Section 202 – Housing for the Elderly

What is Section 202?

The Section 202 Supportive Housing for the Elderly program was established in 1959 and is dedicated to help senior citizens, 62 years and older, with very low income.

Through this program, the federal government provides loans and capital advances to non-profit entities for the construction of housing targeted specifically for senior citizens.

This is the only program that is exclusively for seniors. The Section 202 program gives seniors the option to live independently, in a safe environment, while still having help available for tasks such as changing clothes or with meals and is similar to Section 811, also known as the Supportive Housing for Persons with Disabilities program.

Records show that Section 202 rental properties perform better than other HUD programs in regards to physical inspections. The majority of the properties have grab rails, ramps or level entrances and have units that are wheelchair accessible, and many have community spaces for recreational activities.

Many Section 202 properties also have “Service Coordinators” on staff to help determine whether you may need some assistance, such as with medications or bathing, but these formal services are not covered by the HUD (Department of Housing and Urban Development), so contact your insurance provider and verify what you may qualify for.

There are no rules in the Section 8 guidelines that state that you may not lease or buy a car while receiving Section 8 housing. You may lease or buy a car as long as you have reported your full income and still have enough money left over.

Do I Qualify for Section 202 and How do I Apply?

To qualify for Section 202, you must be at least 62 years old and have a household income of below 50% of the area’s median income. If you would like to know your area’s median income, the HUD has a quick tool you can use.

To use the tool click HERE. Once the page loads, you can choose to see the lists for individuals or families. Once you’ve selected, another page will load where you must choose your state and area. Once you finish, you will get your selected area’s median income information.

To apply for Section 202 you may contact your local PHA office and ask if they have a list with Section 202 properties available, check property rental websites such as Zillow, or if you know of a Section 202 property, give them a visit or call and ask for their application process.

Keep in mind that you will also need to provide additional information and documentation such as, birth certificate, identification, income and asset information and social security number.

Differences Between Section 202 and Section 8

Section 8 and Section 202 are both low-income housing programs created to help people in need secure a clean and safe place to live, but there are a few differences between them.

Section 202 was created specifically for low-income senior citizens over the age of 62, while Section 8 is for people of any age that meet the requirements.

Section 202 provides loans and capital advances to ensure low-income housing is constructed and made available to seniors in need, while Section 8 provides housing vouchers to low-income families or individuals in need.

Delegated Processing of Section 202 and Section 811 Programs

To help move along faster the processing procedures for Section 202 and Section 811, there are state and local housing agencies that are selected and used as Delegated Processing Agencies (DPA).

This increments the amount of staff available, making the process faster and easier. This process is recognized under Section 2835(B) of the Housing and Economic Recovery Act of 2008.