For older adults, finding affordable housing options can be difficult depending on where they live and how much money they have. Some areas around the United States have more availability to housing programs than others, meaning that many older adults may find themselves wondering what local options are accessible to them.
To streamline the searching process, check out our guide below. All of the programs listed specialize in housing for older adults specifically and have clear explanations of how you can start applying today.
Affordable Housing Options
Section 202 Supportive Housing for the Elderly
The U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development provides a specific program for older adults to get affordable housing in ideal environments that allow them to live independently. The best part is they will still have support for cooking, cleaning, and transportation while they age in place how they want to.
Because there are different requirements and rules to get approved for Section 202, you will want to get in contact with a representative as soon as possible. You should be able to locate and call a local agency that can start helping you immediately.
See more details about Section 202 here.
Good Samaritan Society
The Good Samaritan Society is the largest not-for-profit provider of housing and services for older adults in the US. Not only does the organization help bring awareness to older adults about affordable housing opportunities that may be available to them, but they also have their own housing options to apply for.
If you choose to apply with Good Samaritan Society, you’ll want to become familiar with their age and income requirements beforehand. They also run background and credit checks before you can get approved for housing.
Click here to get started with Good Samaritan Society.
PRO TIP: Good Samaritan Society also offers assistance with other things like rehabilitation therapy, caregiver support, and much more. Don’t be afraid to ask for something you need because they’ll more than likely be able to help you!
HumanGood Affordable Housing
HumanGood is another very large nonprofit that focuses on affordable housing for older adults. They currently operate in five states (California, Delaware, Oregon, Pennsylvania, and Washington) and work to provide housing opportunities by teaming up with development services, property management, and more, guaranteeing that all their communities stay attractive, up-to-date, and adaptable to care needs.
Their application process is transparent, and listed step-by-step right on their website. You can see the types of communities that they have so you can get an idea of where you would like to live!
You can start the application process here.
Don’t Forget to Budget Beforehand
If you are on a fixed income, you might find that you still don’t have enough money for expenses even with affordable housing options. To ensure that you’ll have everything you need if you get approved for a housing option, you’ll want to start setting up a budget for yourself now.
To do this, you’ll want to start with writing down your mandatory expenses and figure out if you can reduce them in any way. Then, you’ll need to figure out how much you can put away every month to just save. By keeping track of your money with a budget now, you’ll be able to live more comfortably!
