No way to get job. Then he was basically kicked out of Halfway house. We had to rent room in motel (expensive). Finding housing and a job have been an absolute NIGHTMARE!! He has an MBA and worked for Allstate as an financial analyst. Housing has more problems than just being a convicted Felon and RSO. Most rentals have management companies that require job verification, income verification (all with history's), credit score check (of course his is poor) and verifying former landlord contact for reference. (All Impossible). His mother eventually leased a studio, 1 year, and even his PO approved of this move. She told management company that her son would be staying there sometimes. After 1.5 months he just got a 10 day EVICTION notice and will have to move. We have to go thru this whole process again, now. We are on the hook, legally, for the 1 year lease. It is just impossible.

The Country/rural option may be the only viable alternative now. Forget getting a job in his field, that won't happen in City or Country.The other problem is that even though the rental was approved by PO and Chicago Police as "registrable" a very small montessori school opened a few blocks away and PO said he was in violation of his probation.

The best and maybe only option is buy a place, if you can. He can't, no $$$.

This whole housing and job area is terrifying for us. I am sorry , I wish I could give a positive spin on this. But I am just telling you what our story is and the obstacles are enormous.

I'm so sorry that you have to go through that. It's so really unfair to the people who just got out of jail & are trying to start over. It's like they are set up for failure. I'll pray for you & your family. I think I may have to save money & buy a home for us in the country.

I was not having problems with neighbors, but I anticipated more and more restrictions and possible problems with people who did not know me before my conviction, so I moved.

I bought eight acres of land and moved a brand new modular home on the land. Worries over. I live two miles north of a community of less than one thousand people. Nobody bothers me here.

I am out here all by myself, except my son who live with me, I can play with my animals and do as I please. As, byebye23 said, the rural/country option is the only real option a person has if he does not want to be bothered.

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With a degree is biochemistry, he is not that far off from petrochemistry. They are both based in organic chemistry. The refineries may be an option. If you can find housing a distance away from town, that may be a good option, as rew said.
I lucked out. I lived where I live now and owned my home. All my neighbors knew what happened as it was happening. I was very open. I had a problem with one and that ended quickly.
Since then, I bought another house and moved. No problems there either. I always preferred the NE cities. Now, I like them more.

We live in Philly. And the reasons I choose a city instead of the country
1. There's crime in a city and most police stations are cutting back on foot soldiers. They're too busy with real crime than to bother us.
2. My son doesn't need to have a drivers license. He doesn't have to drive. Everything is in walking distance or the bus & train are right around the corner.

I've lived in the country and didn't like it for several reasons
1. You have to drive 30 minutes to get gas or a gallon of milk
2. Everyone has a gun. And if you're not into that culture then you're not part of the group.. You can stay to yourself but most times your neighbors from a mile away want to meet you. and they can get nosey.

I'm sure others may have different experiences but that's mine.

Gosh everyone I can't tell you how much your input helps me! THANK YOU so much! I'm so glad I joined this group!

Lonelybeauty, I took 3 days off of work to no avail of finding a place to rent. It was horrible! I live in Louisiana and I can tell you that the Good Lord told me to buy a house. I thought to myself, me??? Well, fast forward and I have owned my home in the country (if you want to call it that) and I have the woods on one side of me and the neighbors that are great across the street, etc. I never thought that I was in the country, but now that Rew mentioned it, I am. People have modular homes out on lots, as well as homes on their land. The reason I am telling you this is to jump quickly to see what you can do. Get the house in your own name because if you go with HUD (government) your fiancee would not be able to be on it because he has felon on him. I was shocked at the rate I got my house. Just look around. Texas is bigger than Louisiana and I am sure you will be able to find something out there! Good luck!

OMG! I was totally looking into a HUD home. I didn't know that they had restrictions like that I mean since I was buying it, I figured there wouldn't be a problem. Now I know! Thanks for the heads up!

I live in the suburbs. When I started probation 10 years ago (I finished 5 years ago), the restrictions weren't as crazy. I was able to get my current job. Finding a place to live was difficult. Renting an apartment wasn't possible. Back then I ended up renting a room in a townhouse or a single family home. I haven't been able to switch employers - nobody will hire me, yet I have a graduate degree and I am extremely good at what I do (IT).

I finally got a townhouse of my own because my mom helped me with the down payment. I pay the mortgage. My neighbors either leave me alone or don't make a big deal. I have had some vandalism issues in the past, but I called the local police and the state police liaison (who lives on my block) and the problems stopped.

You can get a HUD but just get it in your name only. I found out after I bought my home the law. No biggie because if anything ever happens to me I will just have it put in my daughter's name or my other son's name. We need to know about this kind of stuff. I just thank God that I got a place for my son to live for when he comes home. Good luck Lonelybeauty! If you need any other information, let me know. I will be happy to help you out. Also, I did not have to put the 20% down but if you can, put the 20% down because now the PMI will be on your loan for the duration of your loan. When I bought mine, I was grandfathered in for paying PMI for only 5 years or until I hit the 20% equity in my home.

Oh wonderful!!! Thanks for the info!