Need to find housing for felons in North Carolina? Not sure where to start? We’ve got you covered. From transitional housing programs to second chance rentals, there are providers across the state offering housing for felons.
Emergency Housing For Felons In NC 2025
If you’ve just been released from prison and have nowhere to go, emergency shelters are a lifeline. They may not feel ideal, but they’re better than sleeping on the street, and a shelter gives you a safe place to regroup while you figure out your next steps.
The easiest way to find a shelter near you is to call the free 2-1-1 helpline that connects people in crisis with local services. Dial 2-1-1 from any phone to talk with someone who will help you locate available beds and explain the rules for each shelter.
Also Read: Housing For Felons In Florida
If possible, aim for a shelter that holds your space for several weeks. This extra stability gives you breathing room to start planning for longer-term housing.
Many shelters operate on a first-come, first-served basis, handing out beds daily. If that’s your only option, don’t give up. You can still get on a waiting list for more stable housing or check in with longer-stay shelters daily to see if a spot has opened up.
Beyond a bed, most shelters provide access to showers, laundry facilities, and hot meals. More importantly, shelters often serve as a gateway to housing for felons in North Carolina, through counselors and reentry services.
Advisors can help you connect with transitional housing programs, apply for rental assistance, or find landlords willing to rent to people with felony records.
Transitional Housing In North Carolina
Transitional housing in North Carolina falls into two categories. The type you’re eligible for depends on your situation.
Pre-release transitional housing programs run by the prison system are designed for inmates during their final six to twelve months before release. If you’re still in prison, talk to your prison counselor about securing your place in the transitional housing program.
Post-release programs, offering transitional housing out in the community, provide a range of services to residents. Some provide everything you need, from clothing and transportation to jobs with partner employers. Others will help you find a job, but extra support is more limited.
Residents in transitional housing often receive mentoring focused on reintegration to normal life and counseling to address negative behavior patterns. You can also count on getting help finding long-term housing. This can be a referral to partner landlords or leads on felon-friendly landlords in the area.
Most transitional housing in North Carolina has waiting lists. To secure a place, start applying early. Make sure you’ve got a state ID and be prepared to go through an interview.
To find out where to apply for transitional housing and get help with your applications, reach out to the local reentry council that covers your part of North Carolina.
North Carolina’s local reentry councils are state-funded organizations helping felons connect with local resources, programs, and community partners.
Find your reentry council: https://www.dac.nc.gov/divisions-and-sections/rehabilitation-and-reentry/local-reentry-councils
Another great option for felons in North Carolina is the one-stop transitional housing service provided by OurJourney and Crossroads Reentry.
OurJouney connects felons with transitional housing providers in North Carolina and offers support throughout the application process.
Apply for transitional housing programs here: https://www.ourjourney2gether.com/home-plan-assistance
How much does transitional housing in North Carolina cost?
The cost depends on the provider. Some programs are free or heavily subsidized, others are low cost with fees charged on a sliding scale based on how much you can afford to pay—often 20-30% of your paycheck. You may also be asked to give your food stamp (SNAP) allowance to your provider.
How long can you stay in transitional housing?
Some allow stays as short as three months, while others offer housing for up to two years. The length depends on the program and your progress toward goals like stable employment and independent living.
Second Chance Apartments For Felons In North Carolina
Once you’ve got a stable income, you can start looking for apartments to rent. But renting with a felony can be difficult because most apartments run background checks through automated systems. When your felony pops up, the system flags your record and recommends rejection.
Because rental applications come with fees, you’ll burn through money fast unless you apply to places that offer second chance leasing.
Apartments don’t advertise the fact that they offer second chance leasing, though, and tracking them down on your own is hard.
Instead, you should work with a local reentry organization or second chance apartment finder. Both are used to help felons find apartments willing to approve them despite the conviction on their record.
You might need to pay a higher security deposit, and options can be very limited for repeat offenders. The longer it’s been since your last conviction, the more options you’ll have.
If you’re looking for apartments that rent to felons in Raleigh, NC, Charlotte, or other cities in North Carolina, fill out the form on https://secondchanceapartments.com/cities/charlotte/.
Apartments That Rent To Felons In Raleigh, NC
These apartments in the Raleigh area have approved felons in the past. Contact them to ask about vacancies and current rent prices.
The Grove Apartments: 3926 Marcom St, Raleigh, NC (919-803-0823)
1 & 2-bedroom apartments in West Raleigh with easy access to major highways. Felonies are approved on a case-by-case basis – https://www.thegroveraleigh.com
Perry Place Apartments: 923 S Merritt Mill Rd, Chapel Hill, NC (910-791-3354)
Low-income 1 & 2-bedroom apartments in Chapel Hill. CASA, a North Carolina housing charity, owns these apartments and doesn’t run criminal background checks – https://www.casanc.org/properties/perry-place/
Hailey Properties: Operates apartment communities in and around Raleigh. Felonies are approved on a case-by-case basis. There’s no application fee, so apply and see what they say – https://haileyproperties.com/properties/
Housing For Sex Offenders In North Carolina
Most NC apartments that approve felons won’t approve felons who are required to register as sex offenders. If you’re looking for housing for sex offenders in North Carolina, the best way to find leads is to look through addresses published on the sex offender public website.
Search the site to find apartments that already have a sex offender listed as a resident. If they’re renting to a registered person, there’s a good chance they don’t automatically reject offenders on the registry.
Apartment addresses are easy to identify because they include an apartment number. Look for apartments, not houses. Houses could be rented, but they’re often occupied, so those addresses are no use to you.
Find apartments that approve sex offenders in NC: https://sexoffender.ncsbi.gov/
Why Most Felons Rent From Private Landlords
Even though second chance apartments can give felons a fresh start, most North Carolina felons find it easier to rent from private landlords.
Apartments are responsible for the safety of their residents. Because approving a felon may put people or property at risk, apartments that rent to felons could face negligence lawsuits from other tenants. That’s the main reason many apartments won’t rent to felons.
But landlords renting individual homes aren’t liable to anyone else, so they can be more flexible about who they rent to.
That’s not to say that every property owner will rent to a felon—many won’t. But if you look hard enough, you’ll find landlords only concerned with your ability to pay the rent on time every month.
So where do you find private landlords?
Offline: Drive through neighborhoods in your price range, looking out for simple “for rent” signs (not agency signs). Check community notice boards in local stores and libraries.
Online: The best places to look are:
- Craigslist: https://geo.craigslist.org/iso/us/nc
- Facebook Marketplace: https://www.facebook.com/marketplace/category/propertyrentals
- Nextdoor: https://nextdoor.com/find-neighborhood/nc/
- Zillow Rentals: https://www.zillow.com/nc/rent-houses/
- PadMapper: https://www.padmapper.com/
- HotPads: https://hotpads.com/north-carolina
- Trulia: https://www.trulia.com/for_rent/NC/SINGLE-FAMILY_HOME_type/
- Zumper: https://www.zumper.com/
Use the filters and search tools to tailor your search to “houses for rent” and “for rent by owner.” Don’t forget to set your price range and the number of bedrooms you need.
These sites let you message landlords through their platforms, but if there’s a phone number listed, it’s easier to call or send a text.
When you call or send a message, simply say you’re interested in the property and want to know more about their income qualifications and tenant approval criteria. If they mention a background check, let them know about your felony, so you don’t waste time if they won’t approve you.
You could find a felony-friendly landlord after sending a handful of messages, or you might need to send 20 messages a day for a month before you get a green light. Persistence is the key. Don’t be nervous, and don’t let rejections get you down. Keep applying until someone says yes.
Find Out If You Qualify For A Certificate Of Relief
As we mentioned earlier, legal liability is a common reason apartments deny felons.
If you’re eligible, a North Carolina Certificate of Relief can help you get around that barrier by removing the apartment owner’s liability for any harm or loss caused by your actions.
Find out if you’re eligible for a Certificate of Relief: https://www.sog.unc.edu/resources/microsites/relief-criminal-conviction/certificates-relief
Nathan Rodgers is the Co-Founder, Author, & Head Developer behind Felonhousing.com | Join us in our mission to provide second chances and support.