How do I find second chance apartments in Milwaukee?

Start by contacting LIHTC and Section 8 properties directly — Milwaukee has 285 affordable housing properties. Many accept tenants with criminal records on a case-by-case basis. Call the property manager, explain your situation honestly, and ask about their screening criteria. Private landlords and smaller complexes tend to be more flexible than large corporate-managed properties.

Will a felony disqualify me from renting in Milwaukee?

Not necessarily. Many landlords in Milwaukee do individual assessments rather than blanket rejections. The type of conviction, how long ago it occurred, and evidence of rehabilitation all matter. Wisconsin 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 is the average rent in Milwaukee?

The HUD Fair Market Rent for a 2-bedroom apartment in the Milwaukee metro area is $1,338/month. Subsidized housing through LIHTC or Section 8 programs typically costs 30% of your adjusted gross income, which can be significantly less than market rate.

Are there sober living homes in Milwaukee?

Yes. There are 10 Oxford Houses in the Milwaukee area. Oxford Houses are democratically run, self-supporting sober living homes. Residents share expenses and hold each other accountable. Contact them directly for availability — some may have vacancies right now.

What are HUD housing counseling agencies?

HUD-approved housing counseling agencies provide free or low-cost advice on renting, buying, default/foreclosure prevention, and credit repair. Milwaukee has 4 HUD-approved counseling agencies. They can help you understand your rights, navigate the application process, and find housing that works for your situation — including if you have a criminal record.

Can I get Section 8 housing with a criminal record in Wisconsin?

Most criminal convictions do not automatically disqualify you from Section 8 housing. The main disqualifications are: lifetime sex offender registration and methamphetamine production convictions. Individual housing authorities have discretion on other offenses. Apply directly to the Milwaukee Housing Authority and be honest about your history. Wait times can be long, so apply as soon as possible.

Second Chance Apartments in Milwaukee, WI

Last updated: 2026-03-24

Milwaukee, WI Housing at a Glance

285

Affordable Properties

Oxford Houses

$1,338

FMR 2BR Rent

Counseling Agencies

Finding Second Chance Housing in Milwaukee

Finding an apartment with a criminal record in Milwaukee can be challenging, but it is far from impossible. The Milwaukee metro area has 285 affordable housing properties, including 193 LIHTC (tax credit) properties and 92 Section 8 properties. Many of these evaluate applicants individually rather than using blanket criminal record bans.

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 tend to be more flexible than large corporate management companies.

If you need help navigating the process, Milwaukee has 4 HUD-approved housing counseling agencies that provide free assistance with finding housing, understanding your rights, and improving your rental application. These counselors know which local properties are most open to second chance tenants.

For those in recovery, there are 10 Oxford Houses in the Milwaukee area providing self-supporting, sober living environments. These are an excellent option if you need stable housing while rebuilding your life.

Largest Affordable Housing Properties in Milwaukee

These are the largest subsidized properties by unit count. Contact them directly to ask about availability and screening policies.

Property	Address	Type	Units
White Birch Apartments Phase 1 & 2	9235-9239 N 75th St, Milwaukee, WI 53223	Section 8	356
3700 Green Tree Corp.	3744 W.green Tree Rd., Milwaukee, WI 53209	Section 8	264
Westlawn Revitalization	5560 N 62nd St, Milwaukee, WI 53218	LIHTC	250
Windsor Court	1831 West Juneau Avenue, Milwaukee, WI 53233	Section 8	239
Layton Gardens Apts Phase I, Ii, III	2220 W Layton Ave, Milwaukee, WI 53221	Section 8	237
Evergreen Square I, Ii, & III	3141 S 77th St, Milwaukee, WI 53219	Section 8	237
Boulevard Apartments	1130 N 29th St, Milwaukee, WI 53208	LIHTC	235
Bradley Place	6401 W. Bradley Road, Milwaukee, WI 53223	Section 8	232
Bradley Place Townhomes LLC	6401,6401a,6435,6435a,6409,6409a 6411,6411a Bradley Rd, Milwaukee, WI 53223	LIHTC	232
New Hampton Gardens	4821 N. 22nd Street, Milwaukee, WI 53209	Section 8	230

Oxford Houses in Milwaukee

Oxford Houses are self-supporting, democratically run sober living homes. Residents share expenses and maintain sobriety together.

Name	Address	Gender	Beds	Vacancies	Phone
ChevyVACANCY	2009 E Kenwood Blvd, Milwaukee, WI	Men	9	1	(414) 210-4052
Cooper Park	5001 S 18th St, Milwaukee, WI	Men	7	0	(414) 249-5655
Enderis ParkVACANCY	2929 N 72nd St., Milwaukee, WI	Men	9	2	(414) 252-0684
Green TreeVACANCY	10011 W Green Tree, Milwaukee, WI	Men	7	3	(414) 751-7668
KeefeVACANCY	7702 W Keefe Avenue, Milwaukee, WI	Men	9	4	(414) 208-5510
Layton ParkVACANCY	3325 S Princeton Ave, Milwaukee, WI	Men w/ Children	7	2	(414) 488-9097
MilwaukeeVACANCY	2711 N 68th St, Milwaukee, WI	Men	7	2	(414) 914-9271
OakshoreVACANCY	9525 W Grantosa Drive, Milwaukee, WI	Men	8	4
Saveland ParkVACANCY	2424 W Leroy Ave, Milwaukee, WI	Men	8	1	(414) 488-8055
Twin OaksVACANCY	3030 N 74th St, Milwaukee, WI	Men	8	2

Federal Halfway Houses (Residential Reentry Centers)

BOP-contracted facilities that provide transitional housing for individuals completing federal sentences.

Wisconsin Community Services — Milwaukee, WI · 414-290-0484

HUD-Approved Housing Counseling Agencies

Free or low-cost housing counseling. These agencies can help you find housing, understand your rights, and navigate applications.

UNITED COMMUNITY CENTER

1028 S. 9th Street, MILWAUKEE, WI

414-384-3100fcampos@unitedcc.orgwebsite

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

OPERATION HOPE- MILWAUKEE WI

7500 W Good Hope Rd, Milwaukee, WI

414-426-2239michelle.stokes@operationhope.orgwebsite

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

HOUSING RESOURCES, INCORPORATED

7830 W Burleigh St, Milwaukee, WI

414-461-6330website

Services: Default/Foreclosure Counseling, Non-Delinquency Post-Purchase Workshop, Pre-Purchase Counseling, Pre-Purchase Workshop, Reverse Mortgage Counseling

ACTS HOUSING

270 E Kilbourn Ave Ste 5, Milwaukee, WI

414-933-2215acts@actshousing.orgwebsite

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

Fair Market Rent — Milwaukee Metro Area

HUD sets Fair Market Rents (FMR) annually to determine Section 8 voucher amounts. The 2-bedroom FMR in Milwaukee is:

$1,338/month (2BR)

With subsidized housing (LIHTC or Section 8), you typically pay 30% of your adjusted gross income — often significantly less than market rate.

Tips for Finding Housing with a Record

1.Call properties directly before applying. Ask the manager about their screening policy for criminal records — this saves you time and application fees.
2.Try private landlords and smaller complexes first. Individual owners are often more flexible than corporate property management companies.
3.Prepare a "rental resume" with references from employers, parole/probation officers, past landlords, or community organizations that can vouch for you.
4.Offer a larger security deposit or several months of rent upfront if you can. This reduces the landlord's perceived risk.
5.Look into LIHTC (Low-Income Housing Tax Credit) properties — they have income requirements but many are more lenient on background checks than market-rate apartments.
6.Contact HUD-approved housing counseling agencies for free help navigating the process. They know which local properties work with people who have records.
7.Be honest about your history. If a landlord discovers you lied on an application, that is usually grounds for immediate lease termination.
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 Milwaukee?: Start by contacting LIHTC and Section 8 properties directly — Milwaukee has 285 affordable housing properties. Many accept tenants with criminal records on a case-by-case basis. Call the property manager, explain your situation honestly, and ask about their screening criteria. Private landlords and smaller complexes tend to be more flexible than large corporate-managed properties.
Will a felony disqualify me from renting in Milwaukee?: Not necessarily. Many landlords in Milwaukee do individual assessments rather than blanket rejections. The type of conviction, how long ago it occurred, and evidence of rehabilitation all matter. Wisconsin 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 is the average rent in Milwaukee?: The HUD Fair Market Rent for a 2-bedroom apartment in the Milwaukee metro area is $1,338/month. Subsidized housing through LIHTC or Section 8 programs typically costs 30% of your adjusted gross income, which can be significantly less than market rate.
Are there sober living homes in Milwaukee?: Yes. There are 10 Oxford Houses in the Milwaukee area. Oxford Houses are democratically run, self-supporting sober living homes. Residents share expenses and hold each other accountable. Contact them directly for availability — some may have vacancies right now.
What are HUD housing counseling agencies?: HUD-approved housing counseling agencies provide free or low-cost advice on renting, buying, default/foreclosure prevention, and credit repair. Milwaukee has 4 HUD-approved counseling agencies. They can help you understand your rights, navigate the application process, and find housing that works for your situation — including if you have a criminal record.
Can I get Section 8 housing with a criminal record in Wisconsin?: Most criminal convictions do not automatically disqualify you from Section 8 housing. The main disqualifications are: lifetime sex offender registration and methamphetamine production convictions. Individual housing authorities have discretion on other offenses. Apply directly to the Milwaukee Housing Authority and be honest about your history. Wait times can be long, so apply as soon as possible.

Related Resources on This Site

More for your state

ExpungementWisconsin expungement guide
Voting RightsFelon voting rights in Wisconsin
Gun RightsFelon gun rights in Wisconsin
DUI RecoveryDUI license recovery in Wisconsin
ProbationProbation & parole in Wisconsin

Helpful guides

Background ChecksWhat shows up on a background check?
Background ChecksHow far back do background checks go?
Background ChecksTypes of background checks
Background ChecksHow to check your own record

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.