SecondChanceInfo

Second Chance Apartments & Affordable Housing in Pittsburgh, PA

Housing data snapshot: · Program explanations updated

Read this first

What this page gives you

  • Every affordable housing property we can find for Pittsburgh in public HUD databases — 202 listings (134 LIHTC, 68 Section 8 / federally assisted), with the 10 largest shown below.
  • 2 Oxford Houses (self-run sober living) with phone numbers.
  • Federal reentry centers serving the metro area.
  • 4 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.

Pittsburgh, PA Housing at a Glance

202

Affordable listings (HUD databases)

2

Oxford Houses (sober living)

$1,299

HUD 2BR FMR (FY2025 snapshot)

4

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 Pittsburgharea — not a map of the listings in this page's data. Use the lists below for actual addresses.

Finding Housing in Pittsburgh with a Criminal Record

The Pittsburgh metro area has 202 affordable housing properties in public HUD databases, including 134 LIHTC (tax credit) properties and 68 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, Pittsburgh has 4 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, 2 Oxford Houses operate in the Pittsburgh 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 Pittsburgh Properties

The 10 largest of 202 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.

PropertyAddressTypeUnits
Wood Street Commons300 Wood St, Pittsburgh, PA 15222LIHTC270
Glen Hazel Heights & Bernice Crawley945 Roselle Court, Pittsburgh, PA 15207Section 8225
Crafton Heights Townhomes A/k/a Mountainview Apts1671-1681 Crucible Street, Pittsburgh, PA 15205Section 8221
Crawford Roberts Redev, Pittsburgh, PA LIHTC203
Allequippa Terrace Phase 1a, Pittsburgh, PA 15221LIHTC201
Three Rivers Manor125 Rhine Place, Pittsburgh, PA 15212Section 8198
The Roosevelt Building607 Penn Ave, Pittsburgh, PA 15222Section 8191
Riverview Phase II52 Garetta St, Pittsburgh, PA 15217Section 8191
K. Leroy Irvis Towers715 Mercer St, Pittsburgh, PA 15219Section 8190
Addison Terrace Ph 12136 Elmore St, Pittsburgh, PA 15219LIHTC186

Oxford Houses in Pittsburgh — 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.

NameAddressServesBedsOpen beds*Phone
Picard2100 Hazeldell Street, Pittsburgh, PAMen84(412) 886-5383
Saria1094 Greentree Road, Pittsburgh, PAWomen82(304) 989-2532

*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.

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.

WILLISSAE'S AGENCY FOR VISION AND EMPOWERMENT (WAVE)

7171 Churchland St, Pittsburgh, PA

412-573-9217info@waveoflife.org

Services: Default/Foreclosure Counseling, Pre-Purchase Counseling, Pre-Purchase Workshop, Rental Housing Counseling

URBAN LEAGUE OF GREATER PITTSBURGH

332 5th Ave, Pittsburgh, PA

412-227-4163website

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

CREDIT.ORG - PITTSBURGH, PA BRANCH

322 N Shore Dr, Pittsburgh, PA

412-790-5697info@credit.orgwebsite

Services: Default/Foreclosure Counseling, Financial/Budget Workshop, Pre-Purchase Counseling, Pre-Purchase Workshop, Rental Housing Counseling, Reverse Mortgage Counseling

ADVANTAGE CREDIT COUNSELING SERVICE

2403 Sidney St Ste 250, Pittsburgh, PA

888-511-2227hmurray@advantageccs.org

Services: Default/Foreclosure Counseling, Financial/Budget Counseling, Pre-Purchase Counseling, Reverse Mortgage Counseling

Historical Fair Market Rent — Pittsburgh Metro Area

The FY2025 snapshot records this 2-bedroom FMR for Pittsburgh; it is not a current rent quote:

$1,299/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 Pittsburgh?
Use the affordable housing list below to build a call list. Pittsburgh has 202 affordable housing properties in public HUD databases (134 LIHTC tax-credit properties and 68 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 Pittsburgh?
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. 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 does the stored rent benchmark tell me about Pittsburgh?
Our FY2025 data snapshot records a 2-bedroom HUD Fair Market Rent of $1,299/month for the Pittsburgh 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 Pittsburgh?
Yes — 2 Oxford Houses operate in the Pittsburgh 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. Pittsburgh has 4 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 Pennsylvania?
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 Pittsburgh for its application and waitlist process.

Related Resources on This Site

More for your state

Helpful guides

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.

Sources & Data