How can my mother get an apartment?

Question

I want my mother to have an apartment of her own, but she has bad credit, no job, no previous landlords that she can contact, and possibly no cosigners. She was on section 8 for a several years but lost it somehow. She is now "homeless" and staying with her two old daughters in there apartment (they share one). The original apartment she was living she got with the help of section 8 but the landlords sent her rent money back in the mail because they didn't want her living there anymore and offered to pay her to move out but then evicted her even though they sent the rent money back in the mail. However, that is in the past and she can't go back there. She is currently living in New York City (New York, NY). What can she do? (Without the help of the shelter system).

Answer 1

Like anyone else who reads your question I feel sorry for your mother's situation, but from a landlord's perspective she seems like a very bad risk.  I know there are places everywhere (SRO) where a person can rent a room with cash up front by the month.  They often aren't the most savory of places, but some of them are bound to be all right.  It's also possible if your mother is affiliated with a church (or if you are) the church could find a way to help out.  Otherwise your mother might have to continue living where she is.

Answer 2

I feel sorry about your mother's situation. Landlords checks your credit history, income and rental history... Evictions, no income, and no job doesn't look too good for her at all. I'm sorry, there's nothing she can do.. She have to get a job first. No landlord will rent her an apartment with no job. And section 8 can't help her anymore. When she can find a job, she have to save up a lot of money cause there are apartments by private landlords out there that will rent to people with bad credit, they have to pay a high deposit (at least 2 months rent in advance) and high rent....