Recommendation 7: Texas Should Prevent Counties from Using Zoning Laws to Bar Churches and Other Direct Service Providers from Assisting Ex-Offenders, and It Should Create Financial Incentives for Counties that Facilitate the Re-Integration of Ex-Offenders into their Communities.
  • Counties committed to the re-integration process should receive full financial assistance from the State to operate and construct re-entry facilities and programs.
 
Counties are creating an unfunded mandate to the State by failing to provide housing to former resident ex-offenders – and they are thereby burdening the State with the responsibility of finding them housing.  Counties must accept those who are re-integrating into society. If they are not willing to allow placement into housing facilities in the neighborhoods or communities from which the individuals came, then they should have to pay a re-entry infrastructure fee to create comparable facilities that will meet Texas’ public safety needs. 
 
Additionally, county and state governments should engage in public education efforts that inform residents about the importance of religious and non-profit activities geared toward ex-offender reintegration.