For Discharge Planners: How to Make a Housing Referral to Ready Rooms

Who we serve

Ready Rooms is a nonprofit housing navigation and referral organization. We work with adults who need transitional, recovery, reentry, or supportive housing and are not yet ready for independent living. Our client population includes:

• Adults being discharged from hospitals, detox, or inpatient behavioral health facilities
• Individuals completing reentry programs or leaving incarceration
• Veterans transitioning out of temporary shelter or VA programs
• Adults in recovery who need a structured sober living environment
• People experiencing homelessness who have income (SSI, SSDI, employment, VA benefits) but no housing

We work statewide across Texas. Houston is our largest and most established network.

What we need to process a referral

The more information you provide, the faster we can identify the right placement. At minimum we need:

• Client name and contact information (phone number is most important)
• Discharge or placement date: when does the client need housing?
• Income source and amount: SSI, SSDI, VA benefits, employment, etc.
• Housing type needed: sober living, reentry-friendly, veteran, general transitional, etc.
• Geographic preference or restriction: does the client need to stay in a specific area?
• Background factors: felony history, sex offense registry, evictions (this stays confidential and helps us match correctly)

You do not need to complete a lengthy intake form to get the process started. A phone call with the basics is enough to begin a placement search.

How to submit a referral

You have three options:

1. Call or text us directly.Reach us at (281) 949-8064.
2. Use the online referral form.Our referral form lets you submit all client details securely.
3. Email.Write to info@readyrooms.org and include the client name, date needed, income, and area.

What happens after you refer

Here is the typical sequence after we receive a referral:

1. Review: We review the referral and identify potential provider matches based on the client's needs, income, background, and location.
2. Outreach to providers: A coordinator contacts providers in our network whose stated policies fit the client's needs. Client information is sent to a provider only by a coordinator, under the consent collected at intake.
3. Client introduction: When we identify a match, we introduce the client to the provider and help coordinate the intake conversation.
4. Move-in confirmation: We follow up to confirm the move-in and log the placement.
5. Update to referral partner: We notify you when a placement is confirmed so you can close the loop on your end.

Urgent placements

If a client is being discharged today or tomorrow, call us directly at (281) 949-8064. We cannot guarantee placement on any timeline. Tell us the discharge date up front; options are easier to find when the client has income and is flexible on location.

For clients with no income or complex needs that fall outside our current network capacity, we will try to connect you with alternative resources rather than leaving you without a next step.

Becoming a formal referral partner

If your organization regularly works with populations who need housing, we would love to establish a formal partnership. You can read more about how partnerships work on our partner page.

To set up a partnership conversation, call us or email info@readyrooms.org with "Referral Partner" in the subject line.

Ready Rooms provides housing navigation and referral. Housing is offered by independently operated providers in the Ready Rooms network, who make their own admission decisions. Ready Rooms does not guarantee housing or placement. This article is general information, not legal, financial or medical advice.