Housing Assistance For Felons (Complete Guide 2024)
One of the biggest challenges that every felon has to face after getting out of prison is finding suitable housing. Some people are lucky enough to have family or relatives that they can live with. However, many ex cons have nowhere to go, and often end up in half way houses or homeless.
Lack of housing choices often leads to a life of crime on the streets, and eventually back behind bars. Unfortunately, our government does not do enough to help felons properly integrate back into society.
Even felons who are able to find employment have a very hard time getting stable housing. Most landlords and property management companies have strict rules about renting to individuals with criminal records.
However, you should never lose hope and there is help available for felons and their families who a place to live.
If you have a felony conviction and are looking for emergency housing assistance, here are options and resources to consider.
Catholic Charities housing help
Catholic Charities USA is one of the biggest Christian organizations in the US that services disadvantaged individuals in every state. They provide assistance with food, housing, work, health and other necessities, and have been helping to reduce poverty in America for over 100 years.
On their website, you can search for a local Catholic Charities branch in your state. They may offer financial grants as well as transitional, temporary housing to felons that would qualify.
In addition to Catholic Charities, its in general a good idea to contact local religious organizations and ask for housing assistance.
While many religious non-profits and churches may not offer you an actual place to stay, they may connect you to organizations and resources that could help you search for affordable housing.
Local emergency housing nonprofits
Every state has a number of non profit organizations that are dedicated to fighting homelessness. They are funded both by the Federal and state governments, as well as private donors.
These organizations offer temporary and transitional housing units for families, people will illnesses such as HIV, mental health issues, criminal convictions and disabilities. They are committed to helping individuals and families in crisis to avoid permanent homelessness and a life of crime that is often associated with it.
For example, Home First (https://www.homefirstinc.org) is one such organization that operates in New Jersey and offers a number of apartment units throughout the Union County.
Halfway houses
Many felons are released into a halfway house immediately from prison. Others can seek residence at a local halfway house if they cannot find a suitable living arrangement. A halfway house offers free boarding in a structured environment, where there are certain rules and routines that need to be followed, as well as duties that each resident is assigned.
While offering a rigid environment, a halfway house is a good option for an ex convict to help integrate from prison back into regular society. This may be an especially good option for people who have no family or friends that can help them with housing.
A parole officer can provide a list of halfway houses near you. Another option is to search on the internet by entering “halfway house”. You will get local listings in your area.
HUD rental assistance programs
The Federal Department of Housing and Urban Development, HUD for short, offers a number of resources to find low income housing for ex convicts.
Public housing – there are local low income housing developments where you can get an apartment. You need to apply with a local PHA. Don’t confuse this with Section 8! Public housing is a completely different program, and it has its own qualifications and wait times.
Housing resources search: use the HUD website (https://resources.hud.gov/) to find housing help in your area. They have listings of apartment rentals for low income individuals, local PHAs, homeless resources, as well as elderly and special needs housing.
Homeless counseling services
If you have a felony conviction and are currently homeless, HUD provides free counseling services to help you get into housing. Call (800) 569-4287 to speak to a professional from a housing counseling agency near you.
Homeless housing assistance
If you need emergency housing, HUD provides a listing of local homeless shelters and other programs that can offer immediate help. Filter your search by state, to find local agencies and shelters near you. (visit: https://www.hudexchange.info/housing-and-homeless-assistance/homeless-help/)
Why Section 8 housing is not the answer
In theory, Section 8 housing vouchers, a program subsidized by the federal government, could be a great solution for felons who are earning an income.
However, in reality, Section 8 more often than not fails to accommodate the needs of ex offenders for the following reasons:
– in most cities and towns, the wait list to get a Section 8 voucher is very long – it can take a few years to obtain one. In the meantime, there are very limited viable housing options available.
– most local housing authorities have very strict guidelines for people with criminal records. From criminal background checks to income verification, credit scores, etc, most ex-cons get denied their applications. Those who have been convicted of sex related, violent or drug related crimes should not even bother applying, as they will certainly be turned down.
– those felons who manage to get a Section 8 voucher still have a hard time renting an apartment because they get turned down by most landlords, who are afraid to take a risk with a potentially troublesome tenant.
Still, despite all of its shortcomings, Section 8 is one of the best options for felons to secure long term affordable housing. Once you qualify, you will be able to get up to 70% off your monthly rent, depending on your income!
We strongly recommend that you apply with your local HUD agency, because waiting a few years to get the voucher is still worth it in the end.
Finding stable work is key!
While many felons who have jobs can testify to the fact that employment does not guarantee you decent housing, the opposite is also true. Without a legal job (whether full or part time), you will not be able to get any housing.
Both private landlords as well as public housing programs require every applicant to provide proof of current income. So having a job not only helps you pay for the apartment, its also a requirement to apply for any type of rental property.
Here are some resources that will help you find felon-friendly jobs fast:
Temp agencies
Part time work
Trucking jobs
Walmart jobs
Ridesharing (Lyft and Uber)
About The Author
Joe Hunter
Joe is the founder of HireFelons.org. Having had friends and co-workers who have a felony conviction, Joe Hunter decided to use his expert knowledge in starting a successful business to launch HireFelons.org and teach as many former felons as possible how to earn a decent income, when finding a traditional job is simply not an option.
My son has several felonies and just recently got out. No sex charges. We live in Tennessee and he can’t get help with housing because his charges are drug related. what can he do?
25 years in prison , on parole , suspended license, no job. Nobody will even consider employment. Need housing BAD!
I’m not sure what state you live in, but google how many years you have to be “trouble free” to have the state exsponge your criminal record. Or search for “felon friendly” jobs, resources, and housing. Good luck and God Bless!
Im a 40 year old mother of 2 who spent most of my 30s in and out for Battery and Assault I have been off paper’s and parole for 3 year’s never caught another case not even a Traffic Ticket For every Productive thing i try to door’s just keep being slammed in my Face Im trying not 2 get Discouraged but Im Overwhelmed i can’t get a Decent job because of my 5 Felony’s i can’t get Housing they keep sending me Denial Letter’s the System is Set up for Felons to Loose there are a Very Few Formats and Non profit’s that care about Us which Result’s in us falling back 2 our Criminal Behavior Im just continue to let God Lead me for my Children’s Sake because they need there mother BUT IM TRULY OVERWHELMED
I m a 2 time ex felon who’s never been to prison. Small posesion charges the state blew up because at the time the law allowed it. I have a 12 year old son whom has to live with a relative because I can’t find affordable housing. Do people not see what’s really going on here. My crime possessing the drug I was addicted to. Addiction is recognized as a disability, so in essence I am a criminal due to my disability. I have a job and have had one most of my adult life. I don’t steal I am far from violent. There is no reason I should have to be separated from my child. It is hopeless and sad. I too wish I could just die.
I feel your pain and discouragement so well. I too have been in your predicament and my heart ached every day because I felt useless as a mother and my child needed me badly! Please don’t give up, this is one of those situations that just takes time and I know you don’t want to hear this. But you can and will survive and come out on the other side of this hell feeling and situation. It took me a while but finally I was able to find someone who would hire me and rent me an apartment. I felt like I would never get a vehicle and that also came about. I just had to keep putting one foot in front of the other and pray to God that He give me the strength on a daily basis to remember my goal and little by little things came together. It wasn’t easy and at first I could see no way out…There are others out there who may be in your shoes as well that you could get moral support from each other, but I’m here to tell you if you look at the way you would like your future to be and picture it in your minds eye, and do this a lot and especially at night when you’re falling asleep, God will make it happen. Use your nights in bed before falling asleep to picture your future and make yourself get the feeling you would have as if it were already happening this way. This may sound weird to you but it works. I do this now with other things and situations that I want to become a part of my life and it happens. And it will happen faster the more you focus and intently do this, especially at night while falling asleep. I wish I would have known how to do this when I was where you are right now. Wow, I didn’t even think I was gonna say all of that but it just flowed out of me and I was inspired to give you something that you can do to really speed up your process, just DON’T lose HOPE!
What is really sad is I feel that I did my daughter injustice- I had never been to where I had a daughter in prison. Instead of someone educating me that she would be better off to go into the reentry program right out of prison NO ONE said a word. So as her mother I thought I was doing to right thing and letting her come to my home. WHAT A BIG MISTAKE! If I would have know about the program I would not let her come to my home. Its is for the best of the prisoners to go into the reentry program so they can help them. She has been homeless since she made the decision to leave my home. I understand you want to do what you want as an adult but I was raised when you live in someone’s home you need to abide by there rules. I have tried to get her to get help and she refuses so nothing else I can do.
My friend is 68 yrs old and disable. He committed a s*x crime 40 years ago ( dating an underage girl). He has been out of prison 36 yrs and just found out last month when he was trying to get his record expunged that there was a law passed in 2005 requiring anyone ever convicted of a s*x crime to register as a s*x offender. He was not required to register under the previous law. He is currently on housing and now has to register. He is scared he will lose his housing voucher. His only income is Social Security and SSI as he is disable. He was honest on his housing application and they are aware of his prior conviction but he is now worried about what will happen since his Sex offender status changed. He was never told, notified flagged about the law changed in 2005. The first he heard was when he tries to get hos record expunged. He registered but he is mow afraid of losing his assistance.
I am 49 yo recently divorced mother of 8 yo boy. I spent 3 and half yrs for my felony drug charge. Ive been out for 11 months now. I have a good paying job since March. I cant find affordable housing with my recent drug conviction! My son was 4 when I went in and turned 8 3 months after I got out. My husband moves my BFF on to “help” with our son. Long story short after 14 yrs together we are divorced and they are married. Mind you I didnt get this charge on my own. I was doing what I was told by him. My son wants to be with me full time but until we have our own place thats not going to happen. I just need help finding somewhere that will except my felony to rent or rent to own. My mean dag on I make 16 and hr. And still clean and sober! I know I did the crime. I also served my time. What do I do?
I just went threw in patient treatment and am currently doing 2 outpatient treatments for drug abuse. So that being said obviously I’m a convicted felon . I am disabled and I am having to stay on couches while my mentally ill 21 yr old son sleeps on streets. I don’t know where to turn for help with housing. I am a member of a small holiness church that has no funds to help. It could make most turn back to their old ways but I’m holding on. The Lord healed me so I have faith He will help us with a home He knows how I wanna praise and worship Him in my own home.
Convicted felon suspended license homeless no vehicle live in small town i need help
I’m 48 years old I spent 27 years in prison because of my drug abuse and crimes I find myself now on the streets of Freeman for 13 months now no parole nothing I haven’t got high because I’m scared to death but let’s be truthful nobody wants to help I’ve tried I’ve went to welfare and because of my ex-wife I don’t qualify I’ve given it one hell of a shot but I’m not going to go back to crime but I am going to say goodbye to this life I don’t know when but shortly I have to end mine this shit is hard no respect out here no code you ask the help they look down on you not realizing that you can snap their neck but you’re choosing not to so tell the truth it’s hard real hard for a man who is institutionalized to get any help my case is the truth I’ve asked home 13 months now they won’t give me a dollar to help me and I’m not lazy I would work my butt off but as soon as my criminal background comes back it’s a hell no and I ain’t got no slimy cases I’m a true con that’s choosing not to heard anybody else or go back so I’m going with my loved ones who have passed on I didn’t think it was going to turn out like this I really didn’t not for one second I’m going to do it that I am sure there’s no help for us not once like me anyway
I don’t know how I could help you without telling you about a home that is waiting in heaven for anyone who believes in the son who lives in heaven. The treasures of this earth will all die whenever we do but the treasures in heaven are eternal. Jesus came down from heaven to live a life no other human could ever live. He lived a perfect life without sin, Jesus never did anything bad. This Is important because no one can always be good except God himself and that’s how we know Jesus is the son of God and the savior of the world. God would not be good if he didn’t punish us for our bad and since every single human who has ever lived has done wrong we all deserve complete separation from Gods goodness, suffering in hell, but God is forgiving and he forgives us of our sins when we believe that his son comes to earth sent by the father to die the death we deserved and overcome the disease of sin which we are born with. Recognize that we all deserve nothing good compared to God and ask for forgiveness, confess with your mouth that Jesus is the son of the living God and through his death, your sins are paid for. Please if you still here reach out to me I want to help.
My dad is on the same boat absolutely no help.
I hope you are ok I know it’s hard but I hope you are still alive!!
Nate, I’m 56 and have done 20 plus years in the Florida DOC. I know your pain. Drug addict, petty thieve here. I exist because I still breath, nothing more. I feel so alone, detached and misunderstood. Don’t even feel I have any loved ones to go see. So I feel stuck on both sides. My life, my pain. Your not alone bro.
Nathan Leonard, please go to the churches for help. All churches. It doesn’t matter if you are that religion or not. Please try. I understand that people in this world are terrible. There are also good people in this world too. Nathan… please don’t give up. Email me and I can provide you with information and people to help you.
Beccabcute@gmail.com
I hope I’m not too late..
Sincerely,
Rebecca
If looking for work go to any union trade hall they have paid apprenticeships. Try a sober living house for housing
I’m recently released from prison and right now I have no where to go..,I work I have a car and have been sleeping in it I’m very discouraged,sad and lost at the moment/is there some organization or someone to help me???
Its pointlessness theres no hope for us .
Im having a hard time finding housing… Currently em going to court for pending felony charges and have 5 prior felonies since 2016…. Does any one have any suggestions on what my options maybe at this point.
there are good jobs out there for s*x offenders out there, you just need to keep trying, if worse comes to worse self employment is also an option. but you would need to jump through a bunch of hoops to get it off the ground, but one place that you might want to look into mental health and wellness clinics not only for job resources, but therapy sessions and other services. where I am, there’s cope, codac, and la frontera, just to name a few.
I’m a 50+ ex-felon with a good job. My conviction is 14 yrs old yet I’m having trouble getting accepted by apt complexes that are not in neighborhoods filled with drug users and whores. are there any agencies that assist people in my situation?
Thank you very much for that. Cause i am gonna need all the luck and prayers i can get.
lyft and uber and the other ride-sharing jobs don’t hire s*x offenders they will hire other offenders which i find unfair because people like me just want to do right, get a good job and stay out of trouble and jail.walmart doesnt hire s*x offenders either nor most exoffenders just depends on your charge.
Rita,
Unfortunately, you are right. Most companies and private businesses in America don’t hire s*x offenders, and they also have a very hard time getting public housing or renting an apartment. Our government does not provide a support system for s*x offenders who have left prison. The only thing one can advise is to keep trying getting jobs with small business owners who may be more sympathetic and give you a chance.
Best of luck!