8 Ways To Find Housing After A Felony

The adverse effects of a felony can seem unfair, especially if you never showed a constant pattern of committing crime. Whether it’s looking for employment or housing, being always told no may make you feel as if you’ll never get your life together.

If this has been your reality so far, know that it can change quite quickly, specifically when it comes to housing. While we’ll discuss ways to find felon-friendly apartments, we’ll also share some tips on alternatives that can put a temporary roof over your head should that search yield no results.

Ways to Find Housing as a Felon

1. Apartments

What better way to re-enter society than with your own apartment? It can give you the privacy you desire and allow you to maintain distance from any possible negative influences.

While finding a felon-friendly apartment may be your first choice, it’s worth noting that it could be the most challenging route if you just got out since apartments may:

• Be managed by companies with strict guidelines.
• Require background checks from landlords.
• Be in high demand, depending on location.
• Carry a higher monthly cost.

With that being said, searching for apartments is still a worthwhile move to make. You can search for apartments in your desired location directly through Google, or go to sites like:

• Apartments.com
• Craigslist
• Rent.com
• Zillow
• Zumper

Try to find apartments that don’t have background checks. If you’re lucky, you may even find listings that say they are felon-friendly upfront.

2. Sublets

Sometimes a tenant needs to break their lease. An easy way to do this is to lease to another tenant, which could be you.

How could a sublet be felon-friendly? If that tenant needs to let go of their lease instantly, which could make them more willing to work with you.

Some apartment listings have sections for sublets, or you can search for them directly on a site like Sublet.com.

3. Section 8

You could be gold if you get a Section 8 housing voucher, as it will pay the majority of your rental expenses so you can start to save up money for other uses. Although Section 8 vouchers can take a long time to process, they’re worth mentioning due to the eventual long-term stability they can provide.

To learn more about Section 8 and the Housing Choice Voucher Program, go here.

4. Re-Entry Programs

There are support systems that help felons get back on their feet. These re-entry programs are not only useful for finding housing, but they can also help you find a job to know two huge tasks off of your list.

You can find some re-entry programs by going here and selecting your state.

5. Hotels or Motels

Some hotels or motels allow you to rent them for extended stays. Such an option could easily replace an apartment by giving you the privacy you need. Best of all, many extended stay hotels and motels do not require background checks.

6. Rooms, Basements, etc.

As you start to put your life back together, you may want something simple and inexpensive. A single room or basement that someone rents out of their house could fill that void. Depending on the person, they may not require a background check.

7. Referrals

Does your parole officer know of felon-friendly housing options? They might, which would make your search much easier.

You can also ask friends and family, church members, coworkers, or anyone else you know for a referral. Doing so could result in more success than doing an actual search online.

8. Friends and Family

If all else fails, you can turn to your loved ones for housing help. Check with them to make sure housing a felon will not affect their lease, as it can sometimes cause issues.