Finding housing for felons in Kentucky is no easy task and we want to assure you that we understand your struggle. Every month we have dozens of people ask our organization for this information and as much as we wish we had a list of felon friendly apartments in Kentucky, this information is too difficult to gather as we don’t have enough staff on hand to handle the task.With that being said, we’ve done the next best thing. Below is a list of organizations and resources in Kentucky that will help you in your pursuit of felon friendly housing.
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Felon Friendly Apartments in Kentucky
Felons who are released from prison in Kentucky, who must re-initiate themselves in the mainstream, can gain helpful support from the reentry listings for Kentucky that have been compiled by JobsForFelonsHub.com. This important listing will enable you to transition back into society faster so you can develop a regular routine and find the needed resources to get housing and a job. Refer to this list often so you have a resource and support while you conduct a house and/or job search.
The Department of Corrections in Kentucky – Reentry Assistance
The reentry program for felons in the state of Kentucky is a positive intervention that gives correctional residents a second chance at contributing their skills and know-how while integrating into mainstream society. According to the DOC for Kentucky, they do all they can to assist in felon reentry. The department works with community partners and states agencies in order to lower recidivism rates and increase safety in communities. They welcome feedback while they are assisting felons in the reentry process.
The department uses a Level of Service Case Management Inventory or LS-CMI for assessment to measure the risk of recidivism among the felon population. The DOC has trained all its staff to administer the tool to felons across Kentucky along with a Case Management Plan (CMP).
The DOC staff is well-trained to serve felons as it has been trained on medical resources, Veterans Affairs resources and benefits, mental health resources, housing for sex offenders, substance abuse treatment, parole processing, and housing resources through the Kentucky Housing Corporation. The agency also works at providing resources related to adult education, social security benefits, disability and employment. You can read more about the DOC’s initiatives by following this link.
Other Ways to Search for Housing
Besides working with the DOC in Kentucky or referring to the aforementioned reentry listings, you can also locate apartments or housing through Craigslist or the Department of Housing and Urban Development in the state. HUD housing authorities in Kentucky work at making it easier for felons to get affordable housing and work once again in mainstream society.
HUD bases a felon’s annual median income (AMI) on what he or she can afford in a rental. Subsidized rent is offered in the form of vouchers or discounts. Some felons do not have to pay anything for housing as their current income or means of support falls well below the annual median income or AMI for their area.
Don’t Shop for Apartments at Major Complexes
If you want your apartment search to remain positive, you need to avoid looking at apartments in big apartment complexes in the state. Multiplex apartments or larger communities always run background checks. Therefore, your efforts at getting an apartment often will turn out as being futile. Instead, it is better to contact reentry programs or perform your housing searches on Craigslist. Your local housing authority is also a better option as its goal is to place people in affordable dwellings.
Take a Look at Your Criminal Background
In order to stay focused on a housing search, you need to begin by performing a criminal background check on yourself first. This process is easy and will also be helpful to you as you search for houses and apartments. To get the process initiated, simply begin by following this link. You only have to pay a very small fee online to obtain the information. Use your background as a tool to negotiate your rental terms.
Turning Down Felons for Housing is Discrimination – But Discrimination that is Legal
While most people think of discrimination as limiting or in negative terms, it is also used legally to make business decisions. Therefore, turning down a felon for housing in Kentucky or anywhere in the US is not normally considered illegal if it applies to his or her criminal history. As a result, you can be denied housing in this country as no legislation is currently in place that prevents the practice.
That kind of practice can be perplexing as most people think of discrimination in terms of unfairness. However, legal discrimination is regularly practiced, for instance, by loan officers, when reviewing a person’s credit, or by property owners, who are reviewing a rental applicant’s record for non-payments or evictions.
These kinds of discriminatory practices are considered legal as they are done for business purposes. Therefore, a landlord can reject your application if they believe your felony offense may be a risk to his or her rental community.
The Protected Classes – When Discrimination is Considered Illegal
Discrimination turns into an illegal practice when a decision is made that is based on a housing applicant’s sex, race, age, family status, ethnicity, national origin or disability. As a result, you can actually rent a house or apartment if you served time for illegal drug use that came about from a mental or physical disability. As a disability is part of a protected class, a property manager can get into trouble if he or she bases your application on this type of felony charge.
According to the Fair Housing Act, felony convictions are not a protected classification. So, usually, you would be turned down if a landlord considers your past crime to be a possible risk to the well-being of their tenants. You can obtain more information about the subject by referring to the legal platform, NOLO online.
How the Housing Law Applies to Felons
Discrimination, in essence, turns into an illegal practice when a decision-maker bases their decision on their own prejudices rather than fact. Therefore, when a Kentucky felon or any other felon in the country is turned down for a rental, it is normally due to their felony history. If you have served time for a non-violent offense that is currently about 10 years old, you may actually obtain approval for housing. However, if your crime was violent or recent, you usually will be turned down.
Practicing Arbitrary Discrimination
Nevertheless, a landlord still needs to use discernment when he or she is considering a felon applicant for housing. For example, as already mentioned, a property owner can get sued if they deny the application of a felon who abused drugs as the result of a mental or physical disability. In order for the property owner to be equitable, he or she must make sure that their decision is based on fact and does not extend to any of the protected classes. The decision that is made must be, for the most part, fair and objective.
Decisions that are based on an applicant’s ethnicity, family status, sex, religion, national origin or disability can cause a landlord legal problems as the practice is discriminatory and therefore illegal. You can read more about arbitrary discrimination by following this link.
Kentucky Housing Authority
The Kentucky Housing Corporation works in association with HUD in Kentucky to provide apartments or rental homes to felons and low-income people who fall below the annual median income or AMI for their community. Housing authorities in the state are available to act as a go-between between renters and landlords so affordable housing is available for those in need.
When you are released from prison or going through reentry, it is essential that you book an appointment with your local HUD or housing authority office. While the agency may feature move-in ready apartments, you might also have to sign up on a waiting list. Therefore, the sooner you make an appointment, the quicker you will be able to find a place to live.
According to housing authority professionals, heads of households in subsidized units include disabled or elderly people or households that are made up of or feature one person, a working family or minors
Kentucky Apartment Listings on Craigslist
Once more, Craigslist in Kentucky is another good resource for a house search as the site provides affordable rental houses and apartments that typically are not located in large apartment complexes. Normally, the advertisers are entrepreneurial property owners or smaller property investors. Therefore, their rental requirements are usually more lenient. Some of the landlords even bypass a background check.
Even if they do look at our background, a person who owns a smaller rental property is often easier to talk to and discuss your situation. To review the Craigslist listings for Kentucky, begin by following this link. Choose the town or city in which you wish to live, then click on “housing” at the top of the platform. Short-list your choices by including your rental range.
Reentry Programs in Kentucky
The best way to begin any housing search is to review the reentry programs that are available in Kentucky. Keep the reentry listings for Kentucky that have been compiled by the JobsForFelonsHub.com site close by your side after you are released from prison and during your reentry into society.
The Kentucky Religious Community
People in the religious community can also be a source for housing or job information. If you join a local church, ask the pastor for referrals. You might also join a volunteer program and find leads through this venue as well.
Referrals From Friends and Family
You can also gain support from friends or family in your search for a rental home. However, don’t ask that they lease an apartment on your behalf. Doing so can get you back into legal trouble again. Make sure that your name is listed as an occupant for your rental unit. Otherwise, you could get evicted or sued.
Additional Felon Housing Search Tips
Maintain a Professional Look
You now have a chance to make a good impression. Therefore, do all you can to present a professional appearance. Stop by the local thrift store to put together a wardrobe. If you want to be successful in your search for a job or house, you have to wear success-friendly apparel.
Ask Professional and Business-like Questions
When you schedule an appointment to see a rental, ask professional questions – questions that are pertinent to your housing needs. Be extra polite and establish a rapport that will enable you to rent and live in your new home for a solid length of time.
Refer to the Reentry Listings
Take time to review the reentry listings that have been developed by JobsForFelonsHub.com to keep you on track. If you cannot find an apartment, you can always look at transitional housing as a temporary answer to your housing needs.
Maintain a Schedule
Always maintain a regular schedule, whether you are living in a transitional housing arrangement or in an apartment. Stay on track with your job hunting goals as well. Don’t let anyone demotivate you in your efforts. If you meet a roadblock, find the detour that will lead you down the road to success.
