Second Chance Apartments in St Louis, MO
Last updated:
St Louis, MO Housing at a Glance
477
Affordable Properties
11
Oxford Houses
N/A
FMR 2BR Rent
10
Counseling Agencies
Finding Second Chance Housing in St Louis
Finding an apartment with a criminal record in St Louis can be challenging, but it is far from impossible. The St Louis metro area has 477 affordable housing properties, including 406 LIHTC (tax credit) properties and 71 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, St Louis has 10 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 11 Oxford Houses in the St Louis 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 St Louis
These are the largest subsidized properties by unit count. Contact them directly to ask about availability and screening policies.
| Property | Address | Type | Units |
|---|---|---|---|
| Preservation Square | 1443 Ofallon St, St Louis, MO | LIHTC | 475 |
| Covington Manor Apts | 3746 Broken Hill Dr, St Louis, MO 63125 | LIHTC | 400 |
| Aboussie Pavilion | 4635 Ridgewood Avenue, Saint Louis, MO 63116 | Section 8 | 273 |
| Bavarian Towers/bevo Place | 4635 Ridgewood Ave, St Louis, MO 63116 | LIHTC | 273 |
| Park Place | 4399 Forest Park Ave, Saint Louis, MO 63108 | Section 8 | 242 |
| Park Place Apts | 4399 Forest Park Ave, St Louis, MO 63108 | LIHTC | 242 |
| Mark Twain Hotel | 205 N Ninth St, St Louis, MO 63101 | LIHTC | 235 |
| Paul Brown Building | 818 Olive St, St Louis, MO 63101 | LIHTC | 222 |
| Homer G Phillips Dignity House | 2601 Whittier St, St Louis, MO 63113 | LIHTC | 218 |
| Cornerstone/st. Lukes Plaza | 5602 Enright Ave, Saint Louis, MO 63112 | Section 8 | 216 |
Oxford Houses in St Louis
Oxford Houses are self-supporting, democratically run sober living homes. Residents share expenses and maintain sobriety together.
| Name | Address | Gender | Beds | Vacancies | Phone |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| AllendaleVACANCY | 3127 Meramac Street, St. Louis, MO | Men | 8 | 3 | (314) 353-5823 |
| Chippewa | 6408 Chippewa, St. Louis, MO | Men | 7 | 0 | (314) 353-2771 |
| Cote BrillianteVACANCY | 5049 Cote Brilliante Ave, St. Louis, MO | Men | 7 | 2 | (314) 669-9029 |
| GravoisVACANCY | 3943 Gravois Avenue, St. Louis, MO | Men | 7 | 2 | (314) 772-1303 |
| HumphreyVACANCY | 3542 Humphrey, St. Louis, MO | Men | 8 | 2 | (314) 762-9976 |
| MeramecVACANCY | 3631 Meramec St, St. Louis, MO | Women | 8 | 2 | (314) 449-6572 |
| MichiganVACANCY | 7127 Michigan Avenue, St. Louis, MO | Men | 8 | 2 | (314) 351-2712 |
| MonitorVACANCY | 3633 Meramec, St. Louis, MO | Women | 8 | 2 | (314) 752-1213 |
| MontanaVACANCY | 3655 Montana Street, St. Louis, MO | Men | 8 | 1 | (314) 351-2064 |
| River BluffVACANCY | 4907 S Broadway, St Louis, MO | Men | 8 | 3 | (314) 328-1430 |
| Saint Louis | 720 Shenandoah Ave. , St. Louis, MO | Men | 9 | 0 | (314) 256-1594 |
Federal Halfway Houses (Residential Reentry Centers)
BOP-contracted facilities that provide transitional housing for individuals completing federal sentences.
- Dismas House of St. Louis — Saint Louis, MO · 314-361-2802
- Southern Missouri Reentry, LLC. — St. Louis, MO · 573-313-1609
HUD-Approved Housing Counseling Agencies
Free or low-cost housing counseling. These agencies can help you find housing, understand your rights, and navigate applications.
URBAN LEAGUE OF METROPOLITAN SAINT LOUIS, INC.
1408 N Kingshighway Blvd, Saint Louis, MO
Services: Default/Foreclosure Counseling, Fair Housing Workshop, Home Improvement/Rehabilitation Counseling, Homeless Counseling, Non-Delinquency Post-Purchase Workshop, Pre-Purchase Counseling, Pre-Purchase Workshop, Rental Housing Counseling
URBAN LEAGUE OF METROPOLITAN SAINT LOUIS INC - PETER H. BUNCE WATER TOWER CENTER
2125 Bissell St, Saint Louis, MO
Services: Default/Foreclosure Counseling, Fair Housing Workshop, Homeless Counseling, Non-Delinquency Post-Purchase Workshop, Pre-Purchase Counseling, Pre-Purchase Workshop, Rental Housing Counseling
URBAN LEAGUE OF METROPOLITAN SAINT LOUIS INC - FERGUSON COMMUNITY EMPOWERMENT CENTER
9420 W Florissant Ave, Saint Louis, MO
Services: Default/Foreclosure Counseling, Fair Housing Workshop, Homeless Counseling, Non-Delinquency Post-Purchase Workshop, Pre-Purchase Counseling, Pre-Purchase Workshop, Rental Housing Counseling
URBAN LEAGUE OF METROPOLITAN SAINT LOUIS - ST. LOUIS COUNTY OPERATIONS
2900 Pershall Rd, Saint Louis, MO
Services: Default/Foreclosure Counseling, Default/Foreclosure Workshop, Fair Housing Workshop, Homeless Counseling, Non-Delinquency Post-Purchase Workshop, Pre-Purchase Counseling, Pre-Purchase Workshop, Rental Housing Counseling
THE HOUSING PARTNERSHIP, INC.
729 Lemay Ferry Rd, Saint Louis, MO
Services: Default/Foreclosure Counseling, Financial/Budget Counseling, Pre-Purchase Counseling, Pre-Purchase Workshop
NSC (NACA COUNSELING SUBSIDIARY) - ST. LOUIS, MO
1300 Hampton Avenue suite 101, SAINT LOUIS, MO
Services: Default/Foreclosure Counseling, Financial/Budget Counseling, Fair Housing Workshop, Non-Delinquency Post-Purchase Workshop, Predatory Lending Workshop, Pre-Purchase Counseling, Pre-Purchase Workshop
JUSTINE PETERSEN HOUSING AND REINVESTMENT CORPORATION
1023 N Grand Blvd, Saint Louis, MO
Services: Default/Foreclosure Counseling, Financial/Budget Counseling, Home Improvement/Rehabilitation Counseling, Pre-Purchase Counseling
COMMUNITY ACTION AGENCY OF ST. LOUIS COUNTY, INC. (CAASTLC)
2709 Woodson Rd, Saint Louis, MO
Services: Financial/Budget Counseling, Financial/Budget Workshop, Fair Housing Workshop, Homeless Counseling, Predatory Lending Workshop, Pre-Purchase Counseling, Pre-Purchase Workshop
BEYOND HOUSING
6506 Wright Way, Saint Louis, MO
Services: Financial/Budget Counseling, Home Improvement/Rehabilitation Counseling, Pre-Purchase Counseling, Pre-Purchase Workshop
BETTER FAMILY LIFE, INC.
5415 Page Blvd, Saint Louis, MO
Services: Default/Foreclosure Counseling, Financial/Budget Counseling, Financial/Budget Workshop, Pre-Purchase Counseling, Pre-Purchase Workshop, Rental Housing Counseling, Rental Housing Workshop
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 St Louis?
- Start by contacting LIHTC and Section 8 properties directly — St Louis has 477 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 St Louis?
- Not necessarily. Many landlords in St Louis do individual assessments rather than blanket rejections. The type of conviction, how long ago it occurred, and evidence of rehabilitation all matter. Missouri 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 St Louis?
- Rent varies widely in St Louis. Subsidized housing through LIHTC or Section 8 programs typically costs 30% of your adjusted gross income, which can be significantly less than market rate. Contact local housing authorities for current availability and rates.
- Are there sober living homes in St Louis?
- Yes. There are 11 Oxford Houses in the St Louis 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. St Louis has 10 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 Missouri?
- 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 St Louis 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 Kansas City, MO
- ExpungementMissouri expungement guide
- Voting RightsFelon voting rights in Missouri
- Gun RightsFelon gun rights in Missouri
- DUI RecoveryDUI license recovery in Missouri
- ProbationProbation & parole in Missouri
- SR22 InsuranceSR22 insurance in Missouri
- License ReinstatementLicense reinstatement in Missouri
Helpful guides
- Background ChecksWhat shows up on a background check?
- Criminal LawFelony vs. misdemeanor — what's the difference?
- RightsCan a felon become a nurse?
- RecoveryOnline recovery meetings