Shelley EIf it seems like finding affordable housing for seniors is impossible, wait until you use this handy tool.
Seniors sometimes have to make monetary magic when it comes to matching their fixed income with their monthly expenses. Since housing is one of the highest costs around, getting it under control is a must for any senior looking to live a relaxing life within a smaller budget.
You could look for cheap apartments to achieve this goal, but that could lead to less than desirable results as you keep lowering your price. Get rent assistance from the government, though, and you can find a safe apartment that suits you without breaking the bank.
The Section 202 Supportive Housing for the Elderly Program offers rent assistance so seniors can find affordable apartments. We’ll take a look at some of its features, along with an easy to use tool that can help you pinpoint those apartments within a matter of minutes.
Section 202 Highlights
The rent savings that come with the Section 202 program are extensive. If you meet its requirements of being 62 or older, making less than 50 percent of the area median income, etc., you’ll only have to spend 30 percent of your income towards the rent. Is Section 202 only about saving and cheap rent? No, as many of its properties have been developed with seniors in mind.
While you wouldn’t think such perks would be affordable, a Section 202 apartment can bring along added features like grab rails and ramps to make getting around easier. Seniors may also get to enjoy daily activities in Section 202 communities, on-site care coordinators, transportation, help with meals, medication, and bathing, and more.
Combine those perks with affordable rent, and it’s no wonder why the demand for this housing assistance program is so high. With that demand, comes the unfortunate reality of waiting lists that can be long. This is why looking for Section 202 apartments now is a must if you hope to find yourself or another senior adequate and low-cost housing.
How to Find Section 202 Senior-Friendly Apartments Online
The U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD) has a fantastic online tool called the Resource Locator, which can be found here. With it, you can find:
- Affordable housing opportunities near you
- Your closest HUD office
- Your local Public Housing Authority
- Homeless resources
- Affordable elderly and special needs housing
To find Section 202 properties, click on the “Find Affordable Elderly and Special Needs Housing” option. A map of your location will come up, along with a popup list on the top of it.
You should see various properties nearby with some icons beneath each. These will tell if they are a Section 202 property, subsidized housing, or some other form of assistance.
Click on a property, and you will see details, such as contact information for whoever manages it, the number of affordable units, and more.
Contact the property, and you can ask what their application process entails so you can move one step closer to getting that affordable apartment.
Mark Luigi
