How to Get Help Paying for Housing

Take 73-year old Gerald Bailey as an example. He returned home to North Carolina following a long career abroad and ran into an unexpected obstacle: he couldn’t afford rent.

And he isn’t alone. Today, more than 11 million Americans age 65 and older spend at least 30% of their income on housing.¹ This is called being “cost-burdened,” and it strikes people on fixed and low incomes particularly hard—including seniors and those with disabilities.

“If you are cost-burdened, you have less money to spend on other basic necessities, like groceries and health care,” explained Darren Hotton, NCOA’s associate director of community health and benefits. “And when prices for food, gas, and other items keep rising—but your income doesn’t—you end up having to make difficult choices. No one should have to decide whether to eat or take their medication.”

Does this sound like you or someone you know? If so, different types of housing assistance may be available. And there are knowledgeable professionals who can help you find it.

Gerald, for instance, asked his local Council on Aging about low-income senior housing and how to apply. That’s when he learned that he qualified for the Section 8 Housing Choice Voucher Program. Soon after, he was able to move into his own apartment in a building that’s accessible and comfortable. “This is a wonderful place for me to live!” he said.

Section 8 is just one of several government housing programs offered at the federal, state, or local level.

Subsidized housing programs: What they are, how to know if you're eligible, and how to apply

Public housing

Public housing comes in many shapes and sizes: from high-rise urban complexes to modest suburban flats and many things in between. In all cases, the goal is the same: to provide affordable places to live for low-income people through federal subsidies.

For older adults in particular, there are two subsidized senior housing programs to know about:

Housing Choice Vouchers (HCV)

Formerly known as Section 8 housing, this program connects low-income older adults, people with disabilities, and families with landlords who can and will provide decent, affordable living quarters.

If you’re eligible for Section 8, you receive a voucher, or coupon, that covers a portion of your monthly rent. Unlike other subsidized programs, Section 8 includes housing choice. That means you can live in any privately-owned unit as long as your landlord agrees to follow HCV program rules. Currently, more than 2.3 million American households benefit from Section 8 housing.²

Section 202

The Section 202 Supportive Housing for the Elderly Program helps nonprofit organizations build affordable, high-quality housing units for seniors age 62 and over. The program also offers rental assistance. If you live in a Section 202 development, you pay a fixed rent equaling 30% of your adjusted income. The government covers the rest. By the end of 2022, there were more than 400,000 Section 202 units in the United States.3

To learn more about these two low-income housing programs and how to apply, contact your local Public Housing Agency.

Emergency rental assistance

If you can’t afford your rent or utilities, the federal Emergency Rental Assistance Program (ERA) might help. But it depends on where you live. That’s because the U.S. Department of the Treasury allocates program funding directly to U.S. states, territories, local governments, and tribal entities. These grantees then make their own rules about how to distribute the money.

Follow this link to learn how federal rental assistance works where you live. You will also find answers to common questions, including how to apply.

Homeowner assistance

If you own your home and are having trouble paying your mortgage because of COVID-related issues, you might be able to pause your payments or qualify for other relief. Visit the Consumer Financial Protection Bureau to see what’s available.

Free counseling and education

The HOPE™ Hotline (995HOPE) offers free housing assistance advice. Trained and caring counselors will work with you to assess your situation, explain your options, and help you create an action plan. You will get connections to local, statewide, and national resources. Call 1-888-995-4673 to get help now.

More help for your housing budget

If you struggle to find affordable housing, you may want to explore other benefits that can free up income that you can put toward rent or mortgage payments. Thousands of public and private programs are available to help low-income older adults pay for home heating and cooling, health care, prescriptions, food, and other expenses.

The site you're using right now has a confidential screening tool that can help you see if you qualify for these programs. Click here to get started just by entering your ZIP code to get started.

Sources

1. “Housing America’s Older Adults 2023.” Joint Center for Housing Studies at Harvard University. Found on the internet at https://www.jchs.harvard.edu/sites/default/files/reports/files/Harvard_JCHS_Housing_Americas_Older_Adults_2023.pdf

2. U.S. Department of Housing & Urban Development. Housing Choice Voucher Program. Found on the internet at https://www.hud.gov/program_offices/public_indian_housing/programs/hcv

3. HUD Exchange. Section 202 Supportive Housing for the Elderly Program. Found on the internet at https://www.hudexchange.info/programs/section-202/

4. Linda Couch. “Section 202: Supportive Housing for the Elderly.” National Low Income Housing Coalition, March 2023. Found on the internet at https://nlihc.org/sites/default/files/2023-03/2023AG4-13_section-202.pdf