I have a Felony and it's hard to get a Houston Apt (Dallas: apartment, renters)

[Jesse69]

I moved for a job at Schlumberger from Chicago to Houston in April 2007. Paying $42 a day at Motel 6 was expensive until I found an Apt. Unfortunately, I have a felony and so many Apt complexes in Medical Center, and 1 in Clute - rejected me because of it. That's why sometimes I thought Texas is one big ******* State because a felon can't get a good Apt.

How did I cope? A guy at Walgreens told me to search Craigslist for an Apt. And I got lucky because in 10 days I found a good Medical Center Apt that has free water, no lease, and cable tv. The only downside was that my landlord shoved roomates into my Apt and I had no choice of who to live with. And in 16 months here I ran into a bad roomate who stole $1100 of my stuff and State Farm's Renters Insurance sucked with their $500 deductible [can't go lower] and their 80% depreciated reimbursement. So I only got $336 for theft.

If I didn't have a felony I can get good 1 bdrms in my area for $515, big enough space and live alone. At least the good thing with a roomate is that you split the high costs of electricity and internet.

Anyone else here have a felony and found it hard to get an APt. What was your experience? Where did you find a good Apt.

If a felon can't find a good Apt anywhere in this city - there should be a major discrimination lawsuit. And not all felons are bad people! Like you can get a felony for not paying for gas, - but should that make you be considered the same level as a rapist or murderer?

I'm not a bad person either. I'm a professional with a BSME from UIUC [top 6 college] and my life is not centered on crime! I don't do drugs, alcohol, promiscous sex, or any crime. And I go to church every Sunday. I simply got a felony because my employer spied on me after work, made me go paranoid thinking people were following me around, and I punched a guy in McDonalds because I thought he was a spy harassing me. He turned out to be a Sr Citizen and they gave me a felony for that. I'm lucky I got probation and not 5 years of jail, but my felony has hurt me lots from lost jobs and in finding a good Apt.

Is it hard for a felon to get a good Apt statewide too? Like in Dallas or Austin?

[alisha_amos]

Dayum

[Mom2Feebs]

Wow--I'm sorry you are going through that. I didn't know they checked for that! I guess they have good reason, because you're in the minority as far as felons go. I wish you all the best and hope your view of Houston quickly turns around!

[DiverTodd62]

I would agree that the felony category is too encompassing and there needs to be a distinction between the non-violent and violent offenses. But physical assault would probably put you in the latter category anyway.

[HookTheBrotherUp]

Originally Posted by Jesse69

That's why sometimes I thought Texas is one big ******* State because a felon can't get a good Apt.

This comment is either hysterically funny, or the heights of assinine. I don't know what to do now. HA!

[Jammie]

I'm sorry you've been going through this. It seems unfair because felons have paid for their crime and should not longer be persecuted for it. Maybe that's why the prisons have so many comebacks???? Just something for society to think about.

Have you been upfront when applying for an apartment? Maybe if you would let them know instead of letting them be surprised during a background check, it would help you. Will this always appear or will it no longer show up in time?

[tstone]

In the mean time there are trailer parks in Santa Fe....

[jimboburnsy]

Originally Posted by Jesse69

I'm not a bad person either. I'm a professional with a BSME from UIUC [top 6 college] and my life is not centered on crime! I don't do drugs, alcohol, promiscous sex, or any crime. And I go to church every Sunday. I simply got a felony because my employer spied on me after work, made me go paranoid thinking people were following me around, and I punched a guy in McDonalds because I thought he was a spy harassing me. He turned out to be a Sr Citizen and they gave me a felony for that. I'm lucky I got probation and not 5 years of jail, but my felony has hurt me lots from lost jobs and in finding a good Apt.

So you have a felony conviction for A&B on an old man but it was your employers fault? Sounds fishy. I'm not sure if I should call B.S. on this entire thread or not, but I'm not exactly overwhelmed by feelings of sympathy either way...

[jimboburnsy]

Originally Posted by tstone

in the mean time there are trailer parks in santa fe....

"you must spread some reputation around before giving it to tstone again"

[Jesse69]

Almost every Apt in Medical Center has an application fee - I guess others are all the same elsewhere. Before I sign I read the application and see if they require a background check. They all did so I told them upfront my felony how I got it but no symphony they treat me like a rapist. - And no wasted application fee. The only way I can get an Apt in a good complex anywhere is through Craigslist where I move in with someone wanting a roomate. I really prefer to live alone but that seems my only way, since my roomie would sign the lease.

If any of you are lawyers - can you help us felons out with housing? Like handle a anti discrimiantion lawsuit banning Apt background checks?