Second Chance Apartments & Affordable Housing in Los Angeles, CA
Housing data snapshot: · Program explanations updated
Read this first
What this page gives you
- Every affordable housing property we can find for Los Angeles in public HUD databases — 836 listings (562 LIHTC, 274 Section 8 / federally assisted), with the 10 largest shown below.
- 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.
Los Angeles, CA Housing at a Glance
836
Affordable listings (HUD databases)
0
Oxford Houses (sober living)
$2,601
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 Los Angelesarea — not a map of the listings in this page's data. Use the lists below for actual addresses.
Finding Housing in Los Angeles with a Criminal Record
The Los Angeles metro area has 836 affordable housing properties in public HUD databases, including 562 LIHTC (tax credit) properties and 274 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, Los Angeles 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.
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 Los Angeles Properties
The 10 largest of 836 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 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Angelus Plaza | 245 South Hill Street, Los Angeles, CA 90012 | Section 8 | 761 |
| Angelus Plaza | 255 S Hill St, Los Angeles, CA 90012 | LIHTC | 761 |
| The Alexandria Hotel | 501 S Spring St, Los Angeles, CA 90013 | LIHTC | 463 |
| Wilshire Vermont Station | 3183 Wilshire Blvd, Los Angeles, CA 90010 | LIHTC | 449 |
| Van Nuys Pierce Park Apts. | 12700 Van Nuys Blvd, Los Angeles, CA 91331 | Section 8 | 430 |
| Dolores Frances Apts | 1809 W 11th St, Los Angeles, CA 90006 | LIHTC | 390 |
| Waterstone Apartments | 9901 Lurline Ave, Los Angeles, CA 91311 | Section 8 | 354 |
| Angelus Plaza North | 200 S Olive St, Los Angeles, CA 90012 | LIHTC | 332 |
| Olive Street Development | 740 S Olive St, Los Angeles, CA 90014 | LIHTC | 309 |
| Grand Plaza | 601 N Grand Ave, Los Angeles, CA 90012 | LIHTC | 302 |
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. — Los Angeles, CA · 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.
WEST ANGELES COMMUNITY DEVELOPMENT CORP.
6028 Crenshaw Blvd, Los Angeles, CA
Services: Default/Foreclosure Counseling, Default/Foreclosure Workshop, Financial/Budget Counseling, Financial/Budget Workshop, Non-Delinquency Post-Purchase Workshop, Pre-Purchase Counseling, Pre-Purchase Workshop
SHALOM CENTER FOR T.R.E.E. OF LIFE
2975 Wilshire Blvd, Los Angeles, CA
Services: Default/Foreclosure Counseling, Default/Foreclosure Workshop, Financial/Budget Counseling, Non-Delinquency Post-Purchase Workshop, Pre-Purchase Counseling, Pre-Purchase Workshop
NID-HCA REEVES
4602 Crenshaw Blvd Ste 2A, Los Angeles, CA
Services: Default/Foreclosure Counseling, Financial/Budget Counseling, 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
NEW ECONOMICS FOR WOMEN
Services: Default/Foreclosure Counseling, Default/Foreclosure Workshop, Financial/Budget Counseling, Pre-Purchase Counseling, Pre-Purchase Workshop
MONEY MANAGEMENT INTERNATIONAL, LOS ANGELES
6080 Center Dr Fl 6, Los Angeles, CA
Services: Default/Foreclosure Counseling, Financial/Budget Counseling, Non-Delinquency Post-Purchase Workshop, Pre-Purchase Counseling, Pre-Purchase Workshop, Rental Housing Counseling
LOS ANGELES NEIGHBORHOOD HOUSING SERVICES, INC
3926 Wilshire Blvd Ste 200, Los Angeles, CA
Services: Default/Foreclosure Counseling, Default/Foreclosure Workshop, Financial/Budget Counseling, Financial/Budget Workshop, Home Improvement/Rehabilitation Counseling, Pre-Purchase Counseling, Pre-Purchase Workshop
KOREAN RESOURCE CENTER
900 Crenshaw Blvd, LOS ANGELES, CA
Services: Financial/Budget Counseling, Financial/Budget Workshop, Rental Housing Counseling, Rental Housing Workshop
HAVEN SERVICES INC
3655 S Grand Ave, Los Angeles, CA
Services: Default/Foreclosure Counseling, Financial/Budget Counseling, Financial/Budget Workshop, Fair Housing Workshop, Non-Delinquency Post-Purchase Workshop, Pre-Purchase Counseling, Pre-Purchase Workshop, Rental Housing Counseling
FAITH AND COMMUNITY EMPOWERMENT FORMERLY KOREAN CHURCHES FOR COMMUNITY DEVELOPMENT
3435 Wilshire Blvd Ste 350, Los Angeles, CA
Services: Default/Foreclosure Counseling, Financial/Budget Counseling, Financial/Budget Workshop, Pre-Purchase Counseling, Pre-Purchase Workshop
EAST LA COMMUNITY CORPORATION (ELACC)
2917 E 1st St Ste 101, Los Angeles, CA
Services: Default/Foreclosure Counseling, Default/Foreclosure Workshop, Financial/Budget Counseling, Financial/Budget Workshop, Fair Housing Workshop, Non-Delinquency Post-Purchase Workshop, Pre-Purchase Counseling, Pre-Purchase Workshop, Rental Housing Counseling, Rental Housing Workshop
Historical Fair Market Rent — Los Angeles Metro Area
The FY2025 snapshot records this 2-bedroom FMR for Los Angeles; it is not a current rent quote:
$2,601/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 Los Angeles?
- Use the affordable housing list below to build a call list. Los Angeles has 836 affordable housing properties in public HUD databases (562 LIHTC tax-credit properties and 274 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 Los Angeles?
- 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. California 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 Los Angeles?
- Our FY2025 data snapshot records a 2-bedroom HUD Fair Market Rent of $2,601/month for the Los Angeles 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 Los Angeles?
- No Oxford Houses are currently listed in our Los Angeles data, but other sober living options may exist. Contact local recovery organizations, the California 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. Los Angeles 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 California?
- 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 Los Angeles for its application and waitlist process.
Related Resources on This Site
More for your state
- Eviction-FriendlyEviction-friendly apartments in Los Angeles, CA
- Halfway HousesHalfway houses in Los Angeles, CA
- Transitional HousingTransitional Housing in Los Angeles, CA
- Jobs by CityFelony friendly jobs in Los Angeles, CA
- Buy Here Pay HereBuy here pay here in Los Angeles, CA
- Sober LivingSober living homes in Los Angeles, CA
- Thrift StoresThrift stores in Los Angeles, CA
- Pawn ShopsPawn shops in Los Angeles, CA
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