Criminal background checks are now routinely used to screen job applicants, enrollees in colleges and universities, and for housing. Unfortunately, these criminal background checks can create a barrier to housing access, even when the charges are dismissed or the individual has paid the penalties for a conviction. This can make it difficult for those with a criminal history to obtain housing, which in turn contributes to increased rates of recidivism.
The U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD) released “guidance” for housing providers in 2016, cautioning against illegal discrimination for those with criminal histories, revisiting the issue in 2022. Today, rising rents and stagnant wages contribute to unaffordable housing or even homelessness. Low-income individuals who also have criminal records face additional barriers, including deficits in employment and poor credit.