Felony friendly apartments in Portland, Oregon are easier to find thanks to FAIR, the Fair Access in Renting ordinance. FAIR stops landlords using blanket bans to deny housing to renters with criminal records. Landlords can still screen for felonies, but grounds for denial are more limited.
To help you find a place to live, we’ve put together a list of apartments in Portland that will approve some recent felonies, and we’ll walk you through the basics of the FAIR ordinance so you understand your rights when you apply for a rental.
How FAIR Helps When You’ve Got A Felony On Your Record
Landlords in Portland have 2 screening options when it comes to criminal background checks. They can use the Low Barrier Criteria specified in the ordinance, or their own individualized assessment.
Apartments using the Low Barrier Criteria, can’t use convictions over 7 years old (from the date of disposition) when evaluating your criminal background. More recent convictions can only be used to deny your application if you’re considered a safety risk. You also have the right to submit additional information about your conviction and rehabilitation along with your application (or for reconsideration following a denial).
Supporting documents you can provide to strengthen your application include:
- Letter from parole or probation office
- Letter from caseworker, therapist, or counselor
- Certifications of treatments/rehab programs
- Letter from employer or teacher
- Certification of training
- Proof of employment
- Statement explaining mitigating factors and detailing rehabilitation efforts
Landlords using the Low Barrier criteria and those applying their own screening rules must look at the details of your case and consider factors like:
- How much time has passed since your offense
- Whether you’ve completed rehabilitation programs or treatment
- Your age at the time of the offense
- Your rental or work history since the conviction
- Any letters of recommendation or supporting documents that show you’ve been responsible
If you’ve got an older felony, apartments using the Low Barrier screening criteria are your best option. As long as your disposition date was over 7 years ago, you can apply without worrying about your felony.
If you’ve got a more recent conviction, you’ll have a better chance of approval if you submit some proof showing you’ve turned your life around and don’t pose a threat to the safety of other residents, the landlord, or the property itself.
(Date of disposition means the date you entered a guilty plea, co contest plea, or were found guilty.)
To find out which tenant screening criteria is being used at an apartment community, just ask. They’re required to tell you and give you a copy of their screening rules.
See Also:Â Housing For Felons in Washington State
Second Chance Apartments In Portland
The following apartments operated by CTL Management use Portland’s Low Barrier screening criteria, but with a shorter 5 year look back period.
They screen for felonies in the last 5 years involving violence (murder, manslaughter, rape, sex crimes), manufacture or distribution of a controlled substance, drug crimes, kidnapping, burglary, robbery, arson, reckless burning, other person crimes, property crimes, and weapons crimes.
Shadow Hills Apartments
Address: 2040 SW Vermont St. Portland, OR
Size: Studio, 1, 2 and 3 bedrooms
Rent: Starts at $1,515/month
Floor plans and availability: https://www.portlandoregon-apartments.net/
Francis Park Apartments
Address: 3430 SE Francis Street, Portland, OR
Size: Studio, 1, 2 and 3 bedrooms
Rent: Starts at $1,620/month
Floor plans and availability: https://www.portland-oregonapartments.net/
Cedar Lane & Garden Glen Apartments
Address: 7600 SW Oleson Rd, Portland, OR
Size: Studio, 1, 2 and 3 bedrooms
Rent: Starts at $1,255/month
Floor plans and availability: https://www.apartments-portland-oregon.com/
Low Barrier Housing In Portland
The following apartments use Portland’s standard Low Barrier screening criteria with a 7-year look back period.
Enso Apartments (Pearl District)
Address: 1400 NW Marshall Street, Portland, OR
Size: Studio, 1 and 2 bedrooms
Rent: Starts at $1,353/month
Floor plans and availability: https://ensoapartments.com/
The Addy Apartments (Pearl District)
Address: 1222 NW 18th Avenue, Portland, OR
Size: Studio, 1 and 2 bedrooms
Rent: Starts at $1,353/month
Floor plans and availability: https://www.theaddyapts.com/
Cyan PDX Apartments (Cultural District)
Address: 1720 SW 4th, Portland, OR
Size: Studio, 1 and 2 bedrooms
Rent: Starts at $1,015/month
Floor plans and availability: https://www.cyanpdx.com/
Museum Place Apartments (Cultural District)
Address: 1030 SW Jefferson St, Portland, OR
Size: Studio, 1 and 2 bedrooms
Rent: Starts at $1,015/month
Floor plans and availability: https://www.museum-place.com/
Park Plaza Apartments (Cultural District)
Address: 1969 SW Park Ave, Portland, OR
Size: Studio, 1 and 2 bedrooms
Rent: Starts at $1,264/month
Floor plans and availability: https://www.parkplazapdx.com/
Sawbuck Apartments (Goose Hollow)
Address: 1725 SW Salmon Street, Portland, OR
Size: Studio and 1 bedroom
Rent: Starts at $1,496/month
Floor plans and availability: https://liveatsawbuck.com/
The Payton Apartments (Irvington)
Address: 2020 NE Multnomah St., Portland, OR
Size: Studio, 1 and 2 bedrooms
Rent: Starts at $1,458/month
Floor plans and availability: https://www.thepaytonpdx.com/
The Dylan Apartments (South Waterfront)
Address: 3883 S. Moody Ave., Portland, OR
Size: Studio, 1 and 2 bedrooms
Rent: Starts at $1,621/month
Floor plans and availability: https://livedylanpdx.com/
Green Bridge Properties
This property management company offers a wide range of apartments, townhomes and single family homes in Portland with rents to suit all budgets.
They screen for felonies within the last 7 years using Portland’s Low Barrier criteria.
Search current rentals: https://greenbridge-properties.com/properties/
Hayu Tilixam Apartments
These apartments are for renters with low to moderate incomes. You’ll need to make 2x the rent to qualify.
The criminal background check automatically disqualifies applicants with convictions for the manufacture or distribution of controlled substances.
You could also be rejected with a felony conviction for the following offenses if the landlord’s individualized assessment finds that you pose a risk to safety:
- Drug use
- Fraud
- Property destruction
- Property theft
- Sex offenses
- Violent offenses
Address: 5827 NE Prescott St, Portland, OR
Floor plans and availability: https://www.hayutilixam.com/
Size: Studio – 3 bedrooms
Legacy Property Management
If you’ve got an older, non-violent felony, the team at Legacy Management many be able to approve you.
Here are just a few of the properties they manage:
- Sandpiper Apartments: 110 NE 160th Ave, Portland
- Division Street Townhomes: 13406 SE Division Street, Portland
- Shenandoah Gardens Apartments: 1022 NE 181st, Portland
- Pine Tree Lane Apartments: 1010 SE 122nd Ave, Portland
Criminal Background Criteria
Denial is automatic for:
- Any felony conviction for murder, manslaughter, arson, rape, kidnapping, child sex crimes, or making/distributing drugs – no matter how long ago.
- Any crime that requires lifetime sex offender registration or if you’re currently registered as a sex offender.
Felony Convictions Within Last 7 Years
Other felony convictions for things like drugs, violent crimes, sex offenses, fraud, identity theft, or other crimes that affect people’s safety or property are disqualifying if the disposition date is within the last 7 years.
Criminal Conviction Review Process
If the rest of your application passes the criteria (income, rental history, credit) but you’re denied because of your felony, you can ask for an individual review of your situation. This means they’ll look at the details of your case instead of just the conviction itself.
To ask for a review after denial, you need to make your request in writing and include supporting documents to prove you’re not a risk.
Check latest rentals: https://www.legacynw.com/vacancies
Housing For Felons in Oregon
Felons experiencing homelessness or at risk of homelessness can apply for affordable housing managed by Central City Concern. Each building has its own tenant approval criteria, but they mostly screen for the following types of felony.
- Violent intentional felonies – 10 year look-back period: homicide/murder, forcible sex offenses, and hate crimes
- Violent intentional felonies – 3 year look-back period: assault (I, II, III and Felony IV)
- Violent negligent or reckless felonies – 7 year look-back period: criminally negligent homicide or manslaughter
- Controlled substance felonies – 3 year look-back period: manufacture of controlled substance (not including marijuana)
- Controlled substance felonies – 2 year look-back period: delivery, or possession with intent to deliver controlled substance
Convictions for arson or the manufacture of methamphetamine will result in an automatic denial.
Lifetime registered sex offenders are denied at most properties.
The type of accommodation available through Central City Concern includes studios, 1 and 2-bedroom apartments, and single rooms with shared bathrooms.
Check property details and availability: https://centralcityconcern.org/services/housing/
Related Article: How To Find An Eviction Friendly Apartment in Portland, Oregon
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.