How do I find an apartment/duplex/house to rent with bad credit?

Three and a half years ago I had to move out of an apartment I was sharing and move into the family home to care for my mother. When she passed away my father was in need of a live-in caregiver so, I stayed on. My father passed away in January and my brother (executor) is selling the house. I am trying to find an apartment to rent but my only creditors (that show up on my credit report) are collection agencies. The only bills I have are the utiIities which I pay (on time) every month out of my checking acount however, they are all still in my father's name. I'm not working right now but, I do have plenty of money to cover the initial costs of moving (rent/deposit, etc). After the house sells I will be getting x-amount of dollars every month for a number of years which will more than cover my cost of living. How do I get past these obsticles when it comes to filling out rental applications?How do I find an apartment/duplex/house to rent with bad credit?
you look for private renters. people who advertise in the newspaper, white sheet, classifieds. rental companies will run your credit, regular people who are renting their house until it sells usually won't.