For many retirees subsidized housing is the only choice they will have because of their low income levels which makes it impossible to afford traditional housing or a retirement home.
The good news is that subsidized housing for seniors living on social security does not have to be all that bad.
Yes, there is some subsidized housing that is not all that great but for the most part senior housing is clean and safe and many subsidized housing complexes have activities to keep seniors active and healthy.
Subsidized housing needs to be approved by the government and owners must follow strict guidelines in order to keep their favorable status with the government agencies. This helps to make sure that the housing is in good shape and livable.
Anyone living primarily on Social Security will probably qualify for senior housing as most people do not get that much each month but they must be able to pay a part of the rent out of their check because the subsidized housing programs will only pay a portion of the rent based on a formula that takes into consideration the actual rent, utilities and things like a senior’s medical expenses.
Seniors living on social security do not have to worry about the age requirement which states that you need to be at least 62 years old in order to qualify for housing assistance but one thing to note is that they must be a citizen of the United States in order to be accepted into the program.
Although Social Security is a federal program there are also many states that have subsidized housing assistance for seniors needing help in paying their rent so you will need to check with your state to see what they have to offer in the way of assistance.
Before signing a lease it is wise to check out the property in person to make sure it is clean and in a safe neighborhood because once you sign the lease it can be difficult to break it. Also, talk to your family attorney if there is anything in the lease agreement that you do not understand. That way, you will not find out later that you agreed to something that you were unaware of.
Like all major life decisions a little planning and investigating before making a final choice will make the transition to subsidized housing for seniors living on social security a lot less stressful.