Second Chance Apartments & Affordable Housing in Seattle, WA

Finding Housing in Seattle with a Criminal Record

Affordable Housing Directory — Largest Seattle Properties

The 10 largest of 343 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.

Oxford Houses in Seattle — 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.

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.

• Pioneer Human Services; DBA: Pioneer Industries — Seattle, WA · 206-766-7021

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.

Frequently Asked Questions

How do I find second chance apartments in Seattle?

Use the affordable housing list below to build a call list. Seattle has 343 affordable housing properties in public HUD databases (297 LIHTC tax-credit properties and 46 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 Seattle?

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. Washington 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 Seattle?

Our FY2025 data snapshot records a 2-bedroom HUD Fair Market Rent of $2,501/month for the Seattle 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 Seattle?

Yes — 25 Oxford Houses operate in the Seattle 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. Seattle 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 Washington?

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 Seattle for its application and waitlist process.