Second Chance Apartments & Housing

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Built for people rebuilding their lives. Your cash budget (no voucher) and your voucher math are kept separate, and food benefits are never counted as rent money. No sign-up required.

Housing Guides by Topic

• Eviction-Friendly Apartments-- how to rent after an eviction
• Rooms for Rent with a Criminal Record or Bad Credit-- cheapest and most accessible option
• No Credit Check Apartments & Rentals-- rent with bad credit or no credit
• Low Income Apartments & Affordable Housing-- Section 8, LIHTC, public housing
• Halfway Houses by City-- 100 city guides
• Transitional Housing-- 50 city guides
• Apartments with No Background Check-- skip the background check
• Sober Living Homes-- 100 city guides for people in recovery

Frequently Asked Questions

What are second chance apartments?

"Second chance" is an informal search term, not a program certification or a promise of no background check. Our city guides list affordable-housing records and support contacts to help you build a call list. A LIHTC or Section 8 listing does not establish the property’s criminal-record policy. Ask for the current screening criteria and application process before paying a fee.

Can I rent an apartment with a felony on my record?

Yes. While some landlords reject applicants with felonies, many do not. Private landlords, smaller complexes, and subsidized housing properties often evaluate applicants on a case-by-case basis. The type of conviction, how long ago it occurred, and evidence of rehabilitation all matter. Always call the property directly before applying to ask about their screening policy.

What types of convictions make it hardest to find housing?

There is no reliable ranking that applies to every landlord and housing program. Identify the exact program and ask how its policy treats your offense, disposition, date and any applicable registration requirement. A housing counselor or legal aid office can help distinguish a federal restriction, a local rule and an owner's discretionary criterion.

What is LIHTC housing?

LIHTC stands for Low-Income Housing Tax Credit. Participating properties have program income and rent restrictions. The rent limit is tied to area-income and unit-size rules, not automatically 30% of your own income. Some properties combine LIHTC with another subsidy. Ask which program applies to the unit and how the owner screens applicants; the tax-credit designation does not prove flexible background screening.

What are Oxford Houses?

Oxford Houses are self-supporting recovery homes whose residents share expenses and govern the house. They are distinct from a supervised halfway-house placement or clinical treatment facility. Ask the specific house about its admission process, costs, house rules and current openings; a directory listing does not guarantee acceptance or a bed.

Can I get Section 8 housing with a criminal record?

A criminal record does not by itself answer whether you qualify for a Housing Choice Voucher. Federal rules require denial in specified circumstances, including lifetime sex-offender registration, methamphetamine production on federally assisted premises, certain current drug activity and some recent drug-related evictions from assisted housing (with specified exceptions). PHAs also apply discretionary screening rules. Ask the PHA for its current written policy and any review procedure; these are not the same as a private landlord's screening rules.

How do I find a landlord who will rent to me with a record?

Start with: (1) subsidized housing (LIHTC and Section 8 properties), (2) private landlords listing on Craigslist or Facebook Marketplace, (3) HUD-approved housing counseling agencies who know which local properties work with second chance tenants, (4) reentry organizations in your area. Always call before applying to save on application fees.

What are my rights as a renter with a criminal record?

Housing screening is subject to applicable federal, state and local law. HUD withdrew its 2016 criminal-record screening guidance effective September 25, 2025; do not rely on that document as a current requirement for every landlord to conduct an individualized review. The withdrawal did not itself repeal the Fair Housing Act or local protections. Ask legal aid or a fair housing agency about your jurisdiction and facts. If a screening report caused an adverse decision, request the reporting company's details and dispute inaccurate information.