I hope felons will not become a protected class, but I do think there should be ways for exceptions to be made, and humans should have a right to obtain housing, even those who have made mistake and paid for them.

I had an applicant who got into a fight in high school. Because he had just turned 18, he will forever have a felony assault charge on his record and will never be able to rent a decent apartment, receive financial aid to go to college, or get a living wage job. He was a respectable young man whose only priorities were keeping a job and getting a roof over his head.

There needs to be some middle ground. Our criteria states that some convictions will prevent approval for seven years, but some, like assault, are lifetime. To lump this young man in with sex offenders and murderers is unfair.

Another one is the young lady who was at a party, also in high school. Because drugs were "passed around." at the party, everyone there ended up with felony distribution convictions. Even those who didn't even know there were drugs present. Fortunately she was able to get an education at her own expense and made great money working for herself- but she couldn't, and never will, be able to obtain rental housing.

I see these prospects all the time. Sure, some of them are probably lying, but definitely not all. In the case of the girl, she could have rented anywhere by claiming a fair housing disability that protects recovered drug addicts, but she refused to lie and say she had used when she had not.

Another thing to consider is, do we really want to lump all the felons together in the same communities and neighborhoods where they are exposed to continuous bad influences? I'd rather have a few in each neighborhood so they are influenced by the positive behavior and respect of their neighbors. Not everyone was taught right from wrong. Some have to learn it from other productive members of society.

If someone has paid their debt to society, should they be forever sentenced to homelessness?

I have several felons in my building that qualified by appealing their denials via fair housing. They are my best residents. I've never had a late payment or complaint from or about any of them. They are the ones who truly appreciate having a place to live because they know how hard it is to find.

Felons should not be encouraged to continue bad behavior, but they should be able to obtain safe, quality housing.

Here's an interesting story to consider: about a year ago I had a prospect that came in to look at our apartments. I asked her why she was moving. She told me she just needed a "new start." She filled out an application and was approved. Her name sounded familiar so I googled it. She had murdered her children decades ago but she was deemed mentally ill so she spent many years in a mental hospital and was eventually released. She seemed so put-together and professional, but I have to admit, I am glad she decided not to move to my community. I doubt anyone more than a few years younger than I am would have remembered her name from the news so long ago. Should she be entitled to housing? Would you want her as your neighbor?