Finding housing with a criminal record shouldn’t feel impossible — but for many of us, it is. Housing is a basic human right, yet people with criminal histories are routinely denied a place to live, sometimes for life. My husband and I are both ex-felons, and we spent more than three years homeless because we knew exactly how hard it would be to find housing after incarceration.
What follows is the real story — the emotional, exhausting, sometimes brutal story — of how we went from living in an old RV on the street to being housed again. And because every rejection taught us something, I’m also sharing the practical strategies that finally helped us secure a lease despite multiple denials, corporate property management barriers, and the stigma of our criminal records.
Why Finding Housing With a Criminal Record Is So Hard
Current housing policies allow landlords and property management companies to deny any applicant with a criminal record, even for arrests that did not result in a conviction. While they can make case-by-case exceptions, they rarely do. And because the law doesn’t require anyone to rent to a person with a criminal history, someone can legally be denied housing everywhere they apply and end up permanently homeless.
It’s not fair. It’s not humane. And yes — it’s bullshit.
Without access to traditional rentals, many justice-impacted people are left with options that don’t support stability: staying with friends, shelters, group homes, or the street. None of these set anyone up for success in rebuilding their life or maintaining sobriety.
With four felony convictions between us, Irish and I understood that reality too well. And eventually, we decided it was time to try anyway.
How Our Housing Search Started — and How Fast It Broke Us
Searching for housing as an ex-felon while living in an old RV trailer was emotionally brutal. Some days, we felt hopeful. Some days, we were shattered. Thankfully, we were never in the darkest place at the same time — when I collapsed, my husband kept going; when he faltered, I carried us.
We applied to two large property management companies. Both ran background checks. Both denied us.
- Denial #1: They refused to give us the paperwork required to file an appeal.
- Denial #2: They responded with the nastiest appeal rejection I’ve ever received that didn’t contain profanity.
That second denial is when I broke. Not just “I can’t handle this” — I mean, I broke to the point of wanting to give up on life entirely.
My husband, even while deep in addiction, is the one who kept me alive and kept us moving.
A Small Apartment Community Gave Us One Last Chance
After those corporate brick walls, we shifted our search toward older, smaller apartment communities. One afternoon, my husband spotted a “Now Leasing” sign on a building along our usual route back to the trailer. I checked out the place online, liked what I saw, and scheduled a tour.
During the tour, we did something terrifying: We disclosed our criminal histories upfront.
This manager wasn’t just a leasing agent — he worked directly for a small property management company where decisions were made in-house. That meant we weren’t just paperwork. He told us that even if our application needed to go to appeal, we’d be treated as people, not as background-check red flags.
It was the first glimmer of humanity we’d experienced in the entire process.
Treating Our Application Like an Appeal — Before We Were Even Denied
Because we’d already been burned twice, we submitted the strongest application possible from day one. We included:
- Personal letters explaining the circumstances of our crimes
- Character reference letters from reputable small-business owners
- Bank records and spreadsheets proving income (I’m a self-employed freelancer)
- A letter explaining my lack of recent rental history due to incarceration and homelessness
- A letter describing how stable housing would change our lives and asking for a chance
We anticipated a denial. Instead, a couple of weeks later, we received conditional approval — with a higher deposit, but one we had saved up for.
We moved in the same day we got the call. It was also the day an unexpected snowstorm hit the city, but nothing could have kept us from sleeping under a real roof again.
What We Learned About Finding Housing With a Criminal Record
Below is everything we wish someone had told us. These are the hard-won strategies that actually help people find housing after incarceration in a system that often feels rigged against us.
1. Don’t rely solely on organizations “for ex-felons.”
Most never returned our calls or emails — even the ones supposedly designed for the previously incarcerated. Reach out, sure, but don’t count on them.
2. Large corporate property management companies are often a dead end.
Their background criteria are rigid. Appeals are usually pointless. Many only approve applicants who appear “perfect” on paper.
3. Third-party screening companies are trained to filter people like us out.
If they see anything criminal, they’ll often stack on additional denial reasons to justify rejecting you.
4. Target smaller, older apartment buildings.
They often have:
- Vacancies
- In-house decision makers
- More willingness to evaluate you as a human
Avoid places with obvious criminal activity — you want a community where you can rebuild.
5. Always read the rental criteria before applying.
Especially the criminal history section. If there’s even a small chance you qualify, schedule an in-person tour ASAP. Never apply without a tour.
6. Learn to read people.
Pay attention during the tour. Are they friendly? Distant? Warm? Rushed? Interested?
You’re gauging whether this community is inclusive enough to give you a chance.
7. If the vibe is right, disclose your criminal history.
Not the specific charge unless you’re comfortable — but enough to set expectations honestly. They’ll learn everything from the background check anyway.
8. Ask directly: “Given my offense, what are my chances of approval?”
You may hear “no chance.”
If so, be polite and leave gracefully. Gossip about negative reactions from prospective tenants can spread between properties and result in your being blacklisted.
9. If they don’t shut the door — apply immediately.
Include everything you would submit in an appeal. Don’t wait.
10. Communicate like a pro.
Check in once a week on the status of your application if the property manager doesn’t reach out to you. Respond the same day to calls or emails. Show them you’re reliable.
11. Check in weekly.
Be respectful but consistent. Your communication reflects how responsible you’ll be as a tenant.
12. If possible, get a caseworker.
A caseworker helped us with:
- Disability documentation relating to my husband’s 22 years of incarceration
- ESA paperwork for our pittie mix
- Guidance on second-chance or low-barrier housing (in case our third application was denied)
They can advocate for you in ways you can’t always advocate for yourself.
13. Expect a long process.
It may take months. Or longer. Prepare mentally for the marathon.
14. Grow the thickest skin you’ve ever had.
People will say (and imply) you don’t deserve housing.
It’s cruel. But you have to stay steady.
15. Build an emotional support system.
You need people who remind you that:
- You served your sentence.
- You paid your debt.
- You’re allowed to rebuild.
16. Above all: Don’t give up.
Your home is out there. Your stability is out there. Your reset is out there.
When you finally get approved, tell your story. Someone else behind you needs to hear that their situation is survivable — and that yes, people with criminal records can find stable, safe housing again.
FAQ: Finding Housing With a Criminal Record
1. Why is it so hard to get housing with a criminal record?
It’s difficult to get housing with a criminal record because many landlords automatically deny applicants with felonies or past incarcerations, even if they have a steady income, savings, and a strong rental history. Background checks are often used as blanket rejections rather than case-by-case reviews.
2. Can a landlord legally deny someone for having a criminal record?
In most places, landlords can deny applicants based on criminal history, except in some cities with “fair chance housing” laws. Many states do not protect people with criminal records, allowing property managers to reject applications regardless of how old the conviction is.
3. How long does it take to find housing with a felony?
The timeline varies, but many people spend months searching because they face repeated denials. Some applicants with criminal records are denied dozens of times before finding a landlord willing to give them a chance.
4. What helps someone with a criminal record get approved for housing?
Approval is more likely with stable income, savings, strong references, and an honest explanation of the past — but even with these, many people are still rejected. Ultimately, approval depends on finding a landlord or manager willing to look beyond the record.
5. How does homelessness affect the housing search?
Homelessness adds instability, makes documentation harder to manage, and increases stress during the long search for housing. Many people experience repeated emotional setbacks because rejections feel personal and life-altering.
6. What does “fair chance housing” mean?
Fair chance housing laws restrict how landlords can use criminal records when screening renters. These laws aim to stop blanket bans and require individualized assessments, increasing access to housing for justice-impacted people.
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