Who will protect a felon?
I am glad that the Equal Housing Opportunity and the Fair Housing Act provide unbiased opportunities for diverse people to find a place to call home. However, if an individual recklessly drives their vehicle, crashes it and consequently becomes paralytic, they become eligible to use my taxes to get a place to live without discrimination. They are disabled, and Fair Housing prohibits discrimination against people with disabilities.
What about me? I recklessly lived my life, and consequently went to prison for a few years. While incarcerated, I made every effort to personally rehabilitate my life. Before my release, my mom invited me to stay with her until I got on my feet.
During this last year since my release, I have contacted numerous apartment complexes and property management companies, to inquire about renting. Unfortunately, the unanimous response has been that “we do not accept felons!” I’ve even been told that I need to find a private owner/renter who doesn’t require background checks.
I feel that my felony conviction has become a disability that receives consistent discriminatory responses from employers to property management companies. How does a rehabilitated felon find a home for his family?
David Weinert
Spokane