# Leaving TDCJ: Prepare for an Independent Apartment > Get ready for an apartment after TDCJ: line up your ID, income, costs and supervision approval. Keep a separate plan for temporary housing. URL: https://felonfriendlyapartments.com/guide/moving-from-a-tdcj-facility-to-an-independent-apartment/ - [Home](/) - › - [Guides](/guide/) - › - [Moving From a Halfway House to an Apartment](/reentry-housing/) - › - Leaving TDCJ: Prepare for an Independent Apartment GUIDE # Leaving TDCJ: Prepare for an Independent Apartment When you plan your move out of a TDCJ facility or placement, think about documents, income, housing costs and any permission you need from supervision. We can help with apartment options, but we can't approve release plans. ![Person carrying belongings into a new apartment in the hot Texas sun](/images/misc/person-carrying-belongings-into-a-new-apartment-ha.webp) ## What this guide covers - What to sort out before release or a move - What to check when you find an apartment - What to keep after the move is approved ## Before release or a scheduled move Ask your case manager or supervising contact what housing plan you need and who has to approve it. Find out about any limits on the address, the household or the location. Ask if you can turn in an apartment address for approval before you sign a lease, and what proof they need. - Get your ID and the documents you'll need for applications. - List expected income and ask properties what proof they accept. - Estimate deposits, utilities and moving costs. - Set up a reliable way to get calls, documents and decisions. ## When you find a possible apartment Confirm the exact unit is open and find out what it costs. We check the written screening criteria against your record. Go over the address and move date with your officer or case manager before you commit to anything. An early talk with an apartment isn't a lease approval or a supervision approval. ![Setting up a bedroom in an empty apartment](/images/misc/setting-up-a-bedroom-in-an-empty-apartment-everyda.webp) ## After the move is approved Follow the reporting and change of address instructions you were given. Keep the lease, payment receipts and approval messages where you can find them. If the timing changes, tell your contacts right away. Don't assume the old permission covers a different unit. See [TDCJ publications](https://www.tdcj.texas.gov/publications/) and [Local Help](/local-resources/) for places to get help. Our [independent apartment search help](/reentry-housing/) covers apartments only. We don't arrange TDCJ placements or promise a move date. ## What to do next 1. Ask your case manager what housing plan you need and who approves it. 2. Get your ID and income papers together. 3. Send us [your search details](/find-apartments/). We check apartment criteria against your record. 4. Run any address past your officer or case manager before you sign. Published by the Felon Friendly Apartment Team. This is general renter information. Each property makes its own decisions, and questions about your own case belong with a lawyer or legal aid. RELATED SERVICE ## From Halfway House to Independent Apartment in Texas We help renters moving out of a TDCJ facility or halfway house look for independent apartments. We don't arrange TDCJ placements or approve release plans. [See how our locating service works →](/reentry-housing/) ## Common Questions ### Can I start planning before I'm released? Yes. Start with your case manager on the housing plan. Your release plan and any address approval come from TDCJ and your supervising contact, not from us. ### What documents should I have when I leave? Your ID, proof of income and the papers your case manager says you need. We check which income proof each property takes. ### Does an early talk with an apartment mean I'm approved? No. An early talk isn't a lease approval or a supervision approval. The community decides on the application. ## Know Where You Stand Before You Pay to Apply Tell us what you need in your next home. We check each community's screening criteria against your record for free, so you can pick where to spend application fees. [Start My Free Search](/find-apartments/) · [Checklists and Budget Tools](/renter-resources/) · [Browse the guide library](/guide/)