Finding low income housing for the elderly is one of the most difficult, yet important tasks.
In many cases, a senior may be on a fixed income and have spent little time planning or saving for housing for their retirement.
At the same time, the nation is experiencing a housing crisis and faces a major shortage of suitable and affordable houses for all groups of people, including seniors.
There is no simple solution to the challenges of housing, but there are a number of different programs that can provide support for seniors and offer some housing options.
Kapok will soon be covering a comprehensive affordable housing guide that aims to provide detailed information about many different areas of affordable housing and the options are available.
In the meantime, in this post, we highlight a few of the most significant programs for affordable housing for seniors and look at what they involve.
Senior Housing
Senior housing is a form of housing provided under the Housing for Older Persons Act (HOPA).
There are two general types of accommodation that fall under the senior housing banner.
The first is known as 55+, which basically means that it caters for people 55 years of age and above.
For this type of housing, 80% of families must have at least one member who is 55 years old or above.
The second type is 62+ and this has stricter requirements.
Under this form of housing, all residents have to be at least 62 years of age.
For both types of senior housing, specific requirements do vary depending on local and state laws, and individual housing managers may also have their own criteria.
Section 8 Housing
Section 8 is another key area of housing support and can be relevant in helping to find low income housing for the elderly.
People under this program receive vouchers that they can then use on housing that accepts the vouchers.
Eligibility for the program is mostly based on income and on family size, and people on the lower end of the income scale will sometimes get priority.
Section 8 can help people get housing when they would not be able to otherwise, but it is also a challenging program.
In particular, there tend to be long waiting lists and only a limited amount of housing that actually accepts these vouchers.
Additionally, seniors still need to shop around to find suitable housing, which can be challenging and time-consuming.
Other Options
Another option is the public housing program.
There is a range of different types of units that fall under the public housing scheme and these tend to be targeted at individuals and families with low income. While the program isn’t specifically targeted at seniors, seniors are frequently eligible for it.
There are still many other programs and options available for housing.
Finding Help
Some housing options for seniors offer onsite support services, such as transportation, meals, and basic health services. These are in high demand though there is increased efforts to make these services a part of senior housing.
All counties operate individual housing authorities that are funded by the Housing and Urban Development (HUD).
These authorities can be valuable sources of information about the programs and support that is available in a given area.
Talking to these authorities can be a good first step in finding affordable housing. They can determine what you qualify for, alert you to openings in waiting lists, and point you to available units, as they become available.
Alternatively, you can contact our staff for more personalized guidance and counseling by emailing us at [email protected] or call us at (800) 470-8170. For housing concerns, our rates range from $10-30/hour by phone, chat, email, or in-person (for those in the DC/Maryland/Northern Virginia area).
Read Our Comprehensive Guide
In this post, we have offered a very brief introduction into the field of affordable housing and some of the options available.
We have also published a more comprehensive guide, that examines affordable housing for seniors in depth. You can check it out below.
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