Detroit Housing Commission Criminal Background Policy: Section 8 & Public Housing

Mandatory denials listed in the plan

• Lifetime registration requirement under a state sex offender registration program, or conviction for manufacturing or producing methamphetamine on the premises of federally assisted housing (lifetime ban).

  Source: DHC HCV Administration Plan 2026 (Effective 07/01/2026) (Ch. 3, Sec. 3.3.A (Federally Barred Admission), PDF p. 62 (p. 47))

• Eviction from federally assisted housing for drug-related criminal activity during the previous 3 years, unless the circumstances leading to the eviction no longer exist, the evicted member completed a supervised drug rehabilitation program, or DHC evaluated the family's income and composition at the time of eviction.

  Source: DHC HCV Administration Plan 2026 (Effective 07/01/2026) (Ch. 3, Sec. 3.3.A (Federally Barred Admission), PDF p. 62 (p. 47))

• Current illegal drug use (defined by DHC HCV policy as any use of illegal drugs during the previous 12 months). DHC will not deny admission for current alcohol abuse if the household member is enrolled in a supervised rehabilitation program.

  Source: DHC HCV Administration Plan 2026 (Effective 07/01/2026) (Ch. 3, Sec. 3.3.A (Drug and Alcohol Abuse), PDF p. 65 (p. 50))

Arrests

The Criminal Background Screening Criteria Grid applies to convictions. A record of arrest(s) will not be used as the basis for denial or proof that the applicant engaged in disqualifying criminal activity. For current drug use or alcohol abuse determinations, an arrest alone will not be used unless DHC has sufficient independent evidence that the person engaged in the conduct within the past 12 months.

Source: DHC HCV Administration Plan 2026 (Effective 07/01/2026) (Ch. 3, Sec. 3.3.A (Criteria for Deciding to Deny Assistance), PDF p. 63 (p. 48); Ch. 3, Sec. 3.3.A (Drug and Alcohol Abuse), PDF p. 65 (p. 50))

Sealed, expunged and juvenile records

If an expunged conviction appears on a criminal background report, DHC will not consider it in the screening process (critical for Michigan applicants with Clean Slate or petition-based set-asides under MCL 780.621).

Source: DHC HCV Administration Plan 2026 (Effective 07/01/2026) (Ch. 3, Sec. 3.3.A (Criteria for Deciding to Deny Assistance), PDF p. 63 (p. 48))

Evidence of rehabilitation and other mitigating factors

Except as mandated by federal law, no HCV applicant is automatically barred for criminal history. Convictions suggesting significant risk are reviewed by the Chief Operating Officer of Rental Assistance (or designee) based on the totality of the circumstances, including any information the applicant provides, seriousness of the case, effect on uninvolved family members, and time elapsed. A family may also agree to exclude the culpable household member by certifying they will not visit or stay as a guest in the assisted unit.

Source: DHC HCV Administration Plan 2026 (Effective 07/01/2026) (Ch. 3, Sec. 3.3.A (Other Criminal Records), PDF p. 62 (p. 47); Ch. 3, Sec. 3.3.E (Removal of a Family Member's Name from the Application), PDF p. 71 (p. 56))

If DHC plans to deny you because of a record

Before issuing a denial based on a criminal record or sex offender registration, DHC notifies the head of household of the proposed action, provides a copy of the record on request, and gives 10 business days to dispute its accuracy and relevance. Once an official denial notice is sent, the applicant has 10 business days from the date of the denial notice to deliver a written request for an informal review in person or by first-class mail. DHC mails the written informal review decision within 30 calendar days of the review.

Deadline to ask for a review: 10 business days to dispute the criminal record after proposed denial; then 10 business days from the date of the official denial notice to request an informal review in writing

Source: DHC HCV Administration Plan 2026 (Effective 07/01/2026) (Ch. 3, Sec. 3.3.F, PDF p. 72 (p. 57); Ch. 16, Sec. 16.3.A (Requesting an Informal Review), PDF p. 540 (p. 525); Ch. 16, Sec. 16.3.A (Informal Review Decision), PDF p. 541 (p. 526))

Mandatory denials listed in the plan

• Lifetime registration requirement under a State sex offender registration program, or ever convicted of drug-related criminal activity for the production or manufacture of methamphetamine.

  Source: DHC Admissions & Continued Occupancy Policy (Effective 01 July 2026) (Ch. 3, Sec. 3-III.B, PDF p. 56 (p. 44))

• Current illegal drug use (defined by PHA Policy in Sec. 3-III.B as any use of illegal drugs during the previous 3 months; note that Sec. 3-III.B(b) and the Chart of Offenses also refer to 6 months). DHC will not deny admission if a household member currently engaging in alcohol abuse is enrolled in a supervised rehabilitation program.

  Source: DHC Admissions & Continued Occupancy Policy (Effective 01 July 2026) (Ch. 3, Sec. 3-III.B, PDF p. 55 (p. 43); Ch. 3, Sec. 3-III.B (Drug and Alcohol Abuse), PDF p. 57 (p. 45))

Arrests

DHC will not deny an application solely on the basis of an arrest. If arrest information is received for a potentially disqualifying activity, DHC may review the police report, witness/applicant statements, whether charges were filed, and whether charges were abandoned, dismissed, not prosecuted, or ended in acquittal.

Source: DHC Admissions & Continued Occupancy Policy (Effective 01 July 2026) (Ch. 3, Sec. 3-III.D, PDF p. 66 (p. 54))

Sealed, expunged and juvenile records

If an expunged conviction appears on a criminal background report, DHC will not consider it in the screening process. Additionally, DHC will not deny an applicant who has a single minor offense (such as traffic violations, petty crimes, small-scale property theft, public intoxication, disorderly conduct, or trespassing) within the past year.

Source: DHC Admissions & Continued Occupancy Policy (Effective 01 July 2026) (Ch. 3, Sec. 3-III.D, PDF p. 63 (p. 51); Ch. 3, Sec. 3-III.D, PDF p. 66 (p. 54))

Evidence of rehabilitation and other mitigating factors

Except as mandated by federal law, no applicant is automatically denied for criminal history. Convictions falling within the Chart of Offenses trigger an individualized review based on the totality of the circumstances, including an opportunity for an in-person individualized review before a final decision. DHC explicitly considers acceptable evidence of rehabilitation such as steady employment, steady school attendance and passing grades, completion of a restorative justice program, completion of anger management, letters of support from community groups, and educational/vocational program completion.

Source: DHC Admissions & Continued Occupancy Policy (Effective 01 July 2026) (Ch. 3, Sec. 3-III.D, PDF pp. 63-64 (pp. 51-52); Ch. 3, Sec. 3-III.D(b), PDF p. 64 (p. 52))

If DHC plans to deny you because of a record

If a criminal history report contains information that may be grounds for denial, DHC shares the information with the applicant and the subject of the record and provides an opportunity to dispute its accuracy or provide additional relevant information before deciding. If DHC then issues a written notice of denial, the applicant must request an informal hearing in writing within 15 calendar days of the date of the denial notice.

Deadline to ask for a review: 15 calendar days from the date of the written denial notice to request an informal hearing in writing

Source: DHC Admissions & Continued Occupancy Policy (Effective 01 July 2026) (Ch. 3, Sec. 3-III.D(3)-(5), PDF p. 60 (p. 48))