HUD Section 202 Senior Housing Locator
Section 202 buildings are apartment communities for very low-income people 62 and older. Rent is about 30% of income, and many have a service coordinator on site. Use HUD's locator to find properties near you.
Section 202 is HUD-subsidized housing for people 62 and older with very low income, generally at or below 50% of the area median income for the county. Rent is generally 30% of your adjusted income. Many properties have a service coordinator who connects residents with meals, transportation and health services. There is no national waitlist. You apply to each property's management office, and HUD does not track vacancies. Use the HUD Resource Locator below to find properties near you.
Section 202 is not a voucher that you take to a landlord of your choice, as Section 8 is. It is a set of specific buildings, and you find them and apply to each one. This page explains how the program works and links to HUD's property search.
Find Section 202 Housing Near You
HUD Resource Locator
Search by address or ZIP code and select "Find Affordable Elderly and Special Needs Housing" to see actual Section 202 and other elderly/special-needs properties near you, with contact information for each.
HUD also maintains a separate Multifamily Property Search if the Resource Locator doesn't show what you're looking for.
Before you apply, know this
- You apply to each property's management office, not to HUD
- Every property manages its own waitlist; many are long, and some are temporarily closed to new applicants
- At least one household member must be 62 or older
- Income generally must be at or below 50% of your county's area median income
- Supportive services (meals, transportation, service coordinators) differ from one property to another
Your local Area Agency on Aging often knows which local Section 202 properties have shorter waitlists or are accepting applications. Call them as well as searching online.
How it differs from Section 8. A Section 8 voucher pays part of the rent wherever you rent from a landlord who accepts it. Section 202 is project-based. HUD funds nonprofit organizations to build or renovate apartment buildings for very low-income seniors, and the subsidy stays with the building. If you move out, it does not go with you.
Who qualifies. At least one person in the household has to be 62 or older. Household income generally has to be at or below 50% of the area median income for the county, which HUD calls "very low income." The dollar limit differs widely between a rural county and an expensive metro area. Our Section 8 eligibility calculator gives an estimate of the income limits where you live.
What you pay. Residents generally pay 30% of adjusted income in rent. Someone with $1,400 a month of adjusted income would pay about $420. The subsidy covers the rest of the unit's cost.
The hard part is getting a unit. Each building keeps its own applicant list. Waits of a year or more are common, and some lists are closed for periods. To improve your chances:
- Apply to every property you would be willing to live in.
- Ask each one how long the wait is and whether the list is open.
- Call back every few months, including properties whose lists were closed.
- Tell each property when your address or phone number changes, so you are not removed from the list.
Services. Many properties have a service coordinator, a staff member who helps residents arrange meals, transportation, housekeeping help or health services. What is offered differs from building to building, so ask.
For other options while you wait, see senior housing with shorter waits.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is HUD Section 202 housing?
It is a HUD program that funds nonprofit organizations to build and run subsidized apartment communities for very low-income people 62 and older. Residents generally pay 30% of adjusted income in rent and a federal subsidy covers the rest. Most properties offer supportive services that help residents live independently.
Who qualifies for Section 202 housing?
At least one household member must be 62 or older, and household income must generally be at or below 50% of the area median income for the county where the property is located. HUD calls this "very low income." The dollar limit differs by county.
How do I apply for Section 202 housing?
You apply to the management office of each property, not to HUD. HUD does not track vacancies, waitlists or applications for individual properties. Each one manages its own list, and many are long or closed to new applicants for a time.
What services are included at Section 202 properties?
It depends on the property. Many have a service coordinator who connects residents with meals, transportation, housekeeping or health services. The services are not the same everywhere, so ask each property.
Is Section 202 the same as Section 8?
No. Both are HUD rental subsidies. Section 8 (Housing Choice Vouchers) subsidizes rent in housing the tenant chooses and is open to many kinds of households. Section 202 is project-based: the subsidy is tied to buildings reserved for people 62 and older.
This page gives general information about the Section 202 program and links to HUD's locator tools. It does not show vacancies or waitlist status for any property, and HUD does not keep that information centrally. Income limits are set by HUD each year for each county. Confirm your eligibility with the property manager when you apply.