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How to Apply for Section 202 Housing for Seniors

By KPCB StaffCombined Expertise In The Low Income Housing Space For 10 Years · How we write our guides

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To apply for Section 202 senior housing, you contact each Section 202 building yourself and fill out its application with the property manager. HUD funds the program but does not take applications or manage the waiting lists. At least one person in your household must be 62 or older, and your household income must fall under 50% of the area median income where the building is located.

Applying is free. HUD does not allow owners of these buildings to charge an application fee, and the owner is the one who decides whether you qualify.

What Section 202 housing is

Section 202 Supportive Housing for the Elderly is a HUD program that pays private nonprofit groups to build, buy or fix up apartment buildings for very low-income people age 62 and older. The nonprofit owns and runs the building. HUD pays rental assistance that covers the gap between what tenants pay and the cost of running the building.

Residents usually pay 30% of their adjusted income for rent, according to HUD's program description. The federal government covers the rest.

Section 202 buildings are apartments. Federal rules say the program does not include nursing homes, and the buildings may not have infirmaries, nursing stations or overnight care spaces. The owner must also arrange supportive services for residents. Under 24 CFR 891.205, those services can include:

  • meals and nutrition programs
  • homemaking help
  • health-related activities
  • counseling, referrals and information
  • recreation and continuing education
  • transportation to reach these services

Services vary from building to building. The rules let owners ask residents for a co-payment for some services, and that co-payment is not counted as part of your rent. Ask each building what it offers and whether anything costs extra.

Who qualifies

The owner decides whether you are eligible, using HUD rules. Under 24 CFR 891.410, you need to meet all of these:

  • At least one member of your household is 62 or older when you move in.
  • Your household is "very low-income," which means at or below 50% of the area median income for the area where the building is located.
  • Your household meets HUD's Social Security number disclosure and verification rules.
  • You sign consent forms that let the owner check wage and benefit information.

The owner also screens applicants using its written tenant selection plan. HUD requires those rules to be fair and related to program eligibility and to whether you can follow the lease.

You do not need to have income to qualify. HUD's Occupancy Handbook 4350.3, Chapter 3 says a household with no income can still be eligible for programs that pay rent through an assistance contract, including Section 202.

Income limits: an example

Income limits depend on where the building is and how many people live with you. HUD updates them every year. The FY 2026 limits took effect May 1, 2026.

Here are the FY 2026 very low (50%) income limits for the Pittsburgh, PA HUD Metro FMR Area. This area includes Allegheny, Beaver, Butler, Fayette, Washington and Westmoreland counties.

Household sizeFY 2026 very low income limit (50%)
1 person$38,650
2 people$44,200
3 people$49,700
4 people$55,200

Source: HUD User FY 2026 Income Limits Summary for Allegheny County, PA.

These numbers apply only to the Pittsburgh area. To find the limit where you want to live, use HUD's income limits tool, choose 2026, then pick your state and county. Look at the "Very Low (50%) Income Limits" row for your household size.

Some older Section 202 buildings get their rent help through a project-based Section 8 contract instead, and some eligibility rules differ there. The property manager can tell you which income limit their building uses.

How to apply, step by step

1. Find Section 202 buildings near you

HUD says to use the HUD Resource Locator and select the "Find Affordable Elderly and Special Needs Housing" option. HUD's Section 202 page also links to its local Multifamily office directory.

You can also call the Eldercare Locator at 1-800-677-1116. It helps older adults find public services in their community, including housing.

2. Call or visit each building

Each building runs its own application process and waiting list. When you call, ask:

  • Is the waiting list open?
  • How do I get an application: in person, by mail, or online?
  • About how many people are ahead of me?
  • What services does the building offer?
  • Do you allow pets, and what are the rules?

Federal rules let an owner stop taking applications if the waiting list is so long that a new applicant probably would not get in within the next 12 months. If a list is closed, ask when it might reopen and move on to the next building.

3. Fill out the application

Both you and the owner sign the application. The owner must confirm the information you give, so expect to provide proof. Have these ready:

  • Social Security numbers for household members
  • proof of age for the person who is 62 or older, such as a birth certificate or a Social Security or military document showing the birth date
  • proof of all income, such as Social Security or SSI award letters and pension statements
  • information about bank accounts and other assets
  • receipts or statements for medical expenses you pay out of pocket

At the interview stage, adults in the household also sign HUD's release forms (HUD-9887 and HUD-9887-A) so the owner can verify what you reported.

Medical costs matter because they can lower your rent. HUD's rent formula gives elderly households a standard deduction and also subtracts unreimbursed medical expenses that add up to more than 10% of your yearly income (24 CFR 5.611).

4. Apply to more than one building

Each building keeps its own list, so you can apply to as many as you like. Keep a simple record of where you applied, the date, and the phone number for each office.

What happens after you apply

When you submit your application, the owner records the date and time it was received. If no unit is free, you go on the building's waiting list, and the owner notifies you when a suitable unit may be coming up.

When your name nears the top, the owner calls you in for an interview. You will update your application, bring current income papers, and sign forms so the owner can verify everything. HUD's Occupancy Handbook, Chapter 4 lists the reasons owners commonly remove names from waiting lists. Common ones are:

  • not answering a written notice for an eligibility interview
  • mail coming back as undeliverable
  • turning down more unit offers than the building's policy allows
  • no longer meeting eligibility rules

Some buildings ask you to contact them every so often to stay on the list. Ask about this when you apply, and tell every building right away if your phone number or address changes. If you were removed by mistake, for example because the owner used the wrong address, HUD says you must be put back in your original place.

If you are turned down

The owner must tell you in writing why you were rejected and explain your right to request a meeting to review the decision. Someone other than the staff member who made the first decision has to handle that review. The letter explains how to respond, and the time to ask is short, so reply as soon as you get it. If you believe you were turned down because of race, disability or another protected reason, you may also have civil rights options. Free legal aid programs listed on LawHelp.org can advise you.

After you move in

You sign a lease of at least one year on HUD's required lease form. The owner reviews your income and household size at least once every 12 months and adjusts your rent. If your income or household changes between reviews, you must follow HUD's rules for reporting changes, and the owner may adjust your rent.

Your rent share, called the total tenant payment, is the highest of these amounts (24 CFR 5.628):

  • 30% of your monthly adjusted income
  • 10% of your monthly gross income
  • the building's minimum rent, if it has one

Avoid fake waitlists and fees

Section 202 owners must not charge application fees, processing fees, donations or membership fees as a condition of admission, according to HUD's guidance on non-rent fees in subsidized multifamily housing.

HUD's Office of Inspector General warns about scammers on social media who claim to sign people up for assisted housing waitlists. Its August 1, 2024 fraud bulletin says housing authorities and government agencies "will never ask you to pay for admission to housing assistance programs or to join a waitlist." Don't give your Social Security number or date of birth in reply to a social media ad. Call the building directly using a number you found through HUD. You can report a scam to the HUD OIG Hotline at 1-800-347-3735.

Other options while you wait

Section 202 waiting lists can be long, so it helps to apply for other programs at the same time:

You can also use the KPCB Edge benefit finder to see what other help you might qualify for.

Frequently asked questions

Does it cost anything to apply for Section 202 housing?

No. HUD does not allow owners of these buildings to charge application or processing fees. If anyone asks you to pay to apply or to get on a waiting list, don't pay, and report it to the HUD OIG Hotline at 1-800-347-3735.

Can I apply through HUD?

No. HUD says it does not manage leasing at Section 202 properties. You apply directly with each building's owner or manager.

Can a younger family member live with me?

Yes, if the building's rules allow it. The program's definition of an elderly household requires only one member to be 62 or older at the time you move in. Everyone's income counts toward the income limit, and the unit must be the right size for your household.

Can I keep my pet?

In most cases, yes. Under HUD's pet rules for elderly housing, owners cannot ban common household pets. They can set reasonable rules, such as allowing only one four-legged, warm-blooded pet per unit and asking for a refundable pet deposit for cats and dogs. These pet rules do not apply to assistance animals that a person with a disability needs.

Can I keep my Section 8 voucher if I move into a Section 202 building?

No. Federal rules say you cannot get Section 202 rent help while you also get help from another federal housing program, including Section 8. HUD's handbook says an owner may not admit a voucher holder to a Section 202 assisted unit unless that person agrees to give up the voucher before moving in. You can still apply while you have a voucher and decide when a unit is offered.

How long is the wait?

It depends on the building. HUD does not publish typical wait times. Ask each building where you would fall on its list, and apply to several buildings to improve your chances.

Sources

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