Can I get help paying my rent as a senior?
Yes — two kinds exist and you should pursue both: emergency rent help from local funds you reach by dialing 211, and ongoing rent help through a Housing Choice Voucher or a HUD Section 202 senior apartment, where your rent is set at about 30 percent of your income.
What this means
- Emergency help arrives in days or weeks. Ongoing help usually has a waiting list measured in months or years, which is why you apply for both at once.
- Section 202 buildings are apartments built specifically for people 62 and older. You apply directly to the building, not to a central office, so applying to several is normal and expected.
- Waiting lists for Housing Choice Vouchers open and close. Some housing agencies give preference to older adults, which can move you up.
What to do first
- If you have an eviction notice, dial 211 today and ask for emergency rental assistance and free legal aid. Do not wait for the court date.
- Apply to your local public housing agency for a Housing Choice Voucher and ask whether the list is open and whether there is a senior preference.
- Apply directly to every Section 202 senior building within reach. Ask each one to confirm in writing that you are on the list.
- Talk to your landlord before you miss a payment and ask for a written payment plan.
HUD Section 202 Supportive Housing for the Elderly
Apartment buildings built only for people 62 and older, where rent is set at 30 percent of your income.
Housing Choice Voucher (Section 8)
A voucher that pays part of your rent in a regular apartment you choose yourself.
Free Legal Help for People 60 and Older
Free lawyers for benefit denials, evictions, debt collectors, guardianship, and elder abuse. No income test.
What you'll need
- Your lease and the notice from your landlord
- Proof of income for the last 30 days and your benefit award letters
- Photo identification and Social Security numbers for the household
- Bank statements, which housing agencies request
Deadlines and timing
- An eviction filing has a court date and missing it usually means an automatic loss. Free legal aid can often postpone it or negotiate, but only if you call before the date.
Where to go
- Find your public housing agency: https://www.hud.gov/program_offices/public_indian_housing/pha/contacts — they run the Housing Choice Voucher list.
- Free legal aid for eviction: https://www.lsc.gov/about-lsc/what-legal-aid/i-need-legal-help
- Dial 211 for local emergency rental funds.
Reviewed by Jason Burns, Editorial Steward · Last verified August 26, 2026
Sources
- Housing Choice Voucher Program · U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development
- Section 202 Supportive Housing for the Elderly · U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development
Need help today?
- Shut-off notice in hand: call the number on the bill and ask for a medical hold and a payment plan, then call 211.
- No food today: call 211 or the Eldercare Locator at 1-800-677-1116 for a same-week food bank or meal.
- In danger: call 911, or reach Adult Protective Services through the Eldercare Locator at 1-800-677-1116.
Every program on this site is free to apply for. Anyone who asks you to pay to apply, or to “unlock” a government benefit, is a scam — hang up and call Senior Medicare Patrol or 211.
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