The Department of Housing and Urban Development, or HUD, offers several programs that help eligible citizens afford decent housing in the country. Two such initiatives are Sections 202 and 811, which are designed to benefit certain eligible seniors and persons with disabilities. Both programs have a particular set of requirements and features, knowing which can help one determine if they are eligible and understand what to expect as a beneficiary.
Section 202
Originally developed as a part of the Housing Act in 1959, HUD’s Section 202 Supportive Housing for the Elderly Program is designed to benefit low-income seniors. It aims to offer beneficiaries safe and affordable housing options and improve their quality of life by offering additional benefits. The Section 202 program mainly provides rental assistance to seniors, making housing expenses more affordable for them. The assistance, however, is only offered for the properties that are listed under the program.
Key features of Section 202 properties
The Section 202 housing program offers several features that ensure seniors can continue to live a peaceful, independent, and secure life with decent housing.
Rental assistance
The primary goal of this housing program is to offer affordable housing to seniors. So, the seniors who qualify for the program benefit by only having to contribute about 30% of their adjusted income toward the rent of a given Section 202 property. The government covers the remaining rent amount.
Accessibility
Aging can cause certain issues with mobility. Accounting for such issues, the HUD ensures that all Section 202 properties have a few key features that make daily tasks easier for all program beneficiaries. This is why properties listed under Section 202 come with accessibility features such as ramps, grab bars, and wider doorways. Along with this, these properties are likely to have non-slip surfaces to prevent any mishaps.
Socialization opportunities
Along with physical security and accessibility, it is also important for seniors to have access to social interaction. To ensure this, Section 202 properties are typically constructed in communities with common spaces, allowing seniors to interact with other residents. These common spaces may also host recreational activities. Most communities also feature congregate meal programs, which allow seniors to enjoy a group dining experience and social engagement.
Cleaning services
To make life easier for senior residents, a lot of Section 202 properties offer house cleaning services. This reduces the burden of chores on senior residents while ensuring they live in clean, well-maintained residences.
Wellness programs
To ensure the well-being of the senior residents, Section 202 properties may offer meal programs and fitness centers.
Transportation
Many Section 202 facilities also offer transportation services to senior residents, who can use these facilities to get to any destination of their choice—grocery stores, parks, or family members’ residences.
Other benefits of Section 202 properties
Besides the several amenities and rental assistance, another advantage of Section 202 properties is their proximity to essential facilities. This means senior residents always have access to public places such as shopping centers, parks, and even wellness facilities. Some properties and communities are even close to offices of social services, making it easier for seniors to seek assistance for SSA-related tasks.
Eligibility criteria
Section 202 is not available to all seniors. It is limited to individuals and households that fulfill certain requirement criteria.
Age
To qualify for a Section 202 property, a household must have at least one individual of or over the age of 62.
Income
A household can only be eligible to receive Section 202 benefits if it earns less than 50% of the area median income (AMI). The area in question here is the region where the property is located.
Section 811
This HUD program, called Supportive Housing for Persons with Disabilities, is designed to benefit those with low incomes and disabilities. As a part of the Section 811 Project Rental Assistance (PRA) program, the government offers rental assistance to low-income individuals with disabilities to ensure that they can continue to live an independent and secure life and access safe, decent living arrangements. Like the Section 202 housing program, those qualifying for the Section 811 program also benefit by only having to pay 30% of their income as rent. The government will pay the rest of the rental amount.
Eligibility criteria
The target population of Section 811 is mainly individuals with disabilities who are leaving institutions and wish to return to community living. With the program, the government also aims to help those individuals with disabilities who are facing the risk of institutionalization after losing their homes. That said, if any disabled person meets the eligibility criteria of Section 811, they can get the rightful rental assistance.
Disability
To receive Section 811 benefits, individuals must have a disability, which is defined and included in Section 811 of HUD.
Age
Eligible applicants must be between the ages of 18 and 62 at the time of moving into the Section 811 property.
Income
To qualify for a Section 811 property, a household must have an income at or below the 30% limit of AMI.
To find out more about HUD programs for seniors, those with disabilities, and other eligible households, one can contact their local public housing agency and seek assistance.