Second Chance Apartments in Washington, DC
Last updated:
Washington, DC Housing at a Glance
296
Affordable Properties
28
Oxford Houses
$2,246
FMR 2BR Rent
17
Counseling Agencies
Finding Second Chance Housing in Washington
Finding an apartment with a criminal record in Washington can be challenging, but it is far from impossible. The Washington metro area has 296 affordable housing properties, including 220 LIHTC (tax credit) properties and 76 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, Washington has 17 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 28 Oxford Houses in the Washington 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 Washington
These are the largest subsidized properties by unit count. Contact them directly to ask about availability and screening policies.
| Property | Address | Type | Units |
|---|---|---|---|
| Wingate Towers & Garden Apts | 4660 Mlk Jr Ave Sw, Washington, DC 20032 | LIHTC | 714 |
| Paradise At Parkside Apartments | 3598 Hayes St Ne, Washington, DC 20019 | Section 8 | 653 |
| Capitol Park Plaza | 103 G St Sw, Washington, DC 20024 | LIHTC | 648 |
| Mayfair Mansions | 770 Kenilworth Ter Ne, Washington, DC 20019 | LIHTC | 569 |
| Fort Chaplin Apartments | 4212 E Capitol St Ne, Washington, DC 20019 | Section 8 | 549 |
| Fort Chaplin Park | 4212 E Capitol St Ne, Washington, DC 20019 | LIHTC | 549 |
| Brookland Manor Aka Brentwood Village | 2400 14th St Ne, Washington, DC 20018 | Section 8 | 477 |
| Meadow Green Courts | 3539 A St Se, Washington, DC 20019 | LIHTC | 470 |
| Mayfair Mansions | 3819 Jay St Ne, Washington, DC 20019 | Section 8 | 410 |
| Fairway Park Apts | 2100 Maryland Ave Ne, Washington, DC 20002 | LIHTC | 407 |
Oxford Houses in Washington
Oxford Houses are self-supporting, democratically run sober living homes. Residents share expenses and maintain sobriety together.
Federal Halfway Houses (Residential Reentry Centers)
BOP-contracted facilities that provide transitional housing for individuals completing federal sentences.
- CORE DC, LLC — Washington, DC · 202-795-5444
- Reynolds and Associates, Inc. — Washington, DC
HUD-Approved Housing Counseling Agencies
Free or low-cost housing counseling. These agencies can help you find housing, understand your rights, and navigate applications.
UNIVERSITY LEGAL SERVICES
1800 Martin Luther King Jr Ave SE, WASHINGTON, DC
Services: Default/Foreclosure Counseling, Financial/Budget Counseling, 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
UNIVERSITY LEGAL SERVICES
Services: Default/Foreclosure Counseling, Default/Foreclosure Workshop, Financial/Budget Counseling, Home Improvement/Rehabilitation Counseling, Homeless Counseling, Non-Delinquency Post-Purchase Workshop, Pre-Purchase Counseling, Pre-Purchase Workshop, Rental Housing Counseling
UNIVERSITY LEGAL SERVICES
3939 Benning Rd NE, WASHINGTON, DC
Services: Default/Foreclosure Counseling, 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, Rental Housing Workshop
UNITED PLANNING ORGANIZATION - PETEY GREENE COMMUNITY SVC. CENTER
2907 Martin Luther King Jr. Ave., SE, WASHINGTON, DC
Services: Default/Foreclosure Counseling, Financial/Budget Counseling, Homeless Counseling, Pre-Purchase Counseling, Pre-Purchase Workshop, Rental Housing Counseling
UNITED PLANNING ORGANIZATION
2907 Martin Luther King Jr Ave SE, Washington, DC
Services: Default/Foreclosure Counseling, Financial/Budget Counseling, Financial/Budget Workshop, Pre-Purchase Counseling, Pre-Purchase Workshop, Rental Housing Counseling
OPERATION HOPE - DC NE
Services: Pre-Purchase Counseling, Pre-Purchase Workshop
NSC (NACA COUNSELING SUBSIDIARY) - WASHINGTON, DC
7731 Alaska Ave NW, Washington, DC
Services: Default/Foreclosure Counseling, Financial/Budget Counseling, Fair Housing Workshop, Non-Delinquency Post-Purchase Workshop, Predatory Lending Workshop, Pre-Purchase Counseling, Pre-Purchase Workshop
NATIONAL FOUNDATION FOR CREDIT COUNSELING, INC.
Services: Default/Foreclosure Counseling, Default/Foreclosure Workshop, Financial/Budget Counseling, Financial/Budget Workshop, Fair Housing Workshop, Homeless Counseling, Non-Delinquency Post-Purchase Workshop, Predatory Lending Workshop, Pre-Purchase Counseling, Pre-Purchase Workshop, Rental Housing Counseling, Rental Housing Workshop
NATIONAL COMMUNITY REINVESTMENT COALITION, INC.
MARSHALL HEIGHTS COMMUNITY DEVELOPMENT ORGANIZATION
3939 Benning Rd NE, Washington, DC
Services: Default/Foreclosure Counseling, Default/Foreclosure Workshop, Financial/Budget Counseling, Financial/Budget Workshop, Non-Delinquency Post-Purchase Workshop, Pre-Purchase Counseling, Pre-Purchase Workshop, Rental Housing Counseling, Rental Housing Workshop, Reverse Mortgage Counseling
MANNA, INC.
6856 Eastern Ave NW Ste 100, Washington, DC
Services: Non-Delinquency Post-Purchase Workshop, Pre-Purchase Counseling, Pre-Purchase Workshop
LYDIA'S HOUSE
4101 Martin Luther King Jr Ave SW, Washington, DC
Services: Default/Foreclosure Counseling, Pre-Purchase Counseling, Pre-Purchase Workshop, Rental Housing Counseling
LATINO ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT CORPORATION OF WASHINGTON DC
1401 Columbia Rd NW, Washington, DC
Services: Default/Foreclosure Counseling, Default/Foreclosure Workshop, Financial/Budget Counseling, Financial/Budget Workshop, Non-Delinquency Post-Purchase Workshop, Pre-Purchase Counseling, Pre-Purchase Workshop, Rental Housing Counseling, Rental Housing Workshop
HOUSING COUNSELING SERVICES, INCORPORATED (HSC,INC.)
2410 17th St NW Ste 100, Washington, DC
Services: Default/Foreclosure Counseling, Default/Foreclosure Workshop, Financial/Budget Counseling, Financial/Budget Workshop, Home Improvement/Rehabilitation Counseling, Homeless Counseling, Non-Delinquency Post-Purchase Workshop, Pre-Purchase Counseling, Pre-Purchase Workshop, Rental Housing Counseling, Rental Housing Workshop, Reverse Mortgage Counseling
GREATER WASHINGTON URBAN LEAGUE
2901 14th St NW, Washington, DC
Services: Default/Foreclosure Counseling, Financial/Budget Counseling, Non-Delinquency Post-Purchase Workshop, Predatory Lending Workshop, Pre-Purchase Counseling, Pre-Purchase Workshop, Rental Housing Counseling
CENTRO DE APOYO FAMILIAR (CAF)-DC
3115 S Dakota Ave NE, Washington, DC
Services: Default/Foreclosure Counseling, Default/Foreclosure Workshop, Financial/Budget Counseling, Financial/Budget Workshop, Fair Housing Workshop, Non-Delinquency Post-Purchase Workshop, Pre-Purchase Counseling, Pre-Purchase Workshop
CARECEN-CENTRAL AMERICAN RESOURCE CENTER
1460 Columbia Rd NW, Washington, DC
Services: Default/Foreclosure Counseling, Default/Foreclosure Workshop, Financial/Budget Counseling, Financial/Budget Workshop, Fair Housing Workshop, Pre-Purchase Counseling, Rental Housing Counseling, Rental Housing Workshop
Fair Market Rent — Washington Metro Area
HUD sets Fair Market Rents (FMR) annually to determine Section 8 voucher amounts. The 2-bedroom FMR in Washington is:
$2,246/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 Washington?
- Start by contacting LIHTC and Section 8 properties directly — Washington has 296 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 Washington?
- Not necessarily. Many landlords in Washington do individual assessments rather than blanket rejections. The type of conviction, how long ago it occurred, and evidence of rehabilitation all matter. District of Columbia 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 Washington?
- The HUD Fair Market Rent for a 2-bedroom apartment in the Washington metro area is $2,246/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 Washington?
- Yes. There are 28 Oxford Houses in the Washington 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. Washington has 17 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 District of Columbia?
- 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 Washington 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
- ExpungementDistrict of Columbia expungement guide
- Voting RightsFelon voting rights in District of Columbia
- Gun RightsFelon gun rights in District of Columbia
- DUI RecoveryDUI license recovery in District of Columbia
- ProbationProbation & parole in District of Columbia
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