Second Chance Apartments in Philadelphia, PA
Last updated:
Philadelphia, PA Housing at a Glance
699
Affordable Properties
2
Oxford Houses
$1,810
FMR 2BR Rent
26
Counseling Agencies
Finding Second Chance Housing in Philadelphia
Finding an apartment with a criminal record in Philadelphia can be challenging, but it is far from impossible. The Philadelphia metro area has 699 affordable housing properties, including 559 LIHTC (tax credit) properties and 140 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, Philadelphia has 26 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 2 Oxford Houses in the Philadelphia 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 Philadelphia
These are the largest subsidized properties by unit count. Contact them directly to ask about availability and screening policies.
| Property | Address | Type | Units |
|---|---|---|---|
| Southwark Plaza | 401 Washington Ave, Philadelphia, PA 19147 | LIHTC | 470 |
| Courtyard Preservation | 1021 S 4th St, Philadelphia, PA 19147 | LIHTC | 470 |
| University Square Plaza | 3901 Market St, Philadelphia, PA 19104 | Section 8 | 442 |
| Samuel Tabas Apartments | 2101 Strahle St, Philadelphia, PA 19152 | Section 8 | 323 |
| Samuel Tabas Apts | 2101 Strahle St, Philadelphia, PA 19152 | LIHTC | 323 |
| Philip Murray House | 6300 Old York Road, Philadelphia, PA 19141 | Section 8 | 308 |
| The Pavilion | 3901 Conshohocken Ave, Philadelphia, PA 19131 | Section 8 | 296 |
| Pavilion | 3901 Conshohocken Ave, Philadelphia, PA 19131 | LIHTC | 295 |
| Casa Farnese | 1300 Lombard St, Philadelphia, PA 19147 | Section 8 | 288 |
| Four Freedoms House | 6101 Morris St, Philadelphia, PA 19144 | Section 8 | 282 |
Oxford Houses in Philadelphia
Oxford Houses are self-supporting, democratically run sober living homes. Residents share expenses and maintain sobriety together.
| Name | Address | Gender | Beds | Vacancies | Phone |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| RitnerVACANCY | 2432 S 20th St, Philadelphia, PA | Men | 6 | 4 | (908) 285-5788 |
| Temple 2 | 2022 N 19th Street, Philadelphia, PA | Men | 6 | 0 | (267) 951-2100 |
Federal Halfway Houses (Residential Reentry Centers)
BOP-contracted facilities that provide transitional housing for individuals completing federal sentences.
- Kintock Group, The — Philadelphia, PA · 610-687-1336
- Kintock Group, The — Philadelphia, PA · 6106871336
HUD-Approved Housing Counseling Agencies
Free or low-cost housing counseling. These agencies can help you find housing, understand your rights, and navigate applications.
Xiente
174 Diamond St, Philadelphia, PA
Services: Default/Foreclosure Counseling, Financial/Budget Counseling, Financial/Budget Workshop, Home Improvement/Rehabilitation Counseling, Non-Delinquency Post-Purchase Workshop, Pre-Purchase Counseling, Pre-Purchase Workshop, Rental Housing Counseling
WEST OAK LANE COMMUNITY DEVELOPMENT
1624 E Wadsworth Ave, Philadelphia, PA
Services: Default/Foreclosure Counseling, Financial/Budget Counseling, Pre-Purchase Counseling, Rental Housing Counseling
URBAN LEAGUE OF PHILADELPHIA
121 S Broad St Fl 10, Philadelphia, PA
Services: Default/Foreclosure Counseling, Default/Foreclosure Workshop, Financial/Budget Counseling, Financial/Budget Workshop, Fair Housing Workshop, Homeless Counseling, Predatory Lending Workshop, Pre-Purchase Counseling, Pre-Purchase Workshop, Rental Housing Counseling
UNEMPLOYMENT INFORMATION CENTER
112 N Broad St, Philadelphia, PA
Services: Default/Foreclosure Counseling, Financial/Budget Counseling, Pre-Purchase Counseling, Pre-Purchase Workshop, Rental Housing Counseling
SOUTHWEST CDC
6328 Paschall Ave, Philadelphia, PA
Services: Default/Foreclosure Counseling, Financial/Budget Counseling, Financial/Budget Workshop, Pre-Purchase Counseling, Pre-Purchase Workshop, Rental Housing Counseling
PHILADELPHIA CHINATOWN DEVELOPMENT CORPORATION
301 N 9th St, Philadelphia, PA
Services: Default/Foreclosure Counseling, Default/Foreclosure Workshop, Financial/Budget Counseling, Financial/Budget Workshop, Fair Housing Workshop, Non-Delinquency Post-Purchase Workshop, Predatory Lending Workshop, Pre-Purchase Counseling, Pre-Purchase Workshop, Rental Housing Counseling, Rental Housing Workshop
PENNSYLVANIA COMMUNITY REAL ESTATE CORP. D/B/A TENANT UNION REPRESENTATIVE NETWORK (T.U.R.N.)
100 S Broad St Ste 800, Philadelphia, PA
Services: Rental Housing Counseling, Rental Housing Workshop
OPERATION HOPE- PHILADELPHIA BRANCH
1501 N Broad St, PHILADELPHIA, PA
Services: Financial/Budget Counseling, Financial/Budget Workshop, Pre-Purchase Counseling, Pre-Purchase Workshop
NUEVA ESPERANZA, INC.
4261 N 5th St, Philadelphia, PA
Services: Default/Foreclosure Counseling, Financial/Budget Counseling, Fair Housing Workshop, Non-Delinquency Post-Purchase Workshop, Predatory Lending Workshop, Pre-Purchase Counseling, Pre-Purchase Workshop, Rental Housing Counseling
NSC (NACA COUNSELING SUBSIDIARY) - PHILADELPHIA, PA
1341 N Delaware Ave Ste 106, PHILADELPHIA, PA
Services: Default/Foreclosure Counseling, Financial/Budget Counseling, Fair Housing Workshop, Non-Delinquency Post-Purchase Workshop, Predatory Lending Workshop, Pre-Purchase Counseling, Pre-Purchase Workshop
NORTHWEST COUNSELING SERVICE
6521 N Broad St, Philadelphia, PA
Services: Default/Foreclosure Counseling, Financial/Budget Counseling, Financial/Budget Workshop, Fair Housing Workshop, Predatory Lending Workshop, Pre-Purchase Counseling, Pre-Purchase Workshop, Rental Housing Counseling
NEW KENSINGTON COMMUNITY DEVELOPMENT CORPORATION
2771 Ruth St, Philadelphia, PA
Services: Default/Foreclosure Counseling, Financial/Budget Counseling, Financial/Budget Workshop, Fair Housing Workshop, Home Improvement/Rehabilitation Counseling, Predatory Lending Workshop, Pre-Purchase Counseling, Pre-Purchase Workshop, Rental Housing Counseling
MT. AIRY CDC
6703 Germantown Ave, Philadelphia, PA
Services: Default/Foreclosure Counseling, Financial/Budget Counseling, Financial/Budget Workshop, Fair Housing Workshop, Home Improvement/Rehabilitation Counseling, Pre-Purchase Counseling, Pre-Purchase Workshop
LIBERTY RESOURCES, INC.
112 N 8th St Ste 600, Philadelphia, PA
Services: Default/Foreclosure Counseling, Default/Foreclosure Workshop, Rental Housing Counseling
INTERCULTURAL FAMILY SERVICES, INCORPORATED
4240 Chestnut St, Philadelphia, PA
Services: Default/Foreclosure Counseling, Financial/Budget Counseling, Home Improvement/Rehabilitation Counseling, Homeless Counseling, Non-Delinquency Post-Purchase Workshop, Predatory Lending Workshop, Pre-Purchase Counseling, Pre-Purchase Workshop, Rental Housing Counseling
HISPANIC ASSOCIATION OF CONTRACTORS AND ENTERPRISES
167 W Allegheny Ave, Philadelphia, PA
Services: Default/Foreclosure Counseling, Default/Foreclosure Workshop, 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 Counseling
Greater Philadelphia Community Alliance
1529 S 22nd St, Philadelphia, PA
Services: Default/Foreclosure Counseling, Financial/Budget Counseling, Pre-Purchase Counseling, Pre-Purchase Workshop, Rental Housing Counseling
GREATER PHILADELPHIA ALLIANCE SOCIAL SERVICE CENTER (GPASS)
4943 North 5th Street, PHILADELPHIA, PA
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
ESPERANZA
4261 N 5th St, Philadelphia, PA
Services: Default/Foreclosure Counseling, Financial/Budget Counseling, 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
CONGRESO DE LATINOS UNIDOS
216 W Somerset St, Philadelphia, PA
Services: Default/Foreclosure Counseling, Financial/Budget Counseling, Financial/Budget Workshop, Fair Housing Workshop, Home Improvement/Rehabilitation Counseling, Homeless Counseling, Predatory Lending Workshop, Pre-Purchase Counseling, Pre-Purchase Workshop, Rental Housing Counseling, Rental Housing Workshop
CENTER IN THE PARK
5818 Germantown Ave, Philadelphia, PA
Services: Default/Foreclosure Counseling, Default/Foreclosure Workshop, Financial/Budget Counseling, Financial/Budget 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
CCCS OF DELAWARE VALLEY, INC. DBA CLARIFI
1635 Market St Ste 510, Philadelphia, PA
Services: Default/Foreclosure Counseling, Financial/Budget Counseling, Non-Delinquency Post-Purchase Workshop, Pre-Purchase Counseling, Rental Housing Counseling
CCCS OF DELAWARE VALLEY, INC. DBA CLARIFI
7340 Jackson Street, PHILADELPHIA, PA
Services: Default/Foreclosure Counseling, Financial/Budget Counseling, Pre-Purchase Counseling, Rental Housing Counseling
ASOCIACION DE PUERTORRIQUENOS EN MARCHA
600 Diamond St, Philadelphia, PA
Services: Default/Foreclosure Counseling, Default/Foreclosure Workshop, Financial/Budget Counseling, Fair Housing Workshop, Non-Delinquency Post-Purchase Workshop, Predatory Lending Workshop, Pre-Purchase Counseling, Pre-Purchase Workshop, Rental Housing Counseling
AFFORDABLE HOUSING CENTER OF PENNSYLVANIA - NORTHEAST BRANCH
6325 Frankford Avenue, PHILADELPHIA, PA
Services: Default/Foreclosure Counseling, Non-Delinquency Post-Purchase Workshop, Pre-Purchase Counseling, Pre-Purchase Workshop, Rental Housing Counseling
AFFORDABLE HOUSING CENTER OF PENNSYLVANIA
846 N Broad St, Philadelphia, PA
Services: Default/Foreclosure Counseling, Non-Delinquency Post-Purchase Workshop, Pre-Purchase Counseling, Pre-Purchase Workshop, Rental Housing Counseling, Reverse Mortgage Counseling
Fair Market Rent — Philadelphia Metro Area
HUD sets Fair Market Rents (FMR) annually to determine Section 8 voucher amounts. The 2-bedroom FMR in Philadelphia is:
$1,810/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 Philadelphia?
- Start by contacting LIHTC and Section 8 properties directly — Philadelphia has 699 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 Philadelphia?
- Not necessarily. Many landlords in Philadelphia do individual assessments rather than blanket rejections. The type of conviction, how long ago it occurred, and evidence of rehabilitation all matter. Pennsylvania 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 Philadelphia?
- The HUD Fair Market Rent for a 2-bedroom apartment in the Philadelphia metro area is $1,810/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 Philadelphia?
- Yes. There are 2 Oxford Houses in the Philadelphia 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. Philadelphia has 26 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 Pennsylvania?
- 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 Philadelphia 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
- HousingSecond chance apartments in Pittsburgh, PA
- ExpungementPennsylvania expungement guide
- Voting RightsFelon voting rights in Pennsylvania
- Gun RightsFelon gun rights in Pennsylvania
- DUI RecoveryDUI license recovery in Pennsylvania
- ProbationProbation & parole in Pennsylvania
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