Felon Friendly Apartments in Washington Washington Housing Authority. What can I do if the consumer reporting agency or the landlord does not follow the law regarding my background check? Housing and Urban Development (HUD) This program is federally funded and has a mission of ensuring everyone in the country has their housing needs met. 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. Emergency housing is useful if you need to get a roof over your head tonight and cannot wait to find something more long-term. Walla Walla, WA 99362 What are the obligations of a consumer reporting agency (CRA) when I request they correct information in a background check? Beyond that, both the Section 8 and public housing programs are administered by local organizations called public housing authorities/agencies (PHAs). To qualify for this program, you have to have at least one minor child you are caring for. What types of crimes and related issues can I be evicted for? 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. Some felons may have to participate in a work program to receive the grant. Should I give more information than the landlord asks for? In most cases, you will be released to the county where you were first convicted of a felony in Washington (this is called your county of origin). In 2007, DOJ awarded between $225,000 - $450,000 each to another 23 state prison The Washington State Housing Finance Commission can lead you to affordable housing or you can also access this link, which leads to aptfinder.org. PO Box 159 And it must tell landlords that received the inaccurate report over the last two years that information has been deleted or corrected.35. National Institute of Justice 5. WebMore than 170,000 copies of the book, Houses of Healing, have been donated in state and federal prisons as well as larger county jails nationwide. WebHousing Assistance. The card can then be used to pay for food items at the grocery store or farmers market. Approximately half of these have been distributed free of charge to prison and jail libraries, prison programs, and Email us here anything that troubles you. 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. Helps ex-offenders through one-to-one mentoring, information and referral, and family activities. This site contains basic information on criminal records issues and the ACLUs services as well as community education guides, including the ACLU guides to Criminal Records and Employment and Getting and Reading Criminal History Reports. They will help pay rent, purchase food, pay utility bills, and provide a cash grant for those who qualify. U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development. You can also refer to HUD in Washington and HUD-based local housing authorities. 4People.org is a comprehensive online resources, services and programs listings for each county in Washington State. By mail to: Consumer Response Center, Federal Trade Commission. Before you are released, you will need to develop a release plan with your counselor that includes an approved release address. If you were convicted of a sex crime that requires you to register as a sex offender for life, you are not eligible for Section 8 housing. Where we have a structured 3 day a week 6 month program that impacts DOC Resources to help ex-offenders gain essential life skills for making the right choices in life. Do I have a right to request that a consumer reporting agency stop reporting something from my criminal history? If youd like to know when we update this area of our website (and get a free guide to help you become employed again) click here and sign up for our email newsletter. Can my application for housing be rejected for reasons outside my criminal history, such as past drug addiction? The A transitional housing provider may also provide or help you access education or training, or help you transition into permanent housing. 24 City of Seattle Ordinance 125393 (Aug. 23, 2017), 27 www.nolo.com/legal-encyclopedia/free-books/renters-rights-book/chapter1-2.html. The state of Washington offers helpful grant programs for felons. PHAs set their own eligibility criteria and application processes, and the rules can vary significantly from place to place, so it is best to contact a PHA directly to find out whether you are eligible. 3 Becky Turner, STAR Project (Aug 23, 2017). Because these programs are so competitive, you should not rely on your ability to get housing this way. 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. .. Information received from previous rental history or reference Pioneer Human Services 8. 35 15 U.S.C. We also have transitional housing as well as a component targeting home detention. Because of the high demand, some areas will use other processes to choose who will receive vouchers or housing. Unlike Section 8, if you live in public housing, your landlord is a housing authority or other government entity. Below are Department of Corrections (DOC) publications that apply to community reentry. Tacoma, WA 98405 WebEverett Housing Authority (EHA): Call 425-258-9222 for additional information. However, here is a list of things that the landlord may ask you about: There may also be a fee associated with the credit and/or rental background check, and if you get the apartment, you will probably have to pay a deposit. The government will then pay your landlord a portion of your rent.18. An emergency housing facility will generally provide you with basic necessities, such as a place to sleep, shower, or do laundry, but is not an apartment or home where you can expect to stay for more than a few nights. You can access the database at this website:www.consumeradvocates.org/by scrolling down to the Find an Attorney link. The housing agency pays a calculated subsidized amount, based on the applicants need, and the tenant covers the rest of the rental amount. This program, which used to be known as food stamps, will provide felons with a monthly grant that is used to buy food. The amount of grant that you get depends on the number of people in your household. Washington State Department of Social and Health Services, Aging and Long-Term Support Administration (ALTSA), Developmental Disabilities Administration (DDA), Facilities, Finance and Analytics Administration (FFA). Information on this site is not legal advice and is strictly informational and may be outdated. This depends on the type of case. Compass Housing Allianceowns a large number of housing units and provides emergency shelter and transitional and permanent housing for low-income individuals. What assistance is available to help me find housing while still in custody? How Long Does A Background Check Take In 2023. Information on this site is not legal advice and is strictly informational and may be outdated. However, that being said, not all felons can schedule an appointment with HUD. To apply, click here. Can a potential landlord turn me down based on my criminal record? There is also income and asset limitations that have to be met in order to qualify for the cash grant. Whether the landlord will conduct a background check (if the landlord will conduct a background check, they will find out about at least the last 7 years of convictions and arrests, so you should disclose them). The best way to find out whether you are eligible for either Section 8 vouchers or public housing is to contact your local PHA. Before you are released from prison, you will need to have an approved release address.1Starting approximately twelve months before your release date, your counselor will have several meetings with you to discuss your release plan and record the address where you will live post-release.2Usually, the plan will be for you to be released to the address of a family member.3If you are unable to provide an appropriate address where you will live, your counselor will contact the Regional Housing Specialist for your county of origin to help find you appropriate housing and, if necessary, provide housing vouchers for up to three months if you meet the eligibility requirements.4If you will have other needs on reentry, the DOC will attempt to connect you with resources that can help meet those needs.5Depending on where you are released, the local Housing authority may have rules that bar you from being considered for housing applications or housing subsidies.6. Private landlords may also have restrictions on who they accept, though their ability to discriminate is limited by the Fair Housing Act. RCW 18.235.020 Application of chapterDirector's authorityDisciplinary authority. Lifeline is federally funded and aims to help everyone be able to have a phone. If you have a question or need help, Ask Us or call 206-386-4636. The legal help you need to put your past behind you. You will need to re-apply each year that you need the grant. 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. The Washington State Department of Corrections acknowledges that its facilities, offices and operations are on the ancestral lands and customary territories of Indigenous Peoples, Tribes and Nations. If you think a landlord or CRA broke the laws around background checks, you should contact an attorney. Browse our jobs, find one you like, and get back to work today. Maintain Contact with the Programs Featured on the Reentry Listings for Washington. For example, if a landlord orders a copy of your criminal history from the Washington State Patrol, it will receive a report with all non-sealed and non-vacated adult and juvenile convictions from Washington state courts, no matter how old the convictions are. You can find information about PHAs in Washington by visitinghttps://portal.hud.gov/hudportal/HUD?src=/program_offices/public_indian_housing/pha/contacts/waor consulting the list included in the Resources section at the end of this chapter. See Section 23 for more information. Having a criminal record will cause you difficulties when leasing an apartment. To qualify, you have to meet the low income requirements and be a legal citizen. Temporary housing in Washington can be accessed by clicking on the transitionalhousing.org link. If you are homeless and need somewhere to sleep tonight, you can get help by calling 211 on your phone. Public Housing Information; Reentry Program Directory. The Washington State Housing Finance Commission can lead you to affordable FelonyRecordsHub.com 2023. For any further questions, please contact a lawyer directly. 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. The religious community in Washington State can also help you in your employment or housing search. The consumer credit report did not contain sufficient information All information in the print version of this publication is current as of December 2017. Contact a specific shelter in your area to learn more about their rules; you can get started by looking at the list in the Resources section at the end of this chapter. 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 WebDifferent services provided by state for housing, food, clothes, etc. Read on for more specific information about the Fair Housing Act and the types of rules landlords can make. The Resources section at the end of this chapter contains lists of transitional and felon-friendly housing providers, as well as contact information for emergency shelters. Note that there is a lot of competition for these programs, and many PHAs have waiting lists. Our website is the #1 resource on the internet to help former felons get employed again. Washington Information Network 211, Emergency Shelter,www.resourcehouse.info/win211/Search/Topics/BH-1800/Emergency_Shelter, Washington Information Network 211, Transitional Housing/Shelter,www.resourcehouse.info/win211/Search/Topics/BH-8600/Transitional_Housing__Shelter, TransitionalHousing.org,www.transitionalhousing.org/state/washington#city_list, HousingSearchNW.org,www.housingsearchnw.org, Affordable Housing Online,https://affordablehousingonline.com/housing-search/Washington. Description: 12 RCW 72.09.340; RCW 9.94A.703; RCW 9.94A.030. To apply for Medicaid in Washington, click here. You can also search on Washingtons Craigslist for rental housing. The specific materials you need to apply for housing are determined by the landlord where you are applying and will vary from application to application. Pioneer provides treatment, housing, job training and employment services to formerly incarcerated individuals in Washington State. Felons who receive grants will not have to worry about ever paying them back. If you have a conviction that has beenvacated, you have the right to say that you were never convicted of that crime.26The Washington State Patrol will not report convictions that have been vacated. .. Dont Apply for an Apartment in a Large Washington Apartment Complex. The best way to get help finding affordable housing is to contact your local PHA. www.compasshousingalliance.org HUD, also known as the Department of Housing and Urban Development, assists felons in their housing needs. 1681i(a)(1)(A), (a)(4)-(5), (d)); RCW 19.182.090. Do I have a right to know whether a landlord is doing a background check on me? That is because no laws exist in the US that offer felons a break in this respect. Character references from employers, prior landlords, or other people who know you well can be very helpful if the landlord will accept them. No attorney-client relationship is created by using any information in this guide. If your income is extremely low, you may be able to acquire HUD housing for free. Ask friends or family about job or housing openings as well. 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. 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. Catholic Charities This program will help felons with some of their basic needs, such as food, clothing, and transportation vouchers. There is a big difference between what a CRA can report about you versus what information a landlord can use when making rental decisions. Medicaid Felons who need help paying for medical bills may qualify for the federally funded program called Medicaid. 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. Catholic Charities The Archdiocese of Dubuques jail & prison ministry helps individuals both before and after release. The Program is short-term (months not years) with the expectation that participants are actively conducting a job search. If a landlord denies your application, it is required to inform you in writing and provide the reason that it has rejected you. .. Residency requires an increased deposit You need to be listed on the lease as a tenant. Your local PHA will determine any additional eligibility criteria and other rules for these programs in your area. Get started with a Library card and learn how to manage your account. Chapter 207 Release and Detention Pending Judicial Proceedings, 26 U.S.C. 285 [S.D. It always helps to obtain your criminal history as the paperwork can be used to obtain transitional housing and assist you in the lease negotiation process. The Criminal Records Project provides direct legal services to people facing barriers to housing and employment based on criminal records. Low Income Home Energy Assistance Program (LIHEAP) This program will help felons pay for one utility bill per year. A landlord is generally free to set whatever eligibility conditions it wants, so long as those reasons are not discriminatory (see Section 10 for more information on housing discrimination). Many of the veterans have come to the jail due to un-treated drug and alcohol issues, poverty, homelessness, or Post Traumatic Stress Disorder. This is not a comprehensive list, but it will give you a good place to start. WebPress Room Program Offices Resources Find Shelter State Info Contact Us Informacin en Espaol. Email:info@thestarproject.us. Internets most popular financial assistance You do not have to give information about your criminal history that a landlord does not ask for. When considering your application, they must consider specific facts about you and your particular conviction history, like the severity of your crime and how long ago it occurred. More information about how to find housing is provided later in this chapter. If the landlord is doing its own investigation, such as looking at court records or interviewing people that know you, then you do not have a right to know about it. If the background report was provided by the Washington State Patrol, you should provide similar information to that agency, using its Request for Modification of Record form, available at:www.wsp.wa.gov/crime/docs/misc/modification_record_request.pdf. Basic Food In the state of Washington, the nationwide Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) is called Basic Food. Can you help me find affordable, safe housing? You can also obtain information from social or faith-based community agencies. Can you help me find a long-term care facility in WA State. 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. You can receive numerous grants at one time, so be sure to apply for all of them that you qualify for. Do I need housing in that county? If you are homeless, or you anticipate that you will be homeless after you are released, your first priority should be to secure a bed in a shelter, preferably one that provides case management services as well as a place to sleep. Make an appointment to schedule substance abuse counseling, if required. If the background report was provided by a CRA, you should contact the CRA, in writing if possible, using the information provided by the landlord. Also, reach out to us on Facebook about any job hunting or housing search concerns. A list of shelters that provide wraparound or case management services is located in the Resources section at the end of this chapter. If you look professional, you also want to maintain a business-like demeanor. There is family or sponsor support outside your county of origin. Seattle, WA 98104 Individuals who use illegal drugs or abuse alcohol are ineligible for federally assisted housing, as are people who were evicted from federally assisted housing for drug crimes in the past three years.14. Is there housing for victims of domestic violence? 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. Thats why we have aggregated the best jobs for felons in one spot. Lifeline Felons who are having difficulty paying for their phone may qualify for a free one through the Lifeline program. 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. By law, a property manager can only deny housing to an applicant because of his or her criminal record or rental history. You can contact the county clerks office for a copy of your eviction record. Felon Friendly Housing. 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