$710M to help elderly with affordable housing

Housing and Urban Development Secretary Alphonso Jackson announced the funding plan Jan. 5.

Section 202

These grants will help the nation's very low-income elderly and people with disabilities find decent, safe housing that they can afford.

“Our senior citizens have given us so much, and Americans with disabilities make remarkable contributions to our society every day,” Jackson said in a news release.

“Neither group should ever have to worry about being able to afford a decent place to live.”

Of the money, $574.8 million will be used for Section 202 grants to expand the supply of affordable housing with supportive services for the elderly. Section 202 grants can be used to help elderly individuals live independently with the help they might need for transportation, cleaning and cooking.

In addition to funding the construction and rehabilitation of projects to create apartments, HUD Section 202 grants will subsidize rent for five years so that residents will pay only 30 percent of their adjusted incomes as rent.

Section 811

Section 811 grants will be provided with $135.8 million of the funds announced to benefit low-income people with disabilities.

Under HUD's Section 811 program, housing is provided for households with one or more very low-income individuals, at least one of whom is at least 18 years old and has a disability, such as a physical or developmental disability or chronic mental illness.

The term “person with disabilities” also includes two or more people with disabilities living together, and one or more people with disabilities living with one or more live-in attendants.

The program allows people with disabilities to live independently in their communities by increasing the supply of rental housing with the availability of supportive services.