Thinking Ahead
Things to think about before looking for housing
A successful journey starts with good planning. You have to decide where you want to go and the best way to
get there. It’s the same when you’re looking for housing. Before you look, you need to know what you want and
what you need. Here’s some things to think about before you start:
What if I have a criminal record?
Some housing programs will accept you even if you have a criminal record. It is very important that before you
apply to a program you check your criminal record to make sure that there are no open cases and the
information is correct. Talk to your housing case manager about your CORI, or criminal record report. Taking
care of this now will make housing search easier down the road.
Now that you have answered some questions, keep this mind:
Things to think about before looking for housing
A successful journey starts with good planning. You have to decide where you want to go and the best way to
get there. It’s the same when you’re looking for housing. Before you look, you need to know what you want and
what you need. Here’s some things to think about before you start:
- Can I afford an apartment on my income or do I need government money to help pay the rent every
month? - Will I need social services in my new home? Or can I pay rent, cook, clean, shop, and get around on my
own? - Will I need counseling where I live or close to where I live?
- How many people will be in my household? How big of a place do I need?
- Do I need to find transitional housing right away or can I wait for long term housing?
What if I have a criminal record?
Some housing programs will accept you even if you have a criminal record. It is very important that before you
apply to a program you check your criminal record to make sure that there are no open cases and the
information is correct. Talk to your housing case manager about your CORI, or criminal record report. Taking
care of this now will make housing search easier down the road.
Now that you have answered some questions, keep this mind:
- All government housing programs provide some kind of help with rent. Generally in tenant-based housing
you will pay about 1/3 of your household income towards rent and utilities and the program will pay the
rest. - Facility-based programs and tenant-based programs offer more support than public housing, or an
apartment in the private rental market. - You will have more privacy if you live in a tenant-based program, in public housing, or in the private rental
market because you have your own apartment. - Most residential programs and transitional programs are for single men or women. A few can help families
and couples. - A tenant-based program will provide you with money to help pay the rent and support for social services.
- All HIV housing offers you social services. Public housing and private market housing does not.
- Choosing one housing program may close doors on other housing in your future. Know your options.
