SecondChanceInfo

Second Chance Apartments & Affordable Housing in Columbus, OH

Housing data snapshot: · Program explanations updated

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What this page gives you

  • Every affordable housing property we can find for Columbus in public HUD databases — 286 listings (216 LIHTC, 70 Section 8 / federally assisted), with the 10 largest shown below.
  • 4 Oxford Houses (self-run sober living) with phone numbers.
  • Federal reentry centers serving the metro area.
  • 6 HUD-approved agencies that give free or low-cost rental help.

What it cannot tell you

  • Whether any specific property accepts applicants with a criminal record. Screening policies are set by each owner or manager and are not part of the public data — nothing on this page is a confirmed "felon-friendly" property.
  • Current availability, rents, or waitlists — these change constantly. Numbers below come from our 2026-03-25 data pull.

Use this page to build a call list, then use the questions below before you pay any application fee.

Columbus, OH Housing at a Glance

286

Affordable listings (HUD databases)

4

Oxford Houses (sober living)

$1,430

HUD 2BR FMR (FY2025 snapshot)

6

HUD counseling agencies

Map is an independent Google search of the area — not a map of the listings on this page, and its pins may include businesses we don’t list. The listings on this page span the greater metro area including nearby towns; each listing’s address line shows the town it is actually in.

External Google Maps search of the Columbusarea — not a map of the listings in this page's data. Use the lists below for actual addresses.

Finding Housing in Columbus with a Criminal Record

The Columbus metro area has 286 affordable housing properties in public HUD databases, including 216 LIHTC (tax credit) properties and 70 Section 8 / federally assisted properties. Each one sets its own tenant screening policy — criminal-history rules are not published in the databases, so the honest status for every property below is unknown until you call.

Your best strategy is to call properties directly before submitting an application. Ask the property manager about their screening criteria for criminal history. This saves you both time and non-refundable application fees. Private landlords and smaller complexes set their own policies too and tend to be more flexible than large corporate management companies.

If you need help navigating the process, Columbus has 6 HUD-approved housing counseling agencies that provide free or low-cost assistance with rental applications, understanding your rights, and budget/credit issues. Their contact info is listed below.

For those in recovery, 4 Oxford Houses operate in the Columbus area — self-supporting, democratically run sober living homes where residents share expenses. See the Oxford House section below.

Before you pay any application fee, ask

  • 1.What is your criminal-history screening policy, and which convictions or time frames does it look at?
  • 2.What are the total move-in costs — deposit, application fee, admin fee — and is any of it refundable?
  • 3.Is there a waitlist? How long is it currently?
  • 4.What income proof and references do you need (pay stubs, offer letter, parole officer, past landlords)?

A refusal to answer screening questions, or a deposit demanded before you've seen a unit, are red flags — walk away.

Affordable Housing Directory — Largest Columbus Properties

The 10 largest of 286 properties in public HUD databases, by unit count. This is a directory of subsidized housing, not a list of confirmed second-chance rentals — each property's background screening policy is set by its owner or manager and is not in the public data. Call and ask.

What the type labels mean: LIHTC — tax-credit building; income limits apply, rents are capped by program rules tied to area median income (not 30% of your income). Section 8 — an assisted-property record, which does not establish availability or acceptance of a tenant-based voucher. Ask which subsidy applies to the unit and who calculates the rent.

PropertyAddressTypeUnits
Woodland Meadows3312 Columbus Ct, Columbus, OH 43209LIHTC1,100
Briggs Wedgewood Apts777 Wedgewood Dr, Columbus, OH 43228LIHTC869
Wedgewood Village Apartments3686,3680 Briggs Road, Columbus, OH 43228Section 8648
Lincoln Park West, Columbus, OH LIHTC456
Ymca Of Central Ohio40 W Long St, Columbus, OH 43215LIHTC400
Shilo Grove986 Mount Vernon Ave, Columbus, OH 43203LIHTC394
Agler Green2444 Gatewood Rd, Columbus, OH 43219LIHTC384
Southpark Apartments834 Greenfield Dr, Columbus, OH 43223Section 8356
Community Properties Revitalization I85-87 S. Monroe Avenue, Columbus, OH 43205Section 8331
Community Properties Revitalization799 Oak St, Columbus, OH 43205LIHTC331

Oxford Houses in Columbus — Self-Run Sober Living

Oxford Houses are democratically run, self-supporting sober living homes. Residents share expenses and maintain sobriety together. Anyone can apply directly to a house — you don't need a referral. Openings change week to week: call the house, or check oxfordhouse.org for current vacancies. The "open beds" column is a snapshot from our 2026-03-25 data pull, not a live count.

NameAddressServesBedsOpen beds*Phone
Sagittarii5015 Fullerton Drive, Columbus, OHWomen70(614) 321-4474
Severn3757 Weeping Willow Blvd, Columbus, OHWomen82(614) 295-4282
Integrity Lane2509 Symington Avenue, Columbus, OHMen80(614) 564-9049
Lerose4527 Hickory Wood Drive, Columbus, OHMen81(614) 456-7353

*Vacancy snapshot from 2026-03-25 — a number here is not a promise a bed is open today, and 0 does not mean the house is permanently full. Call or check oxfordhouse.org for current openings.

Federal Reentry Centers (BOP Residential Reentry Centers)

BOP-contracted facilities that house people finishing federal sentences in the community phase. Placement is arranged by the Federal Bureau of Prisons as part of a sentence plan — these are not walk-in facilities and you cannot apply to them directly. If you or someone you know is in BOP custody, ask the case manager about RRC placement timing.

HUD-Approved Housing Counseling Agencies

Free or low-cost housing counseling: rental applications, tenant rights, budget/credit help, and foreclosure prevention. Listings come from HUD's counseling agency dataset.

OHIO STATE UNIVERSITY EXTENSION - UNIVERSITY DISTRICT

99 East Ninth Avenue, COLUMBUS, OH

614-297-3861colbert.22@osu.eduwebsite

Services: Financial/Budget Counseling, Non-Delinquency Post-Purchase Workshop, Pre-Purchase Counseling, Pre-Purchase Workshop

OHIO STATE UNIVERSITY EXTENSION

2120 Fyffe Rd, Columbus, OH

614-247-7733warman.44@osu.eduwebsite

Services: Financial/Budget Counseling, Financial/Budget Workshop, Pre-Purchase Counseling, Pre-Purchase Workshop

NID-HCA COLUMBUS

4200 Regent St Suite 200, COLUMBUS, OH

614-418-6056YEarley@nidhousing.comwebsite

Services: Default/Foreclosure Counseling, Default/Foreclosure Workshop, Home Improvement/Rehabilitation Counseling, Non-Delinquency Post-Purchase Workshop, Pre-Purchase Counseling, Pre-Purchase Workshop

HOMES ON THE HILL

3659 Soldano Blvd, Columbus, OH

614-275-4663info@hoth-cdc.orgwebsite

Services: Default/Foreclosure Counseling, Default/Foreclosure Workshop, Financial/Budget Counseling, Financial/Budget Workshop, Fair Housing Workshop, Home Improvement/Rehabilitation Counseling, Non-Delinquency Post-Purchase Workshop, Predatory Lending Workshop, Pre-Purchase Counseling, Pre-Purchase Workshop, Rental Housing Counseling, Rental Housing Workshop

COLUMBUS URBAN LEAGUE

788 Mount Vernon Ave, Columbus, OH

614-257-6300website

Services: Financial/Budget Counseling, Pre-Purchase Counseling, Pre-Purchase Workshop, Rental Housing Counseling

COLUMBUS HOUSING PARTNERSHIP, INC, DBA HOMEPORT

3443 Agler Rd, Columbus, OH

614-221-8889website

Services: Default/Foreclosure Counseling, Default/Foreclosure Workshop, Financial/Budget Counseling, Financial/Budget Workshop, Pre-Purchase Counseling, Pre-Purchase Workshop

Historical Fair Market Rent — Columbus Metro Area

The FY2025 snapshot records this 2-bedroom FMR for Columbus; it is not a current rent quote:

$1,430/month (2BR)

The PHA calculates your total tenant payment using HUD income rules. For ordinary tenant-based vouchers, assistance is based on the lower of gross rent or the applicable payment standard, minus that payment. Gross rent includes the PHA utility allowance. Your actual rent to the landlord can differ from your family share. LIHTC rents use program limits tied to area income and unit size; they are not automatically 30% of your own income. Check current HUD FMR data. HUD voucher calculation guide.

Tips for Finding Housing with a Record

  • 1.Call properties directly before applying. Ask the manager about their screening criteria for criminal records — this saves you time and application fees.
  • 2.Compare written screening criteria from private landlords and larger complexes instead of assuming one type will be more flexible.
  • 3.Prepare a "rental resume" with references from employers, parole/probation officers, past landlords, or community organizations that can vouch for you.
  • 4.Ask for all move-in costs in writing and check local deposit/prepayment limits before agreeing to extra money upfront.
  • 5.LIHTC (tax credit) buildings have income limits and set rents — ask about their background screening when you call, since it varies by owner.
  • 6.Contact HUD-approved housing counseling agencies for free help with rental applications and understanding your rights.
  • 7.Answer required application questions accurately. Ask legal aid how sealed, expunged or legally restricted records should be handled; disclosure and termination rules depend on the jurisdiction and facts.
  • 8.Check if your conviction can be expunged or sealed. A clean record makes the housing search much easier. Visit our expungement guide for your state.

Frequently Asked Questions

How do I find second chance apartments in Columbus?
Use the affordable housing list below to build a call list. Columbus has 286 affordable housing properties in public HUD databases (216 LIHTC tax-credit properties and 70 Section 8 / federally assisted properties). Criminal-record screening policies are set by each property's owner or manager and are not published in these databases — so treat every listing as "unknown until you call." Ask about their background criteria before paying an application fee. Private landlords and smaller complexes set their own policies too and can be worth asking.
Will a felony disqualify me from renting in Columbus?
Not automatically. Many landlords do individual assessments rather than blanket rejections. The type of conviction, how long ago it occurred, and evidence of rehabilitation all matter. Ohio may have fair housing protections that limit how landlords can use criminal records in screening. Always ask about the specific policy before paying an application fee.
What does the stored rent benchmark tell me about Columbus?
Our FY2025 data snapshot records a 2-bedroom HUD Fair Market Rent of $1,430/month for the Columbus metro area. This historical program benchmark is not today's average asking rent or your PHA payment standard. Use HUD's current FMR lookup and ask your PHA for its applicable standard. The PHA calculates your total tenant payment using HUD income rules. For ordinary tenant-based vouchers, assistance is based on the lower of gross rent or the applicable payment standard, minus that payment. Gross rent includes the PHA utility allowance. Your actual rent to the landlord can differ from your family share. LIHTC rents use program limits tied to area income and unit size; they are not automatically 30% of your own income.
Are there sober living homes in Columbus?
Yes — 4 Oxford Houses operate in the Columbus area. Oxford Houses are democratically run, self-supporting sober living homes where residents share expenses and hold each other accountable. Openings change frequently, so call the house directly or check the official oxfordhouse.org site for current vacancies rather than relying on any website's cached count.
What are HUD housing counseling agencies?
HUD-approved housing counseling agencies provide free or low-cost advice on renting, rental applications, default/foreclosure prevention, and credit repair. Columbus has 6 HUD-approved agencies. They can help you understand your rights and prepare a stronger rental application — useful when you have a record. Find them in the list below, or search HUD's own locator at hud.gov/counseling.
Can I get Section 8 housing with a criminal record in Ohio?
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. Contact the PHA serving Columbus for its application and waitlist process.

Related Resources on This Site

More for your state

Helpful guides

Disclaimer: This is informational only, not legal advice. Housing availability, screening policies, and rental rates change frequently. Always contact properties directly to confirm current availability and policies. A criminal record does not automatically disqualify you from housing — many properties evaluate applicants individually. For legal advice about your housing rights, contact a local HUD Fair Housing office or a legal aid organization.

Sources & Data