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Housing For Felons in Washington State

We’ve put together some resources to help you find housing for felons in Washington State. Whether you need emergency shelter, transitional housing programs, or leads on landlords willing to rent to felons, you’ll find help at the organizations listed below.

Housing For Felons in Washington State

Start With The Shelter App

The Shelter App is a free resource felons can use to find emergency and transitional housing providers.

Just enter your location, and you’ll get a list of places offering shelter beds or short-term accommodation. Then all you need to do is call each provider and ask if they’ve got room for you.

For unhoused felons, a shelter is often the first step to more stable housing. It’s down to you to advocate for yourself, though. Ask staff about a referral to the local Rapid Rehousing program, Coordinated Entry service, transitional housing program, or social services.

Shelter App: https://shelter.app/

Call The 2-1-1 Helpline

The 2-1-1 helpline is staffed by volunteers trained to get you the help you need. They can help you find a place to sleep tonight if you’ve got nowhere to go.

2-1-1 advisors can also tell you about charities and nonprofits in your community running felon friendly housing programs.

The helpline is staffed 24/7 and a call to 2-1-1 is always free.

Contact The Freedom Project

The Freedom Project offers a Rapid Rehousing service for justice impacted individuals. Felons accepted into their program get help to secure permanent housing through their network of partner landlords and housing organizations.

Short-term financial assistance is also available to cover move in costs, security deposits, and rent.

Fill out the application here: https://freedomproject.socialsolutionsportal.com/apricot-intake/789c6c87-59cf-466c-8ab2-dfc0d4f19bd1

Housing Programs For Felons in Washington State

Housing Programs For Felons in Washington State

These emergency and transitional housing programs support unhoused felons across Washington State. Unhoused means you don’t have permanent housing and includes sleeping in your car, couch-surfing, staying at overnight shelters, or living out of a motel room.

If you’re already homeless or know you’re going to be without accommodation soon, contact these providers.

Union Gospel Mission of Grays Harbor

The Union Gospel Mission runs 2 housing programs. The Men’s Mission caters to single men, while the Friendship House caters to women and to moms with children. They provide accommodation, meals, clothing and support to homeless and justice involved individuals.

  • Address: 405 E Heron, Aberdeen, WA
  • Call: 360-533-1064
  • Learn more: https://ugmgraysharbor.org/

Lighthouse Mission Ministries

Located in Bellingham, the Lighthouse Mission offers accommodation for unhoused men, women, and children.

They offer beds at a safe, clean, walk in emergency shelter with meals provided. The emergency shelter is the entry point for housing programs lasting 90 days where residents receive case management support and help to find stable housing and employment.

Kitsap Rescue Mission

This continuous stay shelter in Bremerton, provides accommodation for homeless men, women, and children. Meals are available, and case managers work with community Housing Solutions Navigators to find long-term housing for residents.

  • Address: Quality Inn, 4303 Kitsap Way, Bremerton, WA
  • Call: 360-337-9120
  • Learn more: https://kitsaprescue.org/about/

Arms Around You Women’s Home

At this transitional housing program for formerly incarcerated women in King County, residents receive reentry case management and housing referral services

Call for pre-screening and to schedule an interview: 206-322-1992

Learn more: https://www.armsaroundyou.org/

Compass Housing Alliance

Enhanced Shelter program for homeless and formerly incarcerated men and women. Residents receive case management services and housing navigation support.

  • Address: 210 Alaskan Way S, Seattle, WA
  • Call: 206-474-1000
  • Learn more: https://www.compasshousingalliance.org/emergency-programs/

House of Mercy Ministries

A transitional housing program offering structured second chance housing, counseling, and employment referrals for formerly incarcerated men in Bellingham, Des Moines, Tacoma, Seattle, SeaTac, Tukwila, Spokane, Yakima, and  Aberdeen.

  • Call: 206-651-7840
  • Application: https://houseofmercyministries.net/rapid-application/

Link Men’s Residential Program

Residential program for homeless, formerly incarcerated men. Shared accommodation is offered for 3-12 months. Must be clean and sober. Sex offenders are also eligible for the program.

  • Address: 318 2nd Ave. Ext. S, Seattle, WA
  • Call: 206-501-4357
  • Learn more: https://ugm.org/

Felony Friendly Apartments In Washington State

Here’s a selection of Washington state apartments and landlords willing to rent to felons.

Aspen Terrace Apartments

This Seattle apartment community welcomes formerly incarcerated individuals with incomes below 60% of the area median income. Residents receive support and case management services in a caring environment.

  • Address: 1717 Belmont Avenue, Seattle, WA
  • Call: 206-717-0240
  • Apply: https://pioneerhumanservices.org/housing/aspen-terrace/

Housing Hope Apartments

Housing Hope operates apartments communities catering to low income households. You may be approved with a criminal background. Currently homeless applicants should contact 2-1-1 for a Coordinated Entry referral.

Other applicants must earn less than 50% of the area media income and have an income at least 1.5x rent.

Apartments are available in Marysville, Stanwood, Arlington, Lake Stevens. Snohomish, Monroe, Sultan, Everett, and Edmonds.

Learn more: https://www.housinghope.org/affordable-housing

Kitsap County Housing Solutions Center

Provides access to emergency housing programs and resources. Also offers security deposit assistance and referrals to landlords willing to approve applications from felons.

Apartments in Seattle That Accept Felons

Felons in Seattle are protected by Seattle’s Fair Chance Housing Law. Thanks to this law, landlords using third party screening services (background check agencies) cannot ask about your criminal record, obtain your criminal history, or deny you because of your history.

The law does not cover registered sex offenders, but before denying an application due to sex offender status, landlords must consider the nature and severity of the offense, how much time has passed since conviction, conduct since release, and tenant history prior to the offense.

Apartment managers and landlords carrying out their own in house background checks aren’t restricted by the Fair Chance Housing law, so check who does the screening before you apply.

  • If the rental application is on RentCafe, Yardi, Entrata, or RealPage, it’s almost certainly tied to a third-party screening service, so your criminal history can’t be used.
  • If the application asks you to authorize screening through TransUnion, Experian, or CoreLogic SafeRent, those are also third-party services and your record can’t be used.
  • Large corporate landlords like Greystar, Pinnacle, and Avenue5, rarely screen in house, so the Fair Chance Housing law should apply at their Seattle apartment communities.

Read Also: Felony Friendly Apartments in Tempe, Arizona