Second Chance Apartments & Affordable Housing in Houston, TX
Housing data snapshot: · Program explanations updated
Read this first
What this page gives you
- Every affordable housing property we can find for Houston in public HUD databases — 317 listings (274 LIHTC, 43 Section 8 / federally assisted), with the 10 largest shown below.
- 28 Oxford Houses (self-run sober living) with phone numbers.
- Federal reentry centers serving the metro area.
- 10 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.
Houston, TX Housing at a Glance
317
Affordable listings (HUD databases)
28
Oxford Houses (sober living)
$1,573
HUD 2BR FMR (FY2025 snapshot)
10
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 Houstonarea — not a map of the listings in this page's data. Use the lists below for actual addresses.
Finding Housing in Houston with a Criminal Record
The Houston metro area has 317 affordable housing properties in public HUD databases, including 274 LIHTC (tax credit) properties and 43 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, Houston has 10 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, 28 Oxford Houses operate in the Houston 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 Houston Properties
The 10 largest of 317 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.
| Property | Address | Type | Units |
|---|---|---|---|
| Vista On Gessner | 6005-6525 S. Gessner Road, Houston, TX 77036 | LIHTC | 805 |
| Lacasita Apts | 313 Sunnyside St, Houston, TX 77076 | LIHTC | 624 |
| Pines Of Westbury Phase II | 12500 Dunlap St, Houston, TX 77035 | LIHTC | 563 |
| The Bridges | 15915 Kuykendahl Rd, Houston, TX 77068 | LIHTC | 452 |
| Village Park Apartments | 8701 Hammerly Blvd, Houston, TX 77080 | LIHTC | 418 |
| Premier On Woodfair | 9502 Woodfair Dr, Houston, TX 77036 | LIHTC | 408 |
| Erte Apts | 3737 Hillcroft St, Houston, TX 77057 | LIHTC | 381 |
| Pines Of Westbury Phase I | 12500 Dunlap St, Houston, TX 77035 | LIHTC | 377 |
| Sterling Grove | 6240 Antoine Dr, Houston, TX 77091 | LIHTC | 361 |
| Willow Green Apts | 8301 Willow Pl Dr N, Houston, TX 77070 | LIHTC | 336 |
Oxford Houses in Houston — 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.
*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.
- GEO Reentry, Inc. — Houston, TX · 561-999-7548
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.
OPERATION HOPE - HOUSTON TX
Services: Financial/Budget Counseling, Financial/Budget Workshop, Pre-Purchase Counseling, Pre-Purchase Workshop
NSC (NACA COUNSELING SUBSIDIARY) - HOUSTON, TX
14425 Torrey Chase Blvd Ste 200, Houston, TX
Services: Default/Foreclosure Counseling, Financial/Budget Counseling, Fair Housing Workshop, Non-Delinquency Post-Purchase Workshop, Predatory Lending Workshop, Pre-Purchase Counseling, Pre-Purchase Workshop
HOUSTON AREA URBAN LEAGUE - BRANCH OFFICE
Services: Default/Foreclosure Counseling, Financial/Budget Counseling, Financial/Budget Workshop, Fair Housing Workshop, Homeless Counseling, Non-Delinquency Post-Purchase Workshop, Pre-Purchase Counseling, Pre-Purchase Workshop, Rental Housing Counseling
HOUSTON AREA URBAN LEAGUE
Services: Default/Foreclosure Counseling, Default/Foreclosure Workshop, Financial/Budget Counseling, Financial/Budget Workshop, Fair Housing Workshop, Homeless Counseling, Non-Delinquency Post-Purchase Workshop, Pre-Purchase Counseling, Pre-Purchase Workshop, Rental Housing Counseling
FIFTH-WARD COMMUNITY REDEVELOPMENT CORP.
4300 Lyons Ave Ste 300, Houston, TX
Services: Default/Foreclosure Counseling, Financial/Budget Counseling, Financial/Budget Workshop, Fair Housing Workshop, Home Improvement/Rehabilitation Counseling, Non-Delinquency Post-Purchase Workshop, Pre-Purchase Counseling, Pre-Purchase Workshop, Rental Housing Counseling
EASTER SEALS OF GREATER HOUSTON, INC.
4888 Loop Central Dr, Houston, TX
Services: Financial/Budget Counseling, Financial/Budget Workshop, Pre-Purchase Counseling, Pre-Purchase Workshop
CREDIT COALITION HECM-HOPE
Services: Reverse Mortgage Counseling
CREDIT COALITION
Services: Non-Delinquency Post-Purchase Workshop, Pre-Purchase Counseling, Pre-Purchase Workshop, Reverse Mortgage Counseling
CHINESE COMMUNITY CENTER
9800 Town Park Dr, Houston, TX
Services: Default/Foreclosure Counseling, 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 Workshop
AVENUE COMMUNITY DEVELOPMENT CORPORATION
3517 Irvington Blvd, Houston, TX
Services: Default/Foreclosure Counseling, Home Improvement/Rehabilitation Counseling, Non-Delinquency Post-Purchase Workshop, Pre-Purchase Counseling, Pre-Purchase Workshop
Historical Fair Market Rent — Houston Metro Area
The FY2025 snapshot records this 2-bedroom FMR for Houston; it is not a current rent quote:
$1,573/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 Houston?
- Use the affordable housing list below to build a call list. Houston has 317 affordable housing properties in public HUD databases (274 LIHTC tax-credit properties and 43 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 Houston?
- 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. Texas 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 Houston?
- Our FY2025 data snapshot records a 2-bedroom HUD Fair Market Rent of $1,573/month for the Houston 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 Houston?
- Yes — 28 Oxford Houses operate in the Houston 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. Houston has 10 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 Texas?
- 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 Houston for its application and waitlist process.
Related Resources on This Site
More for your state
- Eviction-FriendlyEviction-friendly apartments in Houston, TX
- Halfway HousesHalfway houses in Houston, TX
- Transitional HousingTransitional Housing in Houston, TX
- Jobs by CityFelony friendly jobs in Houston, TX
- Buy Here Pay HereBuy here pay here in Houston, TX
- Sober LivingSober living homes in Houston, TX
- Thrift StoresThrift stores in Houston, TX
- Pawn ShopsPawn shops in Houston, TX
Helpful guides
- Banking & CreditHow to rebuild credit
- Background ChecksApartments with no background check
- UtilitiesLIHEAP — energy bill assistance
- Food & BenefitsSNAP / food stamps -- how to apply by state
Sources & Data
- Property records: HUD LIHTC Database and HUD Multifamily Housing Database (subsidized housing directory only — no per-property criminal screening data)
- Oxford House, Inc. — house listings; openings change weekly, check the official site or call
- Federal Bureau of Prisons — Residential Reentry Centers
- HUD Housing Counseling Agencies
- HUD Fair Market Rents and HUD Income Limits (LIHTC rent caps are tied to these area limits, not to individual tenant income)
- HUD — Housing Choice Vouchers: tenant guide