Real Estate

Where to Look for Low-Cost Apartments for Seniors

Miranda M.’s husband passed away a few years ago. She eventually relocated across multiple states to be near her only living relative, her grandson.

He located a pleasant housing complex for the elderly, complete with on-site cooking, cleaning, and transportation services. Miranda barely managed to pay her rent and basic living needs with her meager Social Security income and the money left to her by her loving husband.

She didn’t like eating all her meals in the common area, so she kept making some at home.

She accepted housekeeping’s help with the heavy cleaning very grudgingly at first. However, she insisted, “I need to keep busy.” I feel like a complete slug if I can’t make bed and clean up my mess. As long as I can walk, I will continue doing it myself.

If not for that one unfortunate event, Miranda and I never would have crossed paths, and she would still be living in her sunny apartment.

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Miranda lived too long, and so calamity struck.

She and her grandson had anticipated that Miranda would pass away before she was 85. Given that her family history did not bode well for longevity, they reasoned that this was to be expected.

Her parents, two brothers, and two sisters died when she was little. Miranda anticipated being far from home when her money finally ran out.

When Miranda’s grandson called me, there was barely enough money to pay for two more months in the senior housing unit.

But what should she do?

The cheapest apartment he could find was too expensive for her monthly income of less than $900 to cover rent, electricity, food, and meds. He requested me locate a care facility that accepts Medicaid for her.

Miranda was not someone who would have done well at a retirement home.

Her mental faculties were quite normal. She was capable of preparing her meals and keeping her apartment clean (with the assistance of a strong man). She didn’t require medical care and was ineligible for Medicaid and nursing home care.

Which is not to say that she did.

Her only significant difficulty was finances due to her lack of savings and her grandson’s poor financial planning.

After verifying her capability with her doctor and apartment manager, I started looking for a “Section 202” apartment.

Named after the federal law that authorized it, “Section 202 housing” is a rental property set aside for adults over 62 whose household income is less than 50% of the area median income.

The typical Section 202 tenant is a 70-year-old female who makes less than $10,000 a year, as reported by HUD (the United States Department of Housing and Urban Development).

HUD Section 202 housing is developed and managed by private, non-profit organizations. Daily operations are handled independently from HUD. After adjusting for household income, the rental assistance program covers the remaining portion of the monthly rent.

Miranda and her grandson are fortunate to enjoy the benefits of city life. A larger city generally offers more opportunities. Most of these flats are indeed located in major cities, but 20-25% of Section 202 monies are designated explicitly for usage outside of major cities.

Finding a Section 202 rental unit may take much time and effort. When a vacant flat finally appears, it doesn’t remain that way for long. Long wait times are standard.

The first order of business was to call all of the housing complexes included on the Section 202 list (for the website where you may download the information, see below). I called to make sure they were still a part of the program and to inquire about any openings.

Even though I didn’t anticipate a positive response to the open position inquiry, I figured asking couldn’t hurt.

Miraculously for Miranda, an older building close to the city center had an available unit. It’s not as well-liked as the others because it’s not in a desirable suburb. We treated it as though it were both a palace and a kingdom. They say beggars can’t be picky.

Without a vacancy, Miranda and her grandson would have had to go around to several housing complexes and put Miranda’s name on waiting lists. I wouldn’t recommend waiting as long as Miranda did, as the wait can sometimes take two years or more.

Miranda had to provide the apartment manager with proof of her income (a Social Security statement or a pay stub) and the application form. She was questioned about her rental history and was requested to provide references from satisfied landlords. Copies of her medication bills were ordered because they are factored into the monthly rent payment. The housing complex manager specifically requested documentation from her physician attesting to her level of independence.

Miranda would have carried many photocopies of her information if she had intended to apply to more than one business at a time.

Having a companion along at this time is crucial. For an elderly worker, the workload may be too much to bear.

Miranda would have been forced to live with her grandson (not a pleasant prospect for either of them) if she hadn’t found this economical option, or else she would have had to find someone seeking a roommate. I would do whatever it took if it meant keeping her off the streets.

Miranda had to make do with what she could find because time was of the essence. Now that she saw two more excellent apartments closer to her grandson, she put her name on the waiting list for both. Section 202 apartments are fantastic because residents can relocate whenever they like, within the confines of their lease agreements.

Section 202 housing listings can be found by selecting the appropriate state from the drop-down menu at http://www.hud.gov/apps/section8/index.cfm. Section 202 housing is a godsend for anyone over 62 strugglings financially. These flats are in high demand, therefore making a reservation in advance is essential.

Start looking into your choices RIGHT NOW if you’re worried about money becoming a problem later. Ask Miranda about the fear of running out of money before you die.

Learn from the Eldercare Team how to navigate the complex eldercare system to better care for an aging parent or other loved one. Find further reading material, articles, and helpful advice on caring for the elderly at

linda