It’s no secret that life becomes more challenging after a felony conviction, but in terms of rent assistance, it doesn’t become impossible. What should you do to get affordable housing so you can gain stability, start making income, and get on the road to a brighter future? Let’s have a look.
Call 211
Chances are, you’ll need help with more than just rent if you have a felony and are doing your best to pick up the pieces. That’s why your first move should be making the call to 211, as it can connect you with a local operator that can help you with different forms of assistance.
Ask the operator if they know of any emergency rent assistance programs in your area. They will know better than anyone else and could connect you to local charities or religious organizations that offer such assistance. Don’t be afraid to tell them about your felony either, as that could lead to more specialized assistance, so you don’t have to contact many different places.
Beyond rent assistance, ask the 211 operator for help with food, paying bills, healthcare, mental health counseling, or anything else you might need to start getting back on track.
Apply For Section 8
While calling 211 is your best bet for finding emergency rent or housing assistance, along with other services, applying for Section 8 is a smart move too. With a Section 8 voucher, you can achieve affordable rent for the long term so you can enjoy stability and eventually become financially independent.
Section 8 vouchers are extremely popular since they limit your rent payments to just 30 percent of your income, with the government covering the rest. Due to this popularity, you’ll likely experience long wait times that could take years to get a voucher. In other words, it’s in your best interests to apply for Section 8 now.
Section 8 does offer vouchers to people with felony convictions in some cases. Your chances of getting a voucher increase if your felony didn’t occur within the last five years and wasn’t sexual, violent, or drug-related.
Besides checking your criminal and eviction history, Section 8 eligibility will consider your income and citizenship status. If you make less than half the median income for your area and are a citizen or permanent resident, you should be good to go.
As for how to reduce your Section 8 wait time, one way is to tell your Public Housing Agency (PHA) of any preferences that apply to your situation. If you’re homeless or live in substandard housing, those are two examples of preferences that could move you up the list.
Other ways to get a Section 8 voucher quicker include applying to multiple PHAs and as many waitlists as possible. To begin the Section 8 application process, go here and contact your PHA. You could also ask your PHA for a list of affordable housing buildings near you and contact them directly. Ask if they have units that charge 30 percent of income, which means you could get cheap rent without needing a voucher.
Section 8 Assist