Government housing assistance is available to 

low-income elderly through several programs 

in the form of affordable housing or rental 

assistance. Many government housing 

assistance for the elderly are over-subscribed, 

with waiting lists that vary in length. Types of 

government housing assistance include:

HOPE FOR ELDERLY INDEPENDENCE 

PROGRAM

Some Public Housing Authorities (PHAs) 

administer the Homeownership and 

Opportunity for People Everywhere (HOPE) 

program which provides a combination of 

HUD Section 8 rental assistance with case 

management and supportive services to lowincome elderly persons. The aim is to expand 

access to Section 8 rental assistance to the 

frail elderly tenant population and help them 

avoid nursing home placement or other 

restrictive settings when home and 

community-based options are appropriate. 

Contact the local PHA for availability and 

more information about the program. To 

locate the local PHA, refer to the blue pages 

of the local telephone directory or call HUD 

at (202)708-1112.

Eligibility: Elderly persons, aged 62 or older, 

who have difficulty performing at least three 

activities of daily living (e.g., eating, bathing, 

grooming, dressing) and home management 

activities (e.g., housekeeping, laundry, 

shopping or getting to and from one place to 

another).

 

HOUSING CHOICE VOUCHER / SECTION 8 

PROGRAM 

The Housing Choice Voucher (or “Section 

8”) program, administered locally by PHAs, 

provides very low-income families, the 

elderly, and persons with disability 

affordable, decent, and sanitary housing in the 

private market. Participants are free to find 

their own housing that meets the requirements 

of the program. Housing assistance is 

provided on behalf of the family or individual 

to locate the local PHA, refer to the blue 

pages of the local telephone directory or call 

HUD at (202)708-1112.

Eligibility: In general, the family’s income 

may not exceed 50% of the median income 

for the county or metropolitan area in which 

the family chooses to live. This is determined 

by the PHA based on the total annual gross 

income and family size and is limited to U.S. 

citizens and specified categories of noncitizens. The local PHA can provide 

information about income limits for the area 

and family size.

LOCAL RENTAL ASSISTANCE PROGRAMS 

Local rental assistance may be available 

through the HOME Investment Partnership 

Program. Contact the local Community 

Housing and Development office by referring 

to the blue pages of the local telephone 

directory. 

PUBLIC HOUSING 

Public housing provides affordable, decent, 

Government Assisted Housing
and safe rental housing for eligible lowincome families, the elderly, and persons with 

disabilities. Tenants typically pay no more 

than 30 percent of their monthly income for 

rent. Local Public Housing Authorities 

(PHAs) that receive funding from the federal 

governmentown and operate public housing 

complexes. For more information about 

public housing and to locate your local public 

housing authority visit

http://portal.hud.gov/hudportal/HUD?src=/pro

gram_offices/public_indian_housing

or call HUD at (202)708-1112. 

Eligibility: Public housing is limited to lowincome families and individuals. The local 

PHA determines the applicant’s eligibility 

based on: 1) annual gross income; 2) status: 

elderly 62+, a person with a disability, or as a 

family; and, 3) U.S. citizenship or eligible 

immigration status. If eligible, the PHA will 

check references to ensure that applicant and 

family members will be good tenants. 

RURAL HOUSING SERVICE (RHS) - RENTAL 

ASSISTANCE PROGRAM (SECTION 521) 

For rural America, rent subsidies under the 

U.S. Department of Agriculture’s RHS Rental 

Assistance Program (Section 521) ensure that 

elderly, disabled, and low-income residents of 

multi-family housing complexes financed by 

RHS are able to afford rent payments. With 

the help of the Rental Assistance Program, a 

qualified applicant pays no more than 30 

percent of his or her income for housing. 

Eligibility: To determine eligibility or to 

apply, please contact the Rural Development 

State office. The closest one can be found by 

visiting http://www.rurdev.usda.gov/rhs/ or 

calling the Rural Housing Service National 

office at (202)720-4323.

SECTION 202 SUPPORTIVE HOUSING FOR 

THE ELDERLY PROGRAM 

The Section 202 Program is provided by 

private, nonprofit housing and serviceoriented organizations that have received 

capital advances from the government to 

finance the construction and rehabilitation of 

structures. These structures serve as 

supportive housing for very low-income 

elderly persons. The Section 202 program 

provides rent subsidies for the projects to help 

make them affordable. Supportive services 

provided under the Section 202 program 

include meals, transportation, and 

accommodations for residents with 

disabilities. Contact the local housing 

authority (see above). 

Eligibility: The program benefits low-income 

residents age 62 years or older. 

_____________________________________________________

Information for this fact sheet was provided 

by the National Resource Center on 

Supportive Housing & Home Modification. 

For more information about other forms of 

senior housing options, visit 

http://www.homemods.org, write to the 

National Resource Center on Supportive 

Housing and Home Modification, USC 

Andrus Gerontology Center, 3715 

McClintock Ave., Los Angeles, CA 90089-

0191, call (213) 740-1364 or email: 

homemods@usc.edu.

For more information about ACL

U.S. Department of Health and Human 

Services, Administration for Community 

Living, Washington DC 20201

Phone: (202) 619 – 0724

Fax: (202) 357 – 3555

Email: ACLinfo@acl.hhs.gov

Web: http://www.aoa.gov