How do I remove or change incorrect information in a background check? Oxford House, Inc. is the 501(c)(3) non-profit umbrella organization of the national network of individual Oxford Houses. Unfortunately, sealed and vacated records sometimes appear in background checks, even though they are not supposed to. ++ Popular grants for ex felons $5,000 Boots to Business Grant for Catholic Charities This program will help felons with some of their basic needs, such as food, clothing, and transportation vouchers. Can you help me find affordable, safe housing? To apply, click here. .. Residency requires an increased monthly rent of $.. Information on this site is not legal advice and is strictly informational and may be outdated. Email:[email protected]. WebWASHINGTON STATE HUMAN RIGHTS COMMISSION OLYMPIA HEADQUARTERS 711 South Capitol Way, Suite 402 P.O. You can find out more about arbitrary discrimination by clicking on this link. .. Residency requires last months rent What can I do if the consumer reporting agency or the landlord does not follow the law regarding my background check? DOC Policy 310.140 Incarcerated Veteran Offenders, DOC Policy 350.200 Offender Transition & Release, Investigation Offender Release Plan Process (Attachment 2), Offender Release Plan and Release Process for In-State, Out-of-State, or Federal Detainer (Attachment 3), Offender Release Plan Determination (Attachment 4), Offender Release Plan Procedure (Attachment 5), DOC Policy 630.590 Offender Reentry Community Safety (ORCS) Program Review, DOC Policy 380.420 Firearm Possession by Offenders, DOC Policy 420.395 Evidence/Property Procedures for Field, 18 U.S.C. Private landlords may also have restrictions on who they accept, though their ability to discriminate is limited by the Fair Housing Act. The average grant for a family of three is $569 per month. For more help, see the Need a Lawyer? section below. 1. You can receive numerous grants at one time, so be sure to apply for all of them that you qualify for. (Effective until April 1, 2018. You should contact your local Housing Authority to get a clear picture of what the eligibility requirements are.17The government doesnotprovide you with an apartment or other housing directly; rather, if you are accepted to the Section 8 program you are responsible for finding your own apartment or other housing that meets the requirements of the program. If the background report was provided by a CRA, you should contact the CRA, in writing if possible, using the information provided by the landlord. Why Felons Are Denied Rentals in Washington and the US. WebSeattle Municipal Court Resource Center - A one-stop connection point to multiple services in downtown Seattle: DSHS, ADATSA Assessments, Substance Abuse Services, plus Then, support those jobs with housing options, legal help, and the resources you need to successfully integrate back into society. They provide a list of local resources based on the type of help needed. HUD requires that most of the new applicants income be 30% or below the annual median income or AMI. The Program is short-term (months not years) with the expectation that participants are actively conducting a job search. Thats why we have aggregated the best jobs for felons in one spot. Some reentry groups in Washington provide housing assistance to people who are leaving prison; see the Resources section at the end of this chapter for some of these groups. Costs for medical care and childcare are included as well. 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). If a landlord denies your application, it is required to inform you in writing and provide the reason that it has rejected you. .. Information received from an employment verification. This organization provides individualized advising sessions, gathering essential information to assist reentry students in making informed decisions regarding academic and career choices. While eligibility for both programs will be primarily based on your familys income, the specific eligibility criteria will likely be different in different cities. For any further questions, please contact a lawyer directly. Find out how you can support your Library by donating money, books or your time as a volunteer. .. Approved with conditions: Can a potential landlord turn me down based on my criminal record? .. 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.) In general, private landlords are permitted to consider your criminal record when you apply for housing, and may deny your application based on your past conviction; however, theycannothave a blanket ban on renting to people with criminal records. Information on this site is not legal advice and is strictly informational and may be outdated. How can I find out about them? RCW 72.02.100 Earnings, clothing, transportation, and subsistence payments upon release of certain prisoners. Show that you are upfront and reliable and secure your criminal record before searching for a job or an apartment. Certificate of Restoration of Opportunity (Courts) 2. Phone (Seattle): 206-624-0082 x104 After researching to assist a family member with finding work, Ron realized that the information he required wasnt reliable. RCW 9.41.047 Restoration of possession rights, RCW 9.41.098 Forfeiture of firearmsDispositionConfiscation. 35 15 U.S.C. Why Enter a Program; Food Stamp Info for Felons; Insurance Info. There may also be a court order barring you from living in a certain place (for instance, if you were convicted of domestic violence, you may be barred from living with the person who brought charges against you).13, After your community custody is complete, your criminal record may create some barriers to your housing. Transitional housing is more long-term than emergency housing, but still time-limited, and generally lasts between several months to several years. It also develops a plan of action that is attainable, and educates students in obtaining financial aid and scholarship opportunities, while providing ongoing support through mentoring, coaching and student organized support groups. The Washington State House of Representative overwhelmingly approved legislation from Rep. Mark Klicker, Tuesday, that would increase affordable housing options in the state. Pioneer provides treatment, housing, job training and employment services to formerly incarcerated individuals in Washington State. Washington State Department of Social and Health Services, Aging and Long-Term Support Administration (ALTSA), Developmental Disabilities Administration (DDA), Facilities, Finance and Analytics Administration (FFA). It always helps to obtain your criminal history as the paperwork can be used to obtain transitional housing and assist you in the lease negotiation process. Doing so will help you establish and meet your planned activities and goals. WebDifferent services provided by state for housing, food, clothes, etc. The public housing authorities in Washington state administer the Housing Choice Voucher Section 8 program to felons and people in need whose total gross income does not exceed 50% of HUD income guidelines. How do I apply for Section 8 or public housing? WebThe likelihood of successful transition can be improved with utilization of reentry programs and practices. 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. To learn more about the HUD programs in Washington or to apply, click here. Am I entitled to know why the landlord denies me? 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). The basic types of housing are emergency housing, transitional housing, and permanent housing. Felons who receive grants will not have to worry about ever paying them back. Additionally, most shelter space is allocated day by day, so just because you were able to get a spot today doesnt necessarily mean you will get a spot tomorrow. Most peoples goal is to ultimately transition into permanent housing, and the resources in this Guide will help you do that by helping you understand your permanent housing options below. There is no restriction on how many PHAs you can apply to, though you will need to file individual applications for each one.19. Landlords are not required to accept such documents, but generally will do so. Reach out to the local programs to see what is available. Phone (Tacoma): 253-272-5486 Note that federal housing programs are very competitive, and wait times can be very long. In order to perform a search, start by following this link. All Rights Reserved, Washington Apartment Listings on Craigslist, Washington State Housing Finance Commission, Work From Home Jobs For Felons: 7 Best Jobs For 2023. DHCDC Reentry Our re-entry program focuses on ex-offenders that are just released from prison; we provide case management and biweekly mens rap and womens rap sessions. Landlords can also have rules against pets or smoking inside the building. You can reach Library staff by chat, email or phone during open hours. Central Iowa Works CIW offers a lot of different programs such as job skill training. If you think a landlord or CRA broke the laws around background checks, you should contact an attorney. In 2007, DOJ awarded between $225,000 - $450,000 each to another 23 state prison Get to work faster with jobs for felons curated for you. See Section 19 below for more information. Being The Fair Housing Act prohibits landlords from discriminating on the basis of your race, color, religion, national origin, gender, family status (for instance, whether you have children who will be living with you), or disability. 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. More information about how to find housing is provided later in this chapter. 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). Narcotics Anonymous is an international, community-based association of recovering drug addicts with more than 33,500 weekly meetings in over 116 countries worldwide. www.compasshousingalliance.org 10 Washington State Department of Corrections Policy No. To qualify for this program, you have to have at least one minor child you are caring for. There is not much you can do in this case, but you should review the background report to see if the information there is accurate. 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. 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. HUD eligibility is based on your income, the size and composition of your household and your citizenship status. Compass Housing Allianceowns a large number of housing units and provides emergency shelter and transitional and permanent housing for low-income individuals. Finally, a reasonable time period after contacting the CRA, you should follow up with the CRA to make sure that the correct information is being used.34. The programs will assist felons during difficult financial times. Note, however, that you may be evicted for illegal drug activity in a property that you are renting.29. What documents or materials do I need to apply for permanent housing? If youd like to know when we update this area of our website (and get a free guide to help you become employed again) click here and sign up for our email newsletter. 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. Lifeline Felons who are having difficulty paying for their phone may qualify for a free one through the Lifeline program. 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. Can my application for housing be rejected for reasons outside my criminal history, such as past drug addiction? I need to find assisted living for an aging adult. 36 RCW 59.18.257(1(a)(iii), Becky Turner, supra. Find housing for felons, listed by state. HUD, also known as the Department of Housing and Urban Development, assists felons in their housing needs. Webrelease services for state and local (not federal) inmates who will receive post-release services from the Labor grantees. Use free research tools and take online classes with your Library card. 24 City of Seattle Ordinance 125393 (Aug. 23, 2017), 27 www.nolo.com/legal-encyclopedia/free-books/renters-rights-book/chapter1-2.html. Here are a few programs that may be useful to you: Housing Choice Voucher Program (Section 8):Section 8 is a federal government program that provides vouchers to certain low-income individuals to help them pay their rent. Therefore, your chance of getting housing is relatively good. Individuals who use illegal drugs or abuse alcohol are ineligible for federally assisted housing, as are people who were evicted from federally assisted housing for drug crimes in the past three years.14. The services vary by location. Department of corrections reentry program for the state of Washington. Once you have requested that a CRA correct information from your background report, then, within 30 days, it must perform an investigation (including consideration of the information that you submitted). This is not a comprehensive list, but it will give you a good place to start. A landlord may turn you down for poor credit history, having too little income, bad references from prior landlords, or a prior eviction lawsuit. Discover our wide range of programs and services, including resources, classes, events and special exhibits. Public Housing Information; Reentry Program Directory. 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. Pioneer Human Servicesowns a large number of housing units in King, Pierce, Skagit, Spokane, and Whatcom counties and provides transitional and permanent housing rental programs for people with criminal histories. WebMore than 170,000 copies of the book, Houses of Healing, have been donated in state and federal prisons as well as larger county jails nationwide. DOC 350.200 (Aug. 8, 2010); Washington State Department of Corrections Policy No. The legal help you need to put your past behind you. The Criminal Records Project provides direct legal services to people facing barriers to housing and employment based on criminal records. Local housing agencies associated with HUD support the governmental departments efforts in securing permanent housing for felons and others in need. To qualify, you have to meet the low income guidelines. While you are in community custody immediately after your release, you will be required to live at the address listed in your release plan and remain within prescribed geographical boundaries.11, If you were convicted of a sexual offense, you must register your address with the county Sheriffs Department as soon as you are released. Catholic Community Services/Catholic Housing Services This organization serves the Western Washington The programs are made possible through funding by the federal, state, and local governments. 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. The site enables you to locate an affordable property through low-income, governmentally funded programs, such as the HUD project-based subsidized program, the HUD tenant-based housing choice voucher program and similar low-income housing initiatives. It is always your responsibility to be sure that the law has not changed and applies to your particular situation. All information in the print version of this publication is current as of December 2017. Some shelters may also have additional restrictions for instance, some shelters may be only for women, or only for families with children, and some may have rules about drugs and alcohol. They are considered to be gifts to help during difficult times. If you believe that a landlord has denied your application solely because you have a previous criminal conviction you may file a complaint with the Federal Housing and Urban Development Department (HUD) as a violation of the Fair Housing Act.38Fair housing complaints can be filed with HUD by telephone (1-800-669-9777), mail, or via the Internet. Can I be evicted for an arrest that does not result in a conviction? Beyond that, both the Section 8 and public housing programs are administered by local organizations called public housing authorities/agencies (PHAs). 77 S. Washington Street, 5th Floor 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. Basic Food In the state of Washington, the nationwide Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) is called Basic Food. 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. 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. Read on for more specific information about the Fair Housing Act and the types of rules landlords can make. Do I have a right to request that a consumer reporting agency stop reporting something from my criminal history? The CRA also has to take reasonable steps to make sure that the incorrect information will not be included in background reports in the future. 38 https://portal.hud.gov/hudportal/HUD?src=/program_offices/fair_housing_equal_opp/complaint-process. Stick to a schedule as you look for a job and/or apartment. You can also refer to the reentry listings for Washington for your transitional housing needs as well. The National Association of Consumer Advocates maintains a database of consumer lawyers in every state that deal with these types of cases. For example, if a landlord orders a copy of your criminal history from the Washington State Patrol, it will receive a report with all non-sealed and non-vacated adult and juvenile convictions from Washington state courts, no matter how old the convictions are. Should I give more information than the landlord asks for? 3601 et seq. There is also income and asset limitations that have to be met in order to qualify for the cash grant. In most cases, your conviction will not have a major impact on where you can live. This program also provides felons with weatherization services, which will help to lower monthly utility bills. 28 See The Fair Housing Act, 42 U.S.C. The best way to find out whether you are eligible for either Section 8 vouchers or public housing is to contact your local PHA. The application process for Section 8 and public housing is determined by your PHA and will vary. Will a potential landlord run a background check on me? Felon Friendly Apartments in Washington Washington Housing Authority. 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. But since vacated convictions can still show up in public records, they are often reported on background checks. If you have a conviction that has beenvacated, you have the right to say that you were never convicted of that crime.26The Washington State Patrol will not report convictions that have been vacated. To qualify for the program, you have to meet the low income requirements and be a citizen or legal alien. www.ccsww.org/site/PageServer?pagename=housing_index Web211 connects people with health and human services throughout Washington State. This is a joint project with King, Pierce, Thurston and Clark Counties to address the needs of veterans incarcerated in County Correctional Facilities, offering alternatives to jail and referral to housing, employment services, and treatment. We enroll ex-offenders in our Culinary Job. 40 See, e.g.,www.evictionrecords.com/state-public-records/wa-washington-criminal-records/;www.myrentalhistoryreport.com/. Is there housing for victims of domestic violence? 4 Washington State Department of Corrections Policy No. 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. Where can I find other affordable housing listings? RCW 9.94A.706 Community custodyPossession of firearms, ammunition, or explosives prohibited. This depends on the type of case. Low Income Home Energy Assistance Program (LIHEAP) This program will help felons pay for one utility bill per year. In most areas you will need to provide information on the people who will be living with you and documentation of your household income. A list of shelters that provide wraparound or case management services is located in the Resources section at the end of this chapter. Contributions and grants are used to expand the network of Oxford Houses by providing trained outreach workers to establish new houses and central service support to existing houses. Email:[email protected]. DOC 350.200, Attachment 5, Offender Release Plan Procedure (Aug 8, 2010); RCW 9.94A.729(5)(d). WebEmergency housing is short-term accommodation, such as a shelter or hostel, for people who are in crisis (for instance, people who are homeless or escaping abuse).