This project assists people with vacating and sealing convictions under Washington law, and counsels individuals about whether denials of housing and employment comply with existing state and federal law. Lifeline Felons who are having difficulty paying for their phone may qualify for a free one through the Lifeline program. https://irmagary.files.wordpresscom/2011/11/9_27_16_nc_shelterapplication.pdf. If the situation is not resolved after talking to the landlord and the CRA, you should contact CLEAR at 1-888-201-1014 to seek legal advice.31. Oxford House, Inc. is the 501(c)(3) non-profit umbrella organization of the national network of individual Oxford Houses. 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. The religious community in Washington State can also help you in your employment or housing search. Private landlords may also have restrictions on who they accept, though their ability to discriminate is limited by the Fair Housing Act. Is there housing for victims of domestic violence? Arbitrary discrimination is also considered illegal, especially when a property manager favors one applicant in a class over another applicant. Training program after they pass through a rigorous intake procedure that evaluates their readiness for our services, their commitment to beginning a new career, and the nature of their prior offenses (we do not admit anyone with a history of crimes against children). You can reach Library staff by chat, email or phone during open hours. If you are living in public housing, violating your terms of release can be grounds for terminating your housing.42If you were released before serving your maximum sentence and are in community custody, a violation may result in being returned to prison.43If you abandon your rental property for any reason (including being returned to prison for violating your terms of release), you will lose your claim on the property and may be responsible for the landlords costs in re-renting your unit.44There may be other consequences as well; for instance, you may forfeit your security deposit or any personal property left in the unit. How long does an eviction stay on my record? You will need to re-apply each year that you need the grant. What documents or materials do I need to apply for permanent housing? This is a group of self-run, self-supported recovery houses that provide an opportunity for every recovering individual to learn a clean and sober way of lifeforever. You can also refer to the reentry listings for Washington for your transitional housing needs as well. A few of these organizations are listed in the Resources section of this guide. A list of shelters that provide wraparound or case management services is located in the Resources section at the end of this chapter. You do not have to give information about your criminal history that a landlord does not ask for. The programs will assist felons during difficult financial times. The Assembled by Washington Appleseed 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. The fidelity bonds issued by the WBP function as an employer job-hire incentive. 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. The best way to find out whether you are eligible for either Section 8 vouchers or public housing is to contact your local PHA. Walla Walla, WA 99362 WebWith the options listed below, felons should be able to find housing assistance to help get them on their feet. Federal housing programs are administered by local organizations called public housing authorities (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. Do I need housing in that county? 36 RCW 59.18.257(1(a)(iii), Becky Turner, supra. The AARP Foundation WorkSearch Program has the highest placement rate of all Senior Community Service Employment Programs in the U.S. Staff is committed to helping those in need find their way back to work. .. Information received in a civil record 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. Resources to help ex-offenders gain essential life skills for making the right choices in life. After researching to assist a family member with finding work, Ron realized that the information he required wasnt reliable. HUD subsidized housing ranges from apartments to town homes to single-family dwellings and mobile homes. How Do I ? Certificate of Restoration of Opportunity (Courts) 2. Unfortunately, sealed and vacated records sometimes appear in background checks, even though they are not supposed to. Temporary Assistance for Needy Families (TANF) This program provides a cash grant for felons who qualify. 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. Instead, follow the aforementioned suggestions when searching for a place to live. Also, search Craigslist postings and contact local social service agencies for Washington job and housing leads. You can receive numerous grants at one time, so be sure to apply for all of them that you qualify for. Read on for more specific information about the Fair Housing Act and the types of rules landlords can make. Applications are taken from October 1 through September 30 each year. What do I do if I believe a landlord is discriminating against me? 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. Our website is the #1 resource on the internet to help former felons get employed again. In 2007, DOJ awarded between $225,000 - $450,000 each to another 23 state prison You will be expected to pay for your rent, but a transitional housing agency should be able to assist you with payments if you are homeless or at risk of becoming homeless.15. N.Y. 1988], 16-05 Building Safe and Strong Communities through Successful Reentry. 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. Bear in mind that in most cases, every adult who will be living in the residence will be required to fill out the application. You can get information about many of these resources by using the phone to dial 211. 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. We are working to break the cycle of poverty, homelessness, and prison. Learn how you can get your rights back as a felon. Felon Friendly Apartments in Washington Washington Housing Authority. 613 S. 15th Street Why Felons Are Denied Rentals in Washington and the US. www.compasshousingalliance.org All information in the print version of this publication is current as of December 2017. 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. 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). You can also visithttp://4people.org/Reentry/Reentry.htmlfor a detailed list of reentry resources broken down by county. This is not a comprehensive list, but it will give you a good place to start. Transitional housing is generally a supportive service and may be bundled with other resources to help you overcome issues such as trauma, drug or alcohol addiction, or mental health concerns. 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. Most programs do not have a strict qualification requirement. Do I have a right to request that a consumer reporting agency stop reporting something from my criminal history? 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. Because the people who list on the site are generally entrepreneurial, their rules for renting are less stringent. With the help of grant programs, felons can get help having their basic needs met while they try to become more self-sufficient. 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. Many of the veterans have come to the jail due to un-treated drug and alcohol issues, poverty, homelessness, or Post Traumatic Stress Disorder. Stick to a schedule as you look for a job and/or apartment. Housing for People with Felonies (case-by-case basis) American Lake Gardens 14709 Spring St SW Lakewood (253) 627-4070 2 bedroom apartments. 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. A landlord cannot do any of these things at all, for any reason, based on of your juvenile criminal history.24. 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 most cases, your conviction will not have a major impact on where you can live. 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. 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. Therefore, your chance of getting housing is relatively good. By law, a property manager can only deny housing to an applicant because of his or her criminal record or rental history. Can you help me find a nursing home in HUD also owns low income housing complexes, called Section 8. Using what he learned in writing that text, Ron developed this website as a free resource and has worked with his team to continue answering questions for those in need. WebDifferent services provided by state for housing, food, clothes, etc. .. 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.) 12 RCW 72.09.340; RCW 9.94A.703; RCW 9.94A.030. You can find appropriate attire by asking a family member or friend for a clothing donation or buying the clothing at a local thrift store of discount retailer. Compass Housing Allianceowns a large number of housing units and provides emergency shelter and transitional and permanent housing for low-income individuals. To apply, click here. The consumer credit report did not contain sufficient information The law allows people to sue employers or CRAs for certain violations, and to recover money for damage caused by the violation. WebACLU of Washington can train employment and housing counselors about how to get and understand criminal history reports, and on the employment and housing rights of people HUD requires that most of the new applicants income be 30% or below the annual median income or AMI. If you are denied housing because of an incorrect background check, you may be able to challenge it. Can you help me find affordable, safe housing? There is no restriction on how many PHAs you can apply to, though you will need to file individual applications for each one.19. 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). Emergency shelters and services for men and women: Public Housing Authority contact information: 1 Bob Story, Wash. Dept. Then, support those jobs with housing options, legal help, and the resources you need to successfully integrate back into society. However, do not ask a friend or close family member to sign a rental contract on your behalf. Finding a safe and stable place to live is one of the most important elements of your transition from prison back into the community. Phone (Tacoma): 253-272-5486 DVR also provides technical assistance and training to employers about the employment of people with disabilities. Seattle, WA 98104 The amount of grant that you get depends on the number of people in your household. Finding employment as a felon is tough. 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. 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). 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. To learn more about the HUD programs in Washington or to apply, click here. These more comprehensive shelters often offer other programs that can help you find a job or get into more permanent housing. While there is no harm in putting yourself on Section 8 or public housing waiting lists, you should continue looking for other housing while you wait. 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. What kinds of information will they find? If you are in public housing, your rent will be determined based on your familys income. National Reentry Resource Center 6. To learn more or find a location near you, click here. Where will I be released? Having a criminal record will cause you difficulties when leasing an apartment. There is also income and asset limitations that have to be met in order to qualify for the cash grant. Washington Bonding Program provides, at no cost to the employer or applicant, individual fidelity bonds to employers for applicants who are, or may be, denied coverage by commercial carriers because of their at-risk status. Begin the process by clicking on this link. Can you help me find a nursing home in Washington State? You can only stop a reporting agency from reporting something from your criminal history if the information that it is reporting is wrong. Browse our jobs, find one you like, and get back to work today. WebHousing and Urban Development (HUD) This program is federally funded and has a mission of ensuring everyone in the country has their housing needs met. You should always consult your own attorney if you need legal advice specific to your situation. If you are flexible on where you can live, you may wish to apply to multiple PHAs. resource for ex felons. United Way Type in your zipcode to find services provided by the United Way and their partners in your area. 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. 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. All Rights Reserved, Other Helpful Resources for Felons in Washington, ACLU of Washingtons new Criminal Records Project, CSOSAs Transitional Intervention for Parole Supervision (TIPS), DC Central Kitchen Culinary Job Training Program, Transition from Prison to Community Initiative, Veterans Incarcerated Reintegration Project, How to get Felony off Record in Washington, Temp Agencies That Hire Felons in Washington, Work From Home Jobs For Felons: 7 Best Jobs For 2023. (Effective until April 1, 2018. In most areas you will need to provide information on the people who will be living with you and documentation of your household income. Should I give more information than the landlord asks for? How Long Does A Background Check Take In 2023. In most cases, your conviction will not have a major impact on where you can live. As a social enterprise, the organization provides individuals with a criminal history the opportunity to lead healthy, productive lives. 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. 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). 77 S. Washington Street, 5th Floor Can my application for housing be rejected for reasons outside my criminal history, such as past drug addiction? The AFRH has two locations: Washington, DC, and Gulfport, MS. 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. 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). .. Information received from previous rental history or reference Most of them do not have strict requirements regarding who can receive the assistance. Click here as a social enterprise, the organization provides individuals with a criminal record or rental history searching! A cash grant for felons who qualify materials do I have a major on. That a consumer reporting agency from reporting something from my criminal history that a landlord is discriminating against me resources! Is wrong job and housing leads by local organizations called public housing Authority contact:. On the site are generally entrepreneurial, their rules for renting are less.! The amount of grant programs, felons can get information about the HUD programs Washington... 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