Rent can take a big bite out of a fixed income. When you live alone, there is no second paycheck to help.
HUD has a housing program designed for older adults with very low incomes. It is called Section 202. Your rent is generally based on your income, and many buildings have a staff member who helps residents connect with community services.
You don’t have to live alone to qualify, either. Here is how the program works, who qualifies, and how to find an apartment.
What Is Section 202 Housing?
HUD provides funding to nonprofit organizations so they can build, purchase, or renovate apartment buildings for older adults with very low incomes.
According to HUD’s Section 202 program information, participating properties can also receive rental assistance that helps cover the difference between what eligible residents pay and the cost of providing housing.
The assistance is tied to the property, not to a voucher you take to any apartment. The building is operated by a nonprofit owner or its management company, not by HUD.
Most Section 202 apartments are efficiencies or one-bedroom units. Federal regulations generally limit resident units to those sizes, with certain exceptions.
How Much Rent Would You Pay?
HUD says residents typically pay about 30% of their adjusted monthly income toward rent.
For example, if your adjusted monthly income is $1,000, 30% would be $300. This is only an illustration, not a guaranteed rent amount.
Your actual payment depends on the federal rent calculation, your income, and any applicable utility allowance. Other parts of the rent formula can affect what you owe.
The property owner must also review your income at least once every 12 months. Your rent may change if your financial circumstances change.
Who Qualifies?
Section 202 is intended for older adults with very low incomes. The main requirements are:
- Age: At least one adult in the household must be 62 or older.
- Income: Household income must be below 50% of the area median income for the property’s location.
- Program eligibility: Applicants must meet the applicable HUD requirements and the property’s admission rules.
You can qualify as a single person or as part of a household. Living alone is not required.
Income limits vary depending on where the apartment is located. Our area median income guide explains how these limits work.
Applicants generally must provide Social Security number information and sign required consent forms so the owner can verify eligibility. Federal rules provide exceptions to certain Social Security number requirements, so ask the property manager if you believe an exception applies to your household.
You do not have to have a disability to qualify for Section 202.
If you are younger than 62 and have a disability, you may want to explore HUD’s separate Section 811 housing program.
What Help Comes With the Apartment?
Many Section 202 buildings have a service coordinator who helps residents connect with community resources.
Depending on the property and local availability, those resources might include:
- Transportation to medical appointments or grocery stores.
- Meal programs or food assistance.
- Housekeeping or other supportive services.
- Help finding community health and social services.
A service coordinator generally helps residents locate and arrange services. That does not mean the building provides free transportation, housekeeping, or personal care.
HUD’s rules allow certain service-related expenses, including an amount of up to $15 per unit per month under applicable program provisions. That is not a monthly payment to residents, and it does not guarantee that every building offers the same services.
Some services may have additional costs or require separate eligibility. Before applying, ask the property manager what assistance is available and whether residents pay anything for it.
How Do You Find Section 202 Buildings?
HUD offers two useful starting points.
You can contact your local HUD Multifamily office and ask how to identify Section 202 properties in your area.
You can also visit the HUD Resource Locator, which includes an option labeled “Find Affordable Elderly and Special Needs Housing.”
Not every participating apartment building has “Section 202” in its name. If you find an affordable senior housing property that interests you, contact its management office and ask whether it participates in Section 202.
You can also ask whether it has rental assistance available and whether its waiting list is accepting applications.
How Do You Apply?
You apply directly to the property owner or manager, not to HUD.
HUD provides funding and oversees the program, but it does not handle leasing individual Section 202 apartments.
Here is how to get started:
- Find participating properties. Use HUD’s resources to identify Section 202 buildings in the area where you want to live.
- Contact each property. Ask whether applications are being accepted and whether there is a waiting list.
- Complete the property’s application. Follow the owner’s instructions and provide the required eligibility documents.
- Complete eligibility verification. The owner may request information about your income, household members, and other applicable requirements.
- Ask about the next step. If no apartment is available, find out whether you can join the waiting list and how the property will contact you.
You can contact more than one Section 202 property. Each building manages its own applications and availability.
Keep your contact information updated with every property where you apply. If your phone number or mailing address changes, let the management office know.
How Do Waitlists Work?
Waiting lists are common because Section 202 apartments are limited.
Under 24 CFR Part 891, owners must maintain written waiting lists that record applications chronologically. However, the order in which applicants are offered housing also depends on applicable eligibility, selection, and unit requirements.
If a waiting list becomes so long that an applicant is unlikely to receive an apartment within 12 months, the owner may stop accepting new applications.
That does not mean every applicant will wait 12 months. Actual waiting times vary by property, and HUD does not publish a standard processing time for Section 202 applications.
If a list is closed, ask the property when you should check back.
What If Your Application Is Denied?
If a property owner rejects your application, federal rules require written notice explaining the reasons and informing you of your opportunity to request a review.
The review must be handled by someone other than the person who made or approved the original rejection decision.
Keep the written notice and follow its instructions if you want the decision reviewed.
What Are the Limits of Section 202?
Section 202 can make housing more affordable, but qualifying does not guarantee that an apartment will be available.
There are several important limitations:
- Apartments are limited. A participating property may have a long waiting list or may not be accepting applications.
- You must meet the property’s requirements. Age and income eligibility alone do not guarantee admission.
- Rental assistance is property-based. You cannot take Section 202 assistance to an unrelated apartment.
- Supportive services vary. A service coordinator is not the same as a home health aide or someone who provides hands-on personal care.
If you need help with bathing, dressing, medication management, or other daily activities, ask the property manager what services residents can access and whether outside care providers are permitted.
Relief Recap
Section 202 offers an affordable housing option for adults age 62 or older with very low incomes. Rent is generally based on income, and some properties have service coordinators who help residents find community resources.
You do not have to live alone or have a disability to qualify. However, apartments are limited, waiting lists may be long, and eligibility does not guarantee an opening.
Start by using HUD’s property-finding resources, then contact Section 202 owners or managers directly to ask about applications and availability.
For more housing options, read our guide to finding low income housing for seniors.
