Felon-Friendly Apartments In Florida

Felon-friendly apartments in Florida are an essential challenge for many to date. The stigma and mistrust attached to the individual once their record is brought to light are evident.

This affects the lives of many, especially regarding one of the most important human necessities and rights; shelter. Felons find it hard to get a place for rent in Florida, especially in the popular and high-demand areas like Miami and Tampa.

These areas have high rents, and as expected of places where demand is high, the landlord selects who they feel is right for the site because there is always someone else willing to pay to get the place. So I advise you to avoid places like that.

Although getting a place may be difficult, do not worry. There are programs and resources just for this exact reason, to help felons get a place to rent while they work to become part of society and provide for themselves and their loved ones.

Felon Friendly Apartments In Chicago

Felon-Friendly Apartments In Florida

There are lots of programs and resources made to help felons get housing as well as useful skills that would enable them to earn and become contributing members of society. Some include local newspapers and agencies like The Miami Herald, The Orlando Sentinel, The Tampa Bay Times, Florida Reentry Coalition, Tampa Hillsborough Action Plan, Miami-Dade County Homeless Trust, Craigslist, and through the local housing authority.

The Miami Herald

This is one of the most popular newspapers in Florida. It also is one of the most felon-friendly, it has many landlords willing to work with ex-offenders. It has a special section on its website called “Housing Help” devoted to helping felon renters get a place.

The Orlando Sentinel

This is the third most popular newspaper in Florida. It also has landlords willing to work with felon renters, though not as felon-friendly as the Miami Herald. They also have a section on their website where one can search for rental listings.

The Tampa Bay Times

This is another popular newspaper in Florida. It is less felon-friendly than the Miami Herald, but it also has landlords willing to work with ex-felons and has a rental listing on its website for those searching for a place to rent.

Florida Reentry Coalition

This is a nonprofit organization that helps felon renters find a place to live. It has a database of landlords willing to work with ex-offenders.

Tampa Hillsborough Action Plan (THAP)

This is a program created to help connect ex-offenders with housing and jobs. Their website has a list of resources that can assist felon renters to find a place to live. Some of which include:

• A list of felon-friendly landlords in the Tampa Bay area
• A list of agencies that can help you find a job
• A list of agencies that can help you find housing

Miami-Dade County Homeless Trust

This is a non-profit organization that assists the homeless in Miami-Dade County through a homeless hotline, shelter referrals, and access to information on other homeless services. 

They connect felon renters with landlords willing to work with them. 

Project 180

It is a good example of the reentry program. It is a non-profit organization whose goal is to reduce the number of repeat offenders and equip Florida male felons with the resources to reenter society and thrive.

They offer a two-year structured facility that rehabilitates those with substance abuse issues. They offer paid apprenticeships and educational programs. To ease felons off drugs and alcohol, their transition back to society is easier. Their vision is to reduce the level of unemployment, poverty, homelessness, and criminal behavior for those who have been incarcerated.

Referrals

Socializing is surprisingly a great way to get recommendations. If you have shown yourself to be trustworthy and friendly, a recommendation from someone of importance or with a network of friends can help you secure a place that would have ordinarily refused you. For example, religious leaders or friends can stand in for you or let you know if there is a space available with one of their networks. 

You can also use families for housing references as well. They can vouch for you while you are on your Florida housing search.

As far as they don’t rent an apartment on your behalf because that could get you into trouble legally.

Florida Housing Authority Or HUD

This is an organization present in many states. Its purpose is to supply housing to Americans with low or limited income for an affordable rate.

Though they are based locally, running and helping serve the needs of the community or people in a city. Some of them work statewide, helping to connect people with affordable housing across the state.

They get their funding from the Department of Housing and Urban Development or HUD and represent the interests of felons and those with limited income unable to afford the high price of houses in their neighborhood.

The Department of Housing and Urban Development offers Section 8 voucher programs and public housing alternatives to people, so they can get houses and apartments to rent at an affordable rate.

If you are unable to receive a space immediately, you can sign up and put your name on their waitlist. There is also the option of subsidizing your rental purchase, which helps reduce the cost of your rent, and in some cases get it for free if your income is that low. Visit their website for more information on the options available to you. www.hud.gov

Restrictions

Though this organization helps to provide felons with ease in acquiring housing. They do have requirements that might restrict felons from qualifying for their services.

Some of which are:

There is a five-year time frame since the crime was committed, placed on those applying for their service. 

Though you may be unable to participate in this program if you are just released, it is still an option that you are entitled to down the road.

The type of crime you were incarcerated for also affects your eligibility. They include drug trafficking, fraud, and violent crimes. Crimes that also show you to be antisocial or unable to coexist with others may also disqualify you as well. 

Before you apply, it is advised that you do due diligence and see the exact rules for the HUD in your state or city, so you know how to keep to them. You could also confirm if all the requirements are specific to your local HUD.

Listings on Craigslist

Yes, you can search for apartments and rentals on Craigslist.

Advertisers submit listings for housing and apartments on Craigslist and are more lenient than landlords in popular or large apartment communities.

If you are lucky, you just may come across the type of landlords that don’t bother doing a background check.

If they do run a background check, because of the one-on-one interaction, it’s easier to explain the situation to them and convince them. Unlike those that you do not get the chance to meet the landlord one on one.

The Florida Department of Corrections or DOC

Their Office of Programs and Re-Entry works with felons to help rehabilitate them through their programs, which facilitate productive learning, positively transforming behaviors, and teaching pro-social skills that assist with reintegration into communities. They handle academic, career, and technical education, coaching, and spiritual and religious outreach as well to help felons get their life on track.

The Florida Religious Community

Joining a religious community can also help your reentry into society easily, as this is a form of networking and being part of a community. One which has members and is known for outreach and generosity, you can join by volunteering or joining any of their programs.

His Healing Hand

They are a Christian organization established in 1999. A non-denominational and highly recommended organization that aims to provide reentry, renewal, and recovery help to those in the Orlando / Sanford Metro area of Central Florida. They provide support to felons in prison as well as those who have finished serving their time. 

They aid in helping ex-felons secure housing, get job training, recover from addiction, and get access to food through food stamps, and even therapy, amongst many others. To contact them, call 407-219-7625.

One Florida Ministry

They assist in finding safe accommodations. Their offices are in Clewiston, Miami, and Lakeland. They help addicts or those with drug-related problems, as well as the homeless. And offer programs with long-term accommodations for people who are without a home to stay as long as they wish, felons included.

2nd Chance

This is another program that helps those struggling with addiction or substance abuse. They also focus on therapy and mental health issues. They rehabilitate felons on how to act and adjust back into society, so they can build trust and be given opportunities for jobs and housing.

Record checks

As you have seen from the write-up and possibly from experience, getting an apartment with a felony record can be a struggle. To prepare yourself for how potential landlords may see you, you may want to run a background check on yourself, so you see what comes up and can get in front of it. Reentry programs are there to help you with this process, or you could search out other methods. They vary, depending on your area.

If you are fortunate and it is only a misdemeanor, and several years have passed, it may no longer be on your record. If not, you could look for ways to have the record expunged through going to reentry programs, other education, gainful employment, or showing that you have developed a good moral character, you are a trustworthy person who is ready to show that you have paid your debt to society.

Other Ways To Increase Your Chances Of Getting An Apartment

Though a felony record can affect you getting an apartment in Florida, do not forget that there are ways to increase your chances. Some of them are:

• Be presentable

At the end of the day, you are interacting with people. If you come off as intimidating or unpleasant, you will get turned down. So, be presentable and polite. It may cause them to give you a chance. 

• Positivity

You have to be positive. This affects your mindset and reactions to setbacks and objections. If you are positive, you will not be aggressive or defensive when they ask about your history that will show up.

• Perseverance

Remember that when you search for things, you will be told no. Do not take it personally, be polite and keep searching. You never know, your response may cause the individual to change their mind. Even if it doesn’t, you would at least not leave a bad impression. 

• Be Resourceful

Make sure you research and take advantage of the programs available in your area. Networking and socializing in your community can help add to your resources. Information is key.

• Build a reputation

We are social animals. People are more willing to help you if you treat them respectfully and are known to be trustworthy. So, make sure you build a great reputation, this earns you respect in the community. 

Once you find a place, do your best to be a model tenant and be friendly to your neighbors and those around you.

Summary

We cannot deny the stigma that a felony record brings when you are searching for an apartment. Many landlords in Florida will not rent to a felon because of the possible risks. They may cite your ability to earn as a concern for how you will make or keep up with rent. Though some could get in trouble when they discriminate under the US Fair Housing Act, it is still done. You should read up on it, so you know when you can follow up with the law for such situations.

Do not forget that though discrimination exists, many landlords work with the local housing authority and are willing to lease to felons with non-violent pasts and reentry programs to help get felons back on their feet.