as long as he is legally in compliance with the registry and whatever probation, isn't it against the law to discriminate?

It is hard to be honest when the registrant will be discriminated against in finding housing. I do find it better to be honest about it. I had a prewritten note I am sending out to prospective landlords that explains my situation and it seems that helps. It is better you find someone willing to work with you up front.

I have to add one important thing-- don't expect a whole lot from those who do rent to us. Those who do are less likely to care about the quality of their land. Quite bluntly, some are slum lords.

I do have a few tips on home hunting on my site as well.

I also believe that putting everything out front is best - it takes longer to find a place but at least once you move in you know that it is not going to be an issue. Echo - being a sex offender is not a protected class. I do believe that in a couple of states the have made some laws that say you cannot discriminate for housing because of the status but they can find another reason.


When I was looking for a place for my son I actually came across a relator page that said right in caps on his web site that he will not rent to sex offenders. This is one of the huge collateral damages from this whole travesty. Once Fallen gives good advice and also owning is best but not always possible - one good thing about owning is that in most states if you own and then something is built that makes the address no longer eligible you can be grandfathered in.

and they wonder why and have a fit that released sex offenders are living under bridges and abandoned land....

I had taken off 3 days from work trying to find a place to rent for my son and these landlords don't want to rent to someone that has sex offender on them because they do not want to lose their tenants. It was a nightmare but I have to say that some kind of way I came across oncefallend's website before coming here and I was able to find something for a little while for my son. Now, I have since bought a home that is in compliance by the Grace of God and have it for when my son gets out of prison. Good luck and give yourself a lot of time to find a place. Try looking to see where other sex offenders live nearby because then you know pretty much you are in the right area and you never know, someone may rent to you.

I have been looking for 3 months and we're running out of time. I have to be moved out by oct 31 and most of the SO here in this small town live in a certain trailer park. They have had no open homes. I have looked elsewhere but not gotten anywhere yet. I am so scared. We have a case worker through the mental health center where my sons have gone since this mess started and they are trying to help but have not been able to do much yet. I am just hitting a brick wall.

You should call the parole office - they usually know of some areas or like in our county they know of a run down dump of a hotel - my son was there for almost a year and it was awful but it was a place that was compliant in the mean time while you find a place - I know it might be upsetting and a hardship but it would give you some time. Will he be on parole or probation? They will probably require you to submit a place he can live before he is released (most states have this now)

@AmethystDayDreams: I agree with Advocate2, ask the parole office. They may know the apartment complexes that will rent to SO's. Housing is very difficult, from my own experience. I first started out in a Super 8 motel for about a month. It took me that long to find a place to stay. I got lucky back in 2004. I was able to rent the 2nd master bedroom in a TH as the owner just had the tenant walk out owing two months back rent. Wherever you rent, the Parole/Probation office will have to approve the location for your husband. Where I live in Virginia, many apartments have clauses in their lease where felons are not allowed. I tried several apartments without any luck. Telling someone in person can be difficult. Your landlord will have to know from the start. If you don't disclose, you may get kicked out. I know its tough. :(

We are having a difficult finding a place to live as well. Buying is out of the question right now. We recently found a place, we drove by and I was so scared to even go into the place. His PO said we could live there, but she wouldn't recommend it as there is usually trouble there. We can't afford much and places in our county are limited. The places we can afford we can't live at, and most others are very much out of our price range. There is one apartment complex I know we might have a chance at getting into, but I've heard nothing but horror stories about it. I'm sure I could just put my name on any lease we sign, but I know that if the landlord finds that someone else is living with me, let alone a sex offender, we will be immediately kicked out. We could move out of our county, his PO said it would be ok, but there are two we are avoiding like the plague because the probation departments and restrictions are terrible. I have a suggestion for one county that is mostly off limits, but there are a few places we can check out. The bad thing is I love the job I'm at right now and it would be an hour drive one way. We couldn't get approved for one place because we would be 5 feet too close to a park. Two others were approved but were already taken by that time. It's becoming disheartening.

Mine was blessed to find the owner of a bed and breakfast. No pets, and they charge $60 for overnight guests (lol) but it's a quaint little studio. No lease... Month to month. But it's off the beaten path and serene.