Low Income Housing for Seniors

low income housing for seniors
Senior Apartments

Across the United States there are many long waiting lists for living accommodations in low income housing for seniors.

Low Income Housing: An Overview

Low income senior housing is provided to those individuals who need help finding a safe and affordable place to live after retirement. Many of today's senior citizens live on a fixed monthly income they receive from their social security benefits. With the high cost of housing combined with the costs of medical expenses and day to day necessities, their checks are often not enough to pay for their needs. With few exceptions these seniors are eligible for low income housing.

Once the qualification requirements are met, the rent charged for their low income senior housing facilities is based on their monthly income. The balance of the fair market value of the rental fee is paid for by various government or private agencies and programs including:

  • Federal government
  • State government
  • Local government
  • Religious organizations
  • Public and private charities

The fair market value is predetermined by the government before the housing is rented.

The Role of the US Department of Housing and Urban Development

The United States Department of Housing and Urban Development, known as HUD, established a program providing subsidized housing to seniors that qualify. This agency of the federal government runs several low-cost housing programs for seniors, the elderly and the disabled. The following are programs included in the HUD housing programs:

  • Section 202
  • Section 202 conversion
  • Section 8

The HUD website provides information on their senior housing programs.

Senior Citizens Low Income Housing in High Demand

The demand for safe and affordable senior housing is very high throughout the country as the population ages out in record numbers and seniors are living longer healthier lives. Most often when seniors apply for subsidized housing, they are faced with very long waiting lists. Often the time they must wait for affordable housing is as long as two or three years. With such long waiting lists many low income senior living facilities stop accepting applications for rental units.

There is a serious need for more affordable subsidized housing for this segment of our population. All too often subsidized senior housing facilities are lost as a result of budget cuts or sold and converted into condominiums.

The Qualification Requirements for Low Income Housing for Seniors

For senior citizens to qualify for low income subsidized housing they must be 62 years old or older and prove that their income falls into the required guidelines. Regardless of the area of the country a senior's income must be 50 percent or less of the median income for that specific area. Since the median income varies from area to area and state to state, there is not a dollar amount that is set to determine eligibility.

Once a senior's income eligibility is verified, and they qualify for low income housing, their rental fee is 30 percent of their income each month. Each year seniors must verify their income meets their area's subsidized housing guidelines.

Where to Find More Information on Senior Citizen Low Income Housing

In addition to the information located on the HUD website the following resources provide additional information in qualifying and locating low-cost senior housing.

  • The directory,

seniors A to Z, provides information and links to a number of affordable low income housing options for senior citizens. The living facilities are located throughout the United States and the website includes many HUD housing options.

Throughout the country there is a great need for more safe and affordable low income housing for seniors.