What "senior housing" means under HUD
HUD defines a "senior" or "elderly" household as one whose head, spouse, or sole member is 62 years of age or older. Some properties are designated specifically for elderly households; others reserve a percentage of units for seniors and rent the rest to families.
Section 202 Supportive Housing for the Elderly
The original elderly-housing program, dating to 1959. Nonprofit sponsors receive capital advances from HUD to build apartment communities for very-low-income seniors. Newer 202 properties pair affordable rents with on-site service coordinators who help residents access health care, meal programs, and transportation. Look for 202 properties on any city page on this site.
Project Rental Assistance Contracts (PRAC)
Most modern Section 202 communities are funded through PRAC contracts that subsidize rents at the property level. If a property page lists PRAC as one of its programs, it's almost certainly a 202 senior community. The application process and eligibility rules are the same as PBRA Section 8: roughly 30% of adjusted income for rent, 50% AMI maximum for new admissions.
Project-Based Section 8 with senior preferences
Many ordinary PBRA properties give an admissions preference to elderly applicants, especially if the property was originally built under a senior set-aside. Always ask about the property's tenant selection plan — preferences can move a senior applicant up the list significantly.
Low-Income Housing Tax Credit (LIHTC) senior properties
Outside of HUD, the IRS-administered LIHTC program funds many senior apartment communities. LIHTC rents are typically 60–80% of market rate (not 30% of income), but waiting lists are usually shorter than HUD-assisted lists. LIHTC properties are not on RentReady's directory; ask your local Area Agency on Aging or PHA for a referral list.
USDA Rural Development Section 515
If you live in a rural area, USDA's Section 515 program funds elderly-only apartment communities with deeply affordable rents. Application is through the property, similar to project-based Section 8.
Picking your starting point
If you're 62+ and at very low income, start by applying to Section 202 / PRAC properties in your area through the state directory. Then add LIHTC senior properties (through your Area Agency on Aging) and your local PHA's voucher list. Senior applicants generally face shorter waits than the general queue.
Where to next
If you're acting on this guide, the next two stops on RentReady are the income-eligibility page and the application checklist. Then drill into your state's directory to find buildings in your city.