SecondChanceInfo

Second Chance Apartments & Affordable Housing in Detroit, MI

Housing data snapshot: · Program explanations updated

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What this page gives you

  • Every affordable housing property we can find for Detroit in public HUD databases — 402 listings (342 LIHTC, 60 Section 8 / federally assisted), with the 10 largest shown below.
  • Federal reentry centers serving the metro area.
  • 17 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.

Detroit, MI Housing at a Glance

402

Affordable listings (HUD databases)

0

Oxford Houses (sober living)

$1,411

HUD 2BR FMR (FY2025 snapshot)

17

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 Detroitarea — not a map of the listings in this page's data. Use the lists below for actual addresses.

Finding Housing in Detroit with a Criminal Record

The Detroit metro area has 402 affordable housing properties in public HUD databases, including 342 LIHTC (tax credit) properties and 60 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, Detroit has 17 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.

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 Detroit Properties

The 10 largest of 402 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
River Towers7800 E Jefferson Ave, Detroit, MI 48214LIHTC472
Parkview Tower & Square1601 Robert Bradby Dr, Detroit, MI 48207Section 8354
Freedom Place1101 W Warren Ave, Detroit, MI 48201LIHTC352
Fountain Court Cooperative 1-43088 Lawton St, Detroit, MI 48216Section 8351
Lexington Village (detroit)1310 Pallister St, Detroit, MI 48202LIHTC350
Parkview Tower1601 Bradby Dr, Detroit, MI 48207LIHTC350
Martin Luther King II595 Chene, Detroit, MI 48207Section 8312
Martin Luther King Homes II573 Chene St, Detroit, MI 48207LIHTC312
River Place Apts500 River Pl Dr, Detroit, MI 48207LIHTC301
Bicentennial Towers Senior Housing4 E Alexandrine St, Detroit, MI 48201Section 8300

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.

  • Cherry Street Services, Inc. — Detroit, MI · 606-965-8215
  • Cherry Street Services, Inc. — Detroit, MI · 616-965-8215

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.

WAYNE METROPOLITAN COMMUNITY ACTION AGENCY

7310 Woodward Ave, Detroit, MI

313-388-9799

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

WAYNE COUNTY NEIGHBORHOOD LEGAL SERVICES MICHIGAN dba NEIGHBORHOOD LEGAL SERVICES MICHIGAN

7310 Woodward Ave, Detroit, MI

313-964-1975

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

SOUTHWEST ECONOMIC SOLUTIONS DBA MIWEALTH

2835 Bagley St Ste 800, Detroit, MI

313-841-9641homeownershipadmin@swsol.orgwebsite

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

SEED - SOWING EMPOWERMENT AND ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT

8570 Grandmont Ave, Detroit, MI

313-939-2024info@seedinc.orgwebsite

Services: Pre-Purchase Counseling, Pre-Purchase Workshop

NSC (NACA COUNSELING SUBSIDIARY) - DETROIT MI

12380 Woodward Ave, Detroit, MI

281-204-6222service@naca.comwebsite

NID-HCA BORROWER HELP CENTER

19966 Livernois Ave, Detroit, MI

313-338-3840RJohnson@NIDHousing.comwebsite

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

NATIONAL FAITH HOMEBUYERS

5460 W Fort St, Detroit, MI

313-255-9500dinaharris.nationalfaith@gmail.comwebsite

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

MICHIGAN STATE UNIVERSITY EXTENSION SERVICE -WAYNE DETROIT

1360 Oakman Blvd, Detroit, MI

313-494-4965stinso74@msu.eduwebsite

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

MATRIX HUMAN SERVICES

13560 E McNichols Rd, Detroit, MI

313-526-4000x1246inquiries@matrixhs.orgwebsite

Services: Financial/Budget Counseling, Financial/Budget Workshop, Home Improvement/Rehabilitation Counseling, Non-Delinquency Post-Purchase Workshop, Pre-Purchase Counseling, Pre-Purchase Workshop, Rental Housing Counseling, Rental Housing Workshop

JEFFERSON EAST, INC.

14300 E Jefferson Ave, Detroit, MI

313-331-7939website

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

GREENPATH FINANCIAL WELLNESS

2470 Collingwood St, Detroit, MI

313-961-1018housingdepartment@greenpath.comwebsite

Services: Default/Foreclosure Counseling, Financial/Budget Counseling, Homeless Counseling, Pre-Purchase Counseling, Rental Housing Counseling

FAMILY TREE, INC.

615 Griswold St Ste 700, Detroit, MI

313-962-2329website

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

DETROIT HISPANIC DEVELOPMENT CORPORATION

1211 Trumbull St, Detroit, MI

313-967-4880website

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

CENTRAL DETROIT CHRISTIAN CDC

1550 Taylor St, Detroit, MI

313-873-0064x17tsmith@centraldetroitchristian.orgwebsite

Services: Default/Foreclosure Counseling, Default/Foreclosure Workshop, Financial/Budget Counseling, Financial/Budget Workshop, Home Improvement/Rehabilitation Counseling, Pre-Purchase Counseling, Pre-Purchase Workshop, Rental Housing Counseling, Rental Housing Workshop

BRIDGING COMMUNITIES, INC.

6900 McGraw St, Detroit, MI

313-361-6377bcigeneral@bridgingcommunities.orgwebsite

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

AMANDLA COMMUNITY DEVELOPMENT CORPORATION

7707 W Outer Dr, Detroit, MI

313-347-2829website

Services: Default/Foreclosure Counseling, Default/Foreclosure Workshop, Financial/Budget Counseling, Financial/Budget Workshop, Non-Delinquency Post-Purchase Workshop, Pre-Purchase Counseling, Rental Housing Counseling

ABAYOMI COMMUNITY DEVELOPMENT CORPORATION

24331 W 8 Mile Rd, Detroit, MI

313-541-9828website

Services: Default/Foreclosure Counseling, Financial/Budget Counseling, Fair Housing Workshop, Non-Delinquency Post-Purchase Workshop, Pre-Purchase Counseling, Pre-Purchase Workshop, Rental Housing Counseling, Rental Housing Workshop

Historical Fair Market Rent — Detroit Metro Area

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

$1,411/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 Detroit?
Use the affordable housing list below to build a call list. Detroit has 402 affordable housing properties in public HUD databases (342 LIHTC tax-credit properties and 60 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 Detroit?
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. Michigan 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 Detroit?
Our FY2025 data snapshot records a 2-bedroom HUD Fair Market Rent of $1,411/month for the Detroit 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 Detroit?
No Oxford Houses are currently listed in our Detroit data, but other sober living options may exist. Contact local recovery organizations, the Michigan substance abuse helpline, or SAMHSA's national helpline at 1-800-662-4357 for referrals to sober living homes in your area.
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. Detroit has 17 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 Michigan?
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 Detroit 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