How do I find sex offender housing near me? This is a common question, and while no one answer will work for every sex offender, we’ve got some suggestions to help you find a place to live for yourself or your loved one.
Steps To Find Sex Offender Housing Near Me (2025)
1. Speak To Your Parole Officer
If you’re on parole, ask your supervisor for a list of halfway houses and sex offender friendly apartments.
Halfway housing for sex offenders: Also called transitional living houses, halfway houses offer structured living environments for sex offenders.
Residents receive support services to help with employment and longer-term housing. The length of time you can stay at a halfway house depends on the provider.
Some offer accommodation for 3-6 months, others offer a place to live for several years.
Housing for released prisoners near me: These tend to be in small apartment buildings housing a few units rather than apartments in larger communities.
Sex offender apartments don’t usually advertise that they accept sex offenders, so the best way to find them is via your parole officer, through a reentry program, or by searching the sex offender registry (more on that later).
2. Get Housing Help From A Reentry Program
Reentry programs usually focus on helping recently released prisoners get back on their feet, but some offer resources to ex-offenders no matter how long it’s been since release.
Reentry providers can help you find a room share, second chance rentals for sex offenders near me, or houses to rent through their local network contacts.
Call the free 2-1-1 helpline to connect with reentry providers in your area.
3. Secure Emergency Shelter
Many sex offenders and their families are homeless or close to homeless (couch surfing, living in vehicles, or moving from motel to motel). If you don’t currently have a place to call home, get help—don’t try to muddle through on your own.
Homeless shelters, while not ideal, often provide the first crucial step toward stable housing for sex offenders. You’ll have a safe place to sleep, shower, and do laundry.
Many offer meals, clothing, and basic necessities. Shelter staff can also help you with your housing search and provide referrals to landlords in their network and to social workers.
Call the 2-1-1 helpline and ask for a referral to a shelter with vacancies. Try to get a bed at a shelter that holds your place rather than one that requires you to line up for a bed every day.
4. Search Sex Offender Registry Websites For Housing Leads
Address details for sex offenders are readily available to anyone who searches the registry. By finding out where other sex offenders live, you’ll find landlords with sex offender apartments for rent. Here’s how to search the registry.
- Go to your state registry or begin your search at the National Sex Offender Public Website (https://www.nsopw.gov).
- Search by city, ZIP code, or specific address to see a map of RSOs in the area.
- Look for addresses containing apartment numbers.
- Check each address on Google Maps to find the contact details for the landlord. If you’re subject to proximity restrictions, you’ll also want to make sure the addresses on your shortlist aren’t too close to schools, daycare centers, or parks.
5. Consider Private Landlords For Easier Approval
Renting from private landlords is often easier than renting from the large property management companies that deal with apartment rentals.
Some sex offenses, such as statutory rape in cases of teenage relationships, or indecent exposure due to mooning or public urination, may not be viewed as serious offenses by reasonable landlords.
Be upfront about your situation and provide references if possible. Landlords may be more likely to rent to you if you show evidence of financial stability and a responsible lifestyle.
Sex offenders who have caused significant harm will still find unsympathetic landlords in the private landlord sector. The key is to focus on quantity. Send as many inquiry messages as possible. Eventually, someone will give you the chance you’ve been waiting for.
When searching for rentals, use filters to set your price range, so you’re only seeing options that fit your budget.
It’s rare to find listings that explicitly say “sex offenders welcome,” but some rentals might mention they don’t run background checks. These listings are essentially open to anyone who can pay the rent, with no digging into criminal history.
Be wary of listings that mention an application fee—those properties are almost certainly going to run a background check, and they’re unlikely to approve applicants with a sex offense history.
Some listings may say “no credit check,” but those still typically include background checks. They might be lenient with credit history, but they still want to screen out criminal behavior.
Consider looking into room shares. Homeowners or renters seeking someone to split costs might not be as strict about background checks, as they’re primarily focused on finding someone reliable to cover the rent.
Find private rentals listed on:
- Craigslist: https://geo.craigslist.org/iso/us
- Zillow: https://www.zillow.com/homes/for_rent/
- HotPads: https://hotpads.com/
- ByOwner: https://www.byowner.com/
- Facebook Marketplace: https://www.facebook.com/marketplace/category/propertyrentals/
6. Search For Second-Chance Rentals
Some landlords and property managers specialize in second-chance rentals, meaning they’re open to tenants with criminal records.
Depending on availability in your area, you may find some rental options by using different search terms.
If you’re in or close to a major city, a second chance apartment finder may be able to help you find an apartment, room, or house to rent.
Second chance apartment finders: https://secondchanceapartments.com/
7. Check The Sex Offender Housing Lists At Once Fallen
Once Fallen is a website offering assistance to Registered Persons. You’ll find housing options listed by state.
- States A to M: https://oncefallen.com/housing-list-states-a-m/
- States N to Z: https://oncefallen.com/housing-list-states-n-z/
8. Look For Mom & Pop Extended Stay Hotels
Extended stay hotels are a good place to stay while you’re looking for longer-term housing. If you don’t need a lot of space, these studio-style apartments can be a viable long-term option too.
Because extended stay hotels are designed for longer stays, rooms include a kitchenette with appliances and typically offer weekly or monthly rates, making them a flexible housing solution.
At first glance, the rates might seem more costly than an apartment, but all bills are included, so you don’t need to cover utilities, cable, and internet, or carry renter’s insurance. Extended stay hotels also offer fully furnished suites and include linens and kitchen equipment.
While there are several national extended stay hotel brands, they run background checks when guests register and are unlikely to approve sex offenders.
You’ll have more success searching for independently owned (mom & pop) hotels that are less likely to run background checks on residents.
Call ahead to ask about rental policies before you book a suite, because some hotels will charge you for the room even if they refuse to let you stay because of your background.
Related: Companies That Hire Sex Offenders: A Guide To Finding Work.
Alex Graham is a co-founder and manages high-quality content that helps once evicted/ex-felons find a place to call. home. Alex believes even if he can help one person return to a good, wholesome life it is well worth the effort.