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The Section 202 Supportive Housing for the Elderly Program can help you do just that. And there’s a tool that can help you find affordable apartments in minutes.

Regardless of your age, cheaper rent is something we all could use. After all, rent eats a massive chunk of our monthly budgets, so the cheaper it is, the more breathing room we can have.

How can a senior save on rent? If all the children have moved out of the house, you can downgrade to a smaller place. You could rent any extra space, like your garage, to someone else for cash on a site like StoreAtMyHouse.

If you want some companionship and help with the rent, you could get a roommate. Lastly, which is the focus of this article, you can get help from the government via a housing assistance program like Section 202.

How Section 202 Works

Here’s a glance at how the Section 202 program functions. The aim is to qualify and get accepted, so you only have to pay 30 percent of your income towards rent:

• You find a property (apartment) that participates in Section 202 housing assistance.
• You apply directly to the landlord or manager of that property.
• You pass eligibility requirements (over the age of 62, make less than 50 percent of the area median income, etc.)
• You get approved and possibly put on a waiting list.
• Once the property is available, you can move in.

Besides those significant savings on rent, you may be lucky enough to get a senior-friendly apartment that comes with perks like care coordinators to help with meals and bathing, transportation, and more. Your apartment may also have grab rails to help you around the house or ramps that come in handy if you’re in a wheelchair.

Finding Section 202 Properties With the HUD Resource Locator

Since you have to apply directly to properties and not through the HUD, your first step towards getting cheaper rent is to start looking for Section 202 apartments.

You could do this with some help from your local Public Housing Agency, or you can begin the process on your own with the HUD Resource Locator.

While getting help is a great idea, the Resource Locator can give you an idea of opportunities that exist nearby. Best of all, you can find Section 202 properties in minutes.

Here’s how to use the HUD Resource Locator to find cheap apartments for seniors:

1. Click here to visit the Locator.
2. Click on the “Find Affordable Elderly and Special Needs Housing option.
3. Wait for a map of your area to come up.
4. Wait for the search results popup to appear.
5. In the results, you will see different properties nearby.
6. Click on the properties to find out more information.

Why is this tool essential? So you can instantly get the Section 202 property contact information.

Get in touch with the property’s landlord or management, and ask them how you can apply for Section 202 so you can stop paying so much rent and start relaxing like a senior should.