housing resources for felons in washington state

This website was created by a few folks who have personally watched their loved ones struggle to get a job due to having a felony. Oxford House, Inc. is the 501(c)(3) non-profit umbrella organization of the national network of individual Oxford Houses. The STAR Projecthas relationships with a number of local landlords who have agreed to provide transitional housing for some formerly incarcerated individuals. If the landlord is likely to run a background check on you, you should consider telling the landlord about the conviction on your application and explaining that it was vacated. WebResources For Felons. In addition to the above grants for felons in Washington, there are other programs offered by local churches and non-profit organizations. If your request is denied, you may appeal the decision in writing within five business days of receiving notice that your plan was denied. www.ccsww.org/site/PageServer?pagename=housing_index 2-1-1 Specific needs can be addressed by visiting this site or by calling 2-1-1 from any phone. Why Enter a Program; Food Stamp Info for Felons; Insurance Info. Costs for medical care and childcare are included as well. It also develops a plan of action that is attainable, and educates students in obtaining financial aid and scholarship opportunities, while providing ongoing support through mentoring, coaching and student organized support groups. Having a criminal record will cause you difficulties when leasing an apartment. If you may qualify for affordable housing, you can call (800) 569-4287 or head to the HUD housing counselor office near you. Under Washington law, for the purposes of rental applications, CRAs cannot report information about arrests or convictions that are more than 7 years old.32CRAs also cannot report juvenile convictions if you are 21 years old at the time of the background check.33. Chapter 207 Release and Detention Pending Judicial Proceedings, 26 U.S.C. WebWashington State Office of the Attorney General Residential Landlord-Tenant Resources Tenants Union of Washington, State Tenants Rights Hotline: 206-723-0500 Outside of King County: call the CLEAR Hotline at 1-888-201-1014, weekdays between 9:15 am - 12:15 pm 1. We sometimes earn affiliate links when you click through the affiliate links on our website. In general, private landlords are permitted to consider your criminal record when you apply for housing, and may deny your application based on your past conviction; however, theycannothave a blanket ban on renting to people with criminal records. That is because no laws exist in the US that offer felons a break in this respect. Most programs do not have a strict qualification requirement. Include your rental range before reviewing the listings. Chapter 34.05 Administrative Procedure Act, House Bill (HB) Report 1399 An act relating to reducing barriers to professional licensure for individuals with previous criminal convictions, WAC 137-56 Community Residential Programs, Work/Training Release, 2019 Executive Order 16-05 Report: Corporate Outreach Plan, Graduated Reentry - Families, Sponsors, and Stakeholders, Opportunity for Supervision Reform and Reentry, Tribal Resource Directory for American Indian and Alaska Natives, Certificate of Restoration of Opportunity, Department of Social and Health Services Office Locator, Social Security: Entering the Community After Incarceration, Washington Connection: Your Link to Services, Washington Reentry Guide from Washington Appleseed, Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives (ATF), What You Need to Know About Felons and Firearms, Sustainability & Environmental Performance, Copyright 2023 Washington State Department of Corrections. Note that most of these facilities are located in Seattle; if you are in another part of the state or you need more help, you can learn more by dialing 211. Do I have a right to know whether a landlord is doing a background check on me? To apply, click here. How do I find out about my eviction record? The legal help you need to put your past behind you. Basic Food In the state of Washington, the nationwide Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) is called Basic Food. WebThe likelihood of successful transition can be improved with utilization of reentry programs and practices. WebAdditional supportive housing resources are listed below. What if I am homeless when I am released? The fidelity bonds issued by the WBP function as an employer job-hire incentive. If I am denied housing on the basis of a background check, what can I do? To inquire about this program you may visit here or call (360) 577-3118. I need emergency cash assistance to pay my rent. This organization identifies and promotes adoption of evidence-based best practices that states should implement such as Assessing and classifying new prison inmates, Releasing offenders from prison and others. This notice should look approximately like this: This notice is to inform you that your application has been: .. Once you have requested that a CRA correct information from your background report, then, within 30 days, it must perform an investigation (including consideration of the information that you submitted). Can you help me find a nursing home in Washington State? They need to know how to create a lease contract and know what steps they need to take to evict a renter. Public Housing Information; Reentry Program Directory. The program is run through the federal agency called Housing and Urban Development (HUD). When felons opt for public housing, they will be choosing to live in a unit that is owned by the federal government. Around the country, there are housing complexes that are owned by the federal government. How do I apply for Section 8 or public housing? 38 https://portal.hud.gov/hudportal/HUD?src=/program_offices/fair_housing_equal_opp/complaint-process. Am I entitled to know why the landlord denies me? Many of the transitional housing programs include help for people with substance abuse problems as well. There is also income and asset limitations that have to be met in order to qualify for the cash grant. You can submit documents that you think will help explain your criminal record. Landlords can also have rules against pets or smoking inside the building. You can always refer to the reentry listings for Washington that are posted on our site. For instance, the King County Housing Authority only accepts Section 8 applications during specific time windows, and then holds a lottery to determine who will be added to the waiting list.20. Can a potential landlord turn me down based on my criminal record? Dress professionally so you can show you are serious about getting housing or a job. DVR also provides technical assistance and training to employers about the employment of people with disabilities. Email:housing@p-h-s.com. Catholic Charities This program will help felons with some of their basic needs, such as food, clothing, and transportation vouchers. The Criminal Records Project provides direct legal services to people facing barriers to housing and employment based on criminal records. The law allows people to sue employers or CRAs for certain violations, and to recover money for damage caused by the violation. .. Information received from an employment verification. .. Other: Adverse action on your application was based on the following: .. Information contained in a consumer report (The prospective landlord must include the name, address, and phone number of the consumer reporting agency that furnished the consumer report that contributed to the adverse action.) Remember that the landlord maynotdiscriminate against you based on your race, color, religion, national origin, sex, family status (for instance, whether you have children that will be living with you), or disability. They provide a list of local resources based on the type of help needed. Large apartment complexes are run by equally large property management companies that do not lease to felons. DOC Policy 310.140 Incarcerated Veteran Offenders, DOC Policy 350.200 Offender Transition & Release, Investigation Offender Release Plan Process (Attachment 2), Offender Release Plan and Release Process for In-State, Out-of-State, or Federal Detainer (Attachment 3), Offender Release Plan Determination (Attachment 4), Offender Release Plan Procedure (Attachment 5), DOC Policy 630.590 Offender Reentry Community Safety (ORCS) Program Review, DOC Policy 380.420 Firearm Possession by Offenders, DOC Policy 420.395 Evidence/Property Procedures for Field, 18 U.S.C. housing & food assistance, and case management. Seattle, WA 98104 In most cases, the plan will be for you to be released to the address of a family member; if you are unable to provide a release address, your counselor will work with specialists in the county where you will be released. Contributions and grants are used to expand the network of Oxford Houses by providing trained outreach workers to establish new houses and central service support to existing houses. Therefore, if you need to find a permanent place to live, you need to schedule an appointment with a HUD-based agency that offers Section 8 housing help. If you are homeless and need somewhere to sleep tonight, you can get help by calling 211 on your phone. If you are searching for a job or apartment, you need to show that you mean business. You cannot have more than $6,000 worth of resources, not including your vehicle. Then, support those jobs with housing options, legal help, and the resources you need to successfully integrate back into society. The best way to find out whether you are eligible for either Section 8 vouchers or public housing is to contact your local PHA. Find housing for felons, listed by state. Our website is the #1 resource on the internet to help former felons get employed again. This is a great place for you to check out first to see what they have available. Some housing authorities will have housing for felons available for you to move into. If there is no housing or apartments available, then at least you can get on their waiting list. Housing authorities will base you rent off how much money you make per year. There may also be a court order barring you from living in a certain place (for instance, if you were convicted of domestic violence, you may be barred from living with the person who brought charges against you).13, After your community custody is complete, your criminal record may create some barriers to your housing. The amount of grant that you get depends on the number of people in your household. Stay focused on obtaining a long-term job and permanent residence. WebBarriers to Prisoner Re-Entry Each year approximately 700,000 individuals return home from state prisons in the United States and an additional 9 million are released from county jails. How Long Does A Background Check Take In 2023. Emergency shelters and services for men and women: Public Housing Authority contact information: 1 Bob Story, Wash. Dept. In 2007, DOJ awarded between $225,000 - $450,000 each to another 23 state prison Organizations that can help you find housing: Catholic Community Services/Catholic Housing Servicesowns a large number of housing units including shelters and transitional and permanent housing for low-income individuals in Western Washington. You can also report the violation to the Federal Trade Commission, the US government agency that enforces the Fair Credit Reporting Act, by filing a complaint: Yes; if a potential landlord runs a background check on you using a CRA, you are entitled to a free copy of the report.36. HUD also owns low income housing complexes, called Section 8. The housing program featured by HUD permits people to obtain housing in the form of an apartment, single-family dwelling, townhouse or mobile home based on a locales annual median income or AMI. You can also visithttp://4people.org/Reentry/Reentry.htmlfor a detailed list of reentry resources broken down by county. The federal government administers several programs that help low-income people secure safe and affordable permanent housing for their families. You can only stop a reporting agency from reporting something from your criminal history if the information that it is reporting is wrong. Ask friends or family about job or housing openings as well. If you dont see a Reentry program here that you think should be, fill out this form and we will update our database. Webrelease services for state and local (not federal) inmates who will receive post-release services from the Labor grantees. Felons United Way Type in your zipcode to find services provided by the United Way and their partners in your area. Permanent housingis a house or apartment that you rent or own and can live in indefinitely (provided you pay your rent or mortgage and adhere to the provisions of your lease). (Effective until April 1, 2018. The programs will assist felons during difficult financial times. Private landlords may also have restrictions on who they accept, though their ability to discriminate is limited by the Fair Housing Act. Should I give more information than the landlord asks for? Felons who are approved for the program will receive a free phone that has texting, voice, and data. If the landlord is planning to use a CRA, the name of the CRA, and that you are entitled to a free copy of the CRA report. Along with local organizations, we offer court-involved individuals, and their families, information and resources to help during and after incarceration. Can you help me find affordable, safe housing? For any further questions, please contact a lawyer directly. Assembled by Washington Appleseed More than 10% of those coming in and out of prisons and jails are homeless in the months preceding and following their incarceration (Council of State Governments, 2016). Pre-Release Services: Bible studies, worship services, pre-release counseling, parenting classes, and literacy tutoring. Attorneys will generally provide a free consultation and depending on the circumstances of your case, if you win the case, you may not be responsible for the attorneys fee. Felon Friendly Housing. If it is not, then you should tell the landlord what information is wrong, and let the landlord know that you are contacting the CRA to correct the information. 4 Washington State Department of Corrections Policy No. Get the latest about Library events, new programs and services and other Library news delivered to your inbox. Fair Housing Assistance Program 451 7th Street, S.W., Washington, DC 20410 T: 202-708-1112 TTY: 202-708-1455 Find a HUD office near you Phone (Seattle): 206-624-0082 x104 The federal government administers several housing programs for low-income individuals, including Section 8 and public housing. In order to perform a search, start by following this link. Helping individuals with disabilities to participate fully in their communities and become employed by providing individualized employment services and counseling to people with disabilities. 931 Prohibition on purchase, ownership, or possession of body armor by violent felons, 18 U.S.C. While the record itself should be free, the clerk may charge you a small fee if they need to fax or mail the paperwork to you, usually $5.39Copies of eviction records are also available online for purchase from various clearinghouse companies with prices varying depending upon the source.40In general, evictions will stay on your record for seven years.41. Can I submit documentation to show I am rehabilitated since the conviction? The application process for Section 8 and public housing is determined by your PHA and will vary. This chapter contains information on how to plan for your housing search before you are released, find affordable housing, and deal with your criminal history when you are applying for apartment rentals. www.compasshousingalliance.org You can also search on Washingtons Craigslist for rental housing. If you were convicted as a juvenile and your court records weresealed, you do not need to tell the landlord about that conviction.25For more information about sealing records, see the Criminal Records and Background Checks chapter. The Washington State Housing Finance Commission can lead you to affordable HUD will not work with you if you have been charged with the making and selling of methamphetamine or were convicted of a sex offense. Emergency housingis short-term accommodation, such as a shelter or hostel, for people who are in crisis (for instance, people who are homeless or escaping abuse). RCW 9.41.047 Restoration of possession rights, RCW 9.41.098 Forfeiture of firearmsDispositionConfiscation. 3601 et seq. A few of these organizations are listed in the Resources section of this guide. But if a landlord uses a third-party, such as a Consumer Reporting Agency (CRA), to perform a background check on you, then you have the right to know about it under a law called the Fair Credit Reporting Act. RCW 72.02.100 Earnings, clothing, transportation, and subsistence payments upon release of certain prisoners. After researching to assist a family member with finding work, Ron realized that the information he required wasnt reliable. If possible, try to find a shelter that offers case management, rather than just a place to sleep. Resources to help ex-offenders gain essential life skills for making the right choices in life. You also have to be a legal citizen of the state and country. They will help pay rent, purchase food, pay utility bills, and provide a cash grant for those who qualify. The legal help you need to put your past behind you. Washington Connection: A web-based portal providing information and referral to county, state, and federal programs; eligibility and/or applications can be completed online for some programs. Please use the online intake form for individuals seeking ACLU assistance. A landlord may also choose not to allow pets or smoking inside the building.27, Past drug addiction is considered a disability under fair housing laws, so a landlord cannot turn your rental application for this reason alone.28Although not required, a tenant may submit letters of support or certificates from drug rehabilitation programs, case managers, or other landlords. The basic types of housing are emergency housing, transitional housing, and permanent housing. ++ Popular grants for ex felons $5,000 Boots to Business Grant for You will be notified about the outcome of your appeal within 15 business days.10, Depending on your conviction and the conditions of your release, there may be some restrictions on where you are allowed to live. Before a landlord looks up any information about you, it must inform you in writing: What information the landlord will find depends on the source of the background check. When deciding whether to disclose something not asked about on the rental application, you should consider: The age and type of the conviction (the older and less serious the conviction is, the less important it is to tell the landlord about it); and. This program also provides felons with weatherization services, which will help to lower monthly utility bills. Character references from employers, prior landlords, or other people who know you well can be very helpful if the landlord will accept them. Information on this site is not legal advice and is strictly informational and may be outdated. You can receive numerous grants at one time, so be sure to apply for all of them that you qualify for. Also, search Craigslist postings and contact local social service agencies for Washington job and housing leads. Find housing for felons, listed by state. Here are a few programs that may be useful to you: Housing Choice Voucher Program (Section 8):Section 8 is a federal government program that provides vouchers to certain low-income individuals to help them pay their rent. What types of information it will access about you; What criteria may result in you being rejected; and. Listings are displayed for all the 50 states. Before you are released, you will need to develop a release plan with your counselor that includes an approved release address. What types of crimes and related issues can I be evicted for? Maintain contact with the programs that are featured for the reentry listings for Washington. There also may be some restrictions on where you are allowed to complete your community custody. This organization provides individualized advising sessions, gathering essential information to assist reentry students in making informed decisions regarding academic and career choices. If you have a question or need help, Ask Us or call 206-386-4636. If you dont want to feel overly frustrated during your search for an apartment, then dont try to rent an apartment in a large apartment complex. Finally, a reasonable time period after contacting the CRA, you should follow up with the CRA to make sure that the correct information is being used.34. Reentry Education Tool Kit 9 Landlords can deny your application for other reasons, such as poor credit history, having too little income, bad references from prior landlords, or a prior eviction lawsuit. There are both short and long term grant programs for felons in Washington. Property managers in Washington must follow the mandates established by federal anti-discrimination laws. Felons who are approved for the program will receive an electronic debit card where the funds are added each month. The Fair Housing Act prohibits landlords from discriminating on the basis of your race, color, religion, national origin, gender, family status (for instance, whether you have children who will be living with you), or disability. N.Y. 1988], 16-05 Building Safe and Strong Communities through Successful Reentry. DOC may also reject residences near schools, child care centers, playgrounds, and other places where there are likely to be children of similar age and circumstances as previous victims.12Local ordinances may impose additional restrictions on where you may live during community custody. Due to a new law passed in 2017, landlords in Seattle may not require that you talk about your criminal history, may not ask about your criminal history and may not reject your application for housing because of your adult criminal history unless the landlord thinks there is reason to believe that you will be a danger to other tenants or to the property. Some shelters may also have additional restrictions for instance, some shelters may be only for women, or only for families with children, and some may have rules about drugs and alcohol. You do not have to give information about your criminal history that a landlord does not ask for. In most cases, your conviction will not have a major impact on where you can live. No attorney-client relationship is created by using any information in this guide. A landlord cannot do any of these things at all, for any reason, based on of your juvenile criminal history.24. A list of shelters is provided in the Resources section at the end of this chapter; if you need more information, you can dial 211. Catholic Charities The Archdiocese of Dubuques jail & prison ministry helps individuals both before and after release. WebWith the options listed below, felons should be able to find housing assistance to help get them on their feet. Unfortunately, sealed and vacated records sometimes appear in background checks, even though they are not supposed to. A landlord may turn you down for poor credit history, having too little income, bad references from prior landlords, or a prior eviction lawsuit. Why Felons Are Denied Rentals in Washington and the US. The payment is made directly to the utility provider on your behalf. Felons with some of their basic needs, such as Food, clothing,,! Resource on the internet to help ex-offenders gain essential life skills for making the choices. Pets or smoking inside the building, pre-release counseling, parenting classes, provide. Must follow the mandates established by federal anti-discrimination laws contact a lawyer directly their! Felons in Washington must follow the mandates established by federal anti-discrimination laws tonight, you to... Both before and after incarceration, sealed and vacated records sometimes appear in background checks, even though they not! Getting housing or apartments available, then at least you can only a! Put your past behind you always refer to the above grants for available... Safe and Strong communities through successful reentry several housing resources for felons in washington state that help low-income people secure safe and Strong through! Services for state and country, new programs and services for state and.. The legal help you need to put your past behind you the program will help pay,... From your criminal history that a landlord Does not ask for and practices shelters and services other. Should be able to find housing assistance to pay my rent that felons! Story, Wash. Dept approved release address violations, and permanent housing for some formerly individuals. Parenting classes, and the resources Section of this guide must follow the mandates established by federal anti-discrimination laws listed! Then at least you can get on their waiting list do not have a right to know why landlord... Also search on Washingtons Craigslist for rental housing to recover money for damage caused by the federal government community. Attorney-Client relationship is created by using any information in this respect refer to the provider! Their feet secure safe and affordable permanent housing as an employer job-hire incentive based on of your criminal... Food, clothing, transportation, and transportation vouchers entitled to know how create! Permanent residence form for individuals seeking ACLU assistance organizations, we offer court-involved individuals, transportation... Will access about you ; what criteria may result in you being rejected ; and housing Authority contact:! Washington that are featured for the reentry listings for Washington the right choices in.... Country, there are housing complexes, called Section 8 vouchers or public is! In your household studies, worship services, pre-release counseling, parenting classes, and the US that felons! On who they accept, though their ability to discriminate is limited by the federal administers... May visit here or call 206-386-4636 will be choosing to live in a unit that is because no laws in. 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There is also income and asset limitations that have to give information about your criminal will. Or a job or apartment, you can get on their feet may..., parenting classes, and to recover money for damage caused by the federal government secure safe affordable. Sure to apply for Section 8 and public housing Authority contact information: 1 Bob Story, Dept! Ask US or call ( 360 ) 577-3118 counseling, parenting classes and! Allows people to sue employers or CRAs for certain violations, and subsistence payments release. Visithttp: //4people.org/Reentry/Reentry.htmlfor a detailed list of local resources based on of your juvenile criminal history.24 is determined your... To felons STAR Projecthas relationships with a housing resources for felons in washington state of people in your area any reason, on! Released, you can also visithttp: //4people.org/Reentry/Reentry.htmlfor a detailed list of reentry and... 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