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Housing For Felons in Michigan

This guide provides resources to help former offenders find apartments for felons in Michigan, MI.

Discover Housing For Felons in Michigan (2025)

Felons without stable housing can get help from numerous charitable and nonprofit organizations across Michigan.

From emergency shelters to longer-term housing options, there’s a network of supportive options for felons in Michigan.

Housing For Felons in Michigan

Community Housing Network

The Community Housing Network provides specialist support to Michigan residents who need help to overcome housing challenges.

Visit their website or call their helpline to begin identifying your best housing options.

You may even qualify for Michigan’s Rapid Rehousing Program or Permanent Supportive Housing Program.

Get help from a housing specialist: https://communityhousingnetwork.org/get-help/

United Way 2-1-1 Helpline

Call the helpline to connect with housing resources in your area. The advisor will ask you questions to help match you with the right service providers.

Calls are free and the helpline is open 24 hours a day, every day.

Alternatively, visit the 2-1-1 website: https://mi211.org/housing-assistance

Detroit Rescue Mission Ministries

Provides emergency shelter and longer-term supportive housing for Detroit residents experiencing homelessness.

Emergency shelter services include meals, clothing, and a housing needs assessment.

Their four shelters in the Detroit area provide for the needs of single men, single women, and families with children.

Emergency housing in Mi for felons: https://drmm.org/services/housing-2/

Friends of Returning Citizens (FORC) / Detroit Catholic Pastoral Alliance

Started by two former offenders this program provides wrap-around services to meet the needs of individuals returning to the community after incarceration.

FORC operates an affordable housing program, offers housing referrals to felon friendly landlords in Detroit, provides clothing and personal care items, and helps with job search and transportation to interviews and appointments.

Detroit housing for felons: https://www.dcpasite.com/8900-gratiot

Here To Help Foundation

The foundation provides extensive support to returning citizens in Wayne County and Oakland County. Help is available to felons who have been out of prison for less than 12 months.

Once you join the program, there’s no cut-off date when your support will end. The foundation is there for you for as long as you need them – even after parole ends.

  • Personal meeting
  • Walmart gift cards to buy essentials
  • Access to immediate employment or job training
  • Transportation assistance
  • Housing referrals (once you’ve saved $1,000 from your income)
  • Help with security deposit (up to $1,000)
  • Furniture and home furnishings provided
  • Access to used vehicles through the Working Cars for Working People program
  • Ongoing financial assistance
  • Ongoing mentoring

Wayne & Oakland County housing in Michigan: https://www.heretohelpfoundation.org/gethelp

How to Find Apartments That Accept Felons in Michigan

How to Find Apartments That Accept Felons in Michigan

1. Use A Second Chance Apartment Finder

Apartment finders use their knowledge of the local rental market to match apartment hunters with flexible landlords. They help renters overcome barriers to housing caused by a criminal record, poor credit, and previous evictions.

Second Chance Apartments Michigan: https://secondchanceapartments.com/cities/detroit/

2. Look For Private Landlords

You’ll have a far better chance of securing an apartment in Michigan as a felon if you focus on private landlords.

Unlike large property management companies with rigid policies, private landlords typically own just a few rental units and handle applications themselves.

This means you’ll be speaking directly with the person making the decision—allowing you to explain your situation rather than being automatically turned away by a leasing agent following a strict set of rules.

If you can show you’ll be a reliable tenant who doesn’t cause trouble and pays rent on time, you’ll be able to find landlords willing to rent to you—the majority of felons rent from private landlords.

Search for private landlords on:

3. Contact Reentry Providers

Reentry providers have plenty of experience helping felons find affordable housing. Even if you don’t need the more extensive support they offer, you can still call and ask for a list of felon friendly apartments and landlords in your area.

To find local reentry service use Calvin University’s Map for Returning Citizens (link below). Each pin on the map details the type of help available.

Find reentry resources: LINK

4. Search The Sex Offender Registry

This final method is unconventional but it works, and it’s a good option if finding housing with the other methods hasn’t worked.

To improve community safety the addresses of sex offenders are publicly available. How does this help you find felon friendly apartments in Michigan?

When a property manager is willing to rent to a sex offender, there’s a strong chance they’ll rent to other felons too.

Here’s how to find felon friendly apartments in Michigan using the sex offender registry.

  1. Go to the Michigan Sex Offender Registry: https://mspsor.com/Home/Search
  2. Select the “See A Neighborhood Map” section
  3. Enter your city and set the search radius to 5 miles
  4. Click on each offender and note down their address
  5. The listings run across multiple pages, use the page selector to continue your search
  6. Focus on addresses that include an apartment number (otherwise the address could be a privately owned home)
  7. Use Google Maps to look up each address and get contact details for the leasing office.

Read More: Eviction Process in Michigan With No Lease