Elderly people with low incomes might do well to check out the Senior low income housing programs that are offered by the U.S. government’s HUD department.
The most popular low income housing option for seniors is the Section 202 program that provides rental assistance for senior with a low income such as an individual living entirely off of their Social Security checks.
How the Section 202 senior subsidized housing program works is that if you fall within the income range established by the government you can subtract any approved medical expenses from your income and then pay 30% of that towards rent and utilities and the government pays the rest.
Senior Low Income Housing Age Requirements
You also have to be at least 62 years old and able to pretty much live independently even though some communities do provide a certain level of services like meals and transportation free or at reduced costs.
These rental units are usually part of a designated senior citizen community and while often small they can be quite comfortable, well maintained and reasonably priced. A plus is that you can choose which community you want to live in.
The downside is that these rental units often fill up quickly and it is not uncommon to be on a waiting list that could exceed two years so it might be a good idea to start looking ahead of time before you actually plan on moving.
Another thing to consider is that many of these Section 202 communities will run a credit check so you want to be sure your credit report is good.
If you need help in applying for one of these Senior low income housing programs the HUD site has an excellent set of resources as well as contacts for anyone needing help or counseling.