Tag: Senior Low Income Housing

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Affordable Housing For Senior Citizens

As the baby boomers get older finding affordable housing for senior citizens becomes more important as many choose to sell their homes in order to get cash to live on or because they can no longer take care of it.

For many seniors housing subsidized by the government is the only affordable housing options they have because of their low income status.

The good news is that for those low income seniors housing can be both affordable and comfortable because many subsidized communities are safe, well maintained and offer many senior activities.

Affordable Housing For Senior Citizens – How To Qualify

To qualify for these programs a senior or their spouse must be at least 62 years of age and their income less any approved medical expenses must be below the 50% of the median income for the state and county that they live in.

While this sounds complicated it is really quite easy as the HUD website provides all of the income tables you will need to see if you qualify.

Seniors also have to be able to take care of themselves as the government programs (called the Section 202 program) don’t provide assisted living services but it is important to note that some residences will have some assistance available through local agencies or charities.

Other programs like meal delivery might be included or available for a fee in some housing complexes but once again these are at the discretion of the landlord. The government does not administer the programs directly leaving that to non-profit programs that get financial assistance from HUD in order to make affordable housing for seniors available in the community.

If you are thinking of moving into one of these low income facilities you should visit it in person and try and talk to some of the residents. Visiting at night is a good idea to give you an idea of how safe and well-lit the facility is as a community can look completely different at night.

If you aren’t sure about anything in your lease agreement be sure and have your attorney look it over before signing it but rest assured that affordable housing for senior citizens that is safe and clean is available for anyone that needs it.

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Senior Low Income Housing

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.