The Kansas Housing Resources Corporation (KHRC) and the Kansas Department of Corrections (KDOC) have teamed up to help former prisoners reintegrate into society, obtain long-term employment, and and affordable housing.

To that end, the two agencies have jointly hired to reentry specialists especially to meet the housing needs of former inmates. Prior to the inmate's release, the specialists will work with the offender, parole supervisor, and property manager to find available housing options.

The first position will help offenders find and maintain housing , teach parole supervisors how to work effectively with property managers, and teach inmates about their responsibilities as tenants.

It will work primarily in northeast Kansas, focusing on Shawnee and Wyandotte counties.

The other position will provide, planning, and training services statewide. This person will explain to housing authorities and rental agencies the unique needs of ex-offenders.

It will be a clearing house of information about inmate housing and will assist the corrections and housing industries to establish partnerships with developers to increase the amount of housing available to returning offenders.