Not For Rent
Not For Rent! is a documentary about the kind of hurdles ex-felons face in their endeavour to find a decent place to live without having to be the subject of neighboors’, and landlords’ disapproval. Matt Duhamel, an ex-inmate himself, takes it upon himself to address the issue of how the felony record on a person can make him face some really untoward situations. The inconsiderate housing restrictions which make it hard for the people who had done their time for their crimes to have a fresh start with no decent place to live. To bring this issue to the world, a few share through this documentary the different pasts they have had come from and the kind of restrictions that make it hard for them to achieve their dream of making it right this time. This film champions the issues of ex-felons to make millions of people, specifically landlords’ realize why they deserve a second chance in reintegrating with the society.
The film opens with Michael McAinsh, a former inmate who tries to set up a regular camp in order to settle for an alternative housing instead of going from one housing complex to another only to be turned down a chance at a decent apartment to live in for a crime he had done 15 years ago. He wraps his head around the idea that it is going to tough to find a traditional home after being in a prison for so long and tries to live in the mountains instead because he has nowhere to go live, no one to take care of him. Molly Prince, working for Utah Prisoner Advocate Network is Michael McAinsh’s support system after he gets out of prison and she gives an account of all the details of his state after he just gets out of jail. It is not just him, but families like Shyeanne’s who have nowhere to go and putting their children who can hardly understand the reason behind why they do not have a decent living.
Tom Wood who has 25 years of experience in the apartment industry introduces the concept of taking classes for landlords in the form of ‘The Good Landlord’ program to make sure they understand the regulations of the housing society and their responsibilities well enough to consider driving background checks before renting their houses. Not only that but the objective of the program is also to teach the existing felons to understand the kind of situation they will face after they get out and the necessity to take certain certifications after training them on how to be in the good books of landlords; it is to maintain the desirability of ex-felons as good tenants and making the transition from the prison to normal life a tolerable experience by getting an exemption from the cities with the felony restrictions.
The unhealthy situations the ex-felons could resort to if they are kept at a distance even after they have undergone rightful punishment has also been presented in this film. Given a second chance, there are examples of the people who have turned their lives around and been productive to the community around them. The amazing work of people fighting for the previous inmates to get their lives on track is captured with such conviction that this film can reach millions and could make them realize the difference they could make by diligently looking into the details and the background checks of ex-felons before turning them down. The choice of music to weave the accounts of subjects is beautiful. The ability to find housing is definitely an indispensable second chance in life. This film has the merit to make things right.
