What is HUD Section 202 housing?
HUD Section 202 Supportive Housing for the Elderly is a federal program that funds apartment buildings reserved for very low-income people 62 and older, where rent is generally set at about 30 percent of your adjusted income and many buildings have a service coordinator who connects residents to help.
What this means
- HUD stands for the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development.
- The buildings are owned and run by private nonprofit organizations under a contract with HUD, not by HUD itself.
- Each building keeps its own waiting list, so applying at one does not put you on the list at another.
- This is different from a Housing Choice Voucher, often called Section 8, which follows you to a private rental instead of tying you to a building.
What to do first
- Search for subsidized properties near you using the HUD resource locator, and write down several buildings.
- Call each building directly and ask whether their waiting list is open and how to apply.
- Apply to every building whose list is open, not just your first choice.
- Ask your Area Agency on Aging for a list of local senior housing, including options HUD's site does not list.
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.
What you'll need
- Proof of all income
- Photo identification for everyone in the household
- Bank statements
- Rental history
- Birth certificates
- Social Security cards
- Photo identification
- Proof of age
Deadlines and timing
- Waiting lists are often measured in years, and some close entirely for long stretches. Get on lists early.
- Keep your address and phone number current with every building on the list, because a returned letter usually removes you.
- Never pay an application fee to a service that promises to move you up a waiting list.
Where to go
- HUD Section 202 Supportive Housing for the Elderly: https://resources.hud.gov/
- Housing Choice Voucher (Section 8): https://www.hud.gov/program_offices/public_indian_housing/pha/contacts
Reviewed by Jason Burns, Editorial Steward · Last verified August 25, 2026
Sources
- Section 202 Supportive Housing for the Elderly · U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development
- HUD Resource Locator · 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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