Thursday, August 25, 2011
Plan Ahead
As millions of low income seniors search for affordable apartments on meager benefits, there are a few things for them to keep in mind. As we are finding out, the subsidized HUD housing for very low income seniors is inadequate, confusing, and requires a multi-year plan of attack.
Income limits, amenities, and restrictions vary from complex to complex, as well as county to county, and preferences for local applicants often apply. What this means is that the rents will vary considerably, and if you find it necessary to look in a neighboring county, chances are your name may never come up, even if you are on the waiting list. Even if all goes well, waiting lists are often three to five years.
One of the drawbacks to this system is that in most instances you cannot apply for subsidized senior housing until you are 62. If you are still working, and simply planning for retirement three or four years hence, you cannot apply if you are making a living wage. You have to wait until you either reduce your income by working part time, or retire and live in substandard conditions while you wait several years for a habitable unit to become available.
If you think that makes no sense, imagine a system where instead of having a single database -- where seniors can apply for the program, and then tough it out until something, somewhere turns up -- each apartment complex has its own application, waiting list, rules and regulations. Simply going through the exercise of visiting the dozens of complexes, reviewing their qualifications, and submitting forms, can be daunting.
If you have a dog to keep you company, you will want to make sure it's a miniature, as the few complexes that permit dogs almost without exception limit the size to 25 pounds. If you've had problems with derelict landlords, which in the case of very low income applicants is a distinct possibility, your chances are nil that you'll get through the screening process. Any problem with credit, hardly a novelty these days, is also a killer.
Of course, given the trajectory of fraud supplanting governance in the federal government, HUD subsidized housing may disappear altogether. In that case, we'll all be on the street, and everything I've shared in this post will be moot.
Until then, plan ahead, seek advice, and get on the list.
Income limits, amenities, and restrictions vary from complex to complex, as well as county to county, and preferences for local applicants often apply. What this means is that the rents will vary considerably, and if you find it necessary to look in a neighboring county, chances are your name may never come up, even if you are on the waiting list. Even if all goes well, waiting lists are often three to five years.
One of the drawbacks to this system is that in most instances you cannot apply for subsidized senior housing until you are 62. If you are still working, and simply planning for retirement three or four years hence, you cannot apply if you are making a living wage. You have to wait until you either reduce your income by working part time, or retire and live in substandard conditions while you wait several years for a habitable unit to become available.
If you think that makes no sense, imagine a system where instead of having a single database -- where seniors can apply for the program, and then tough it out until something, somewhere turns up -- each apartment complex has its own application, waiting list, rules and regulations. Simply going through the exercise of visiting the dozens of complexes, reviewing their qualifications, and submitting forms, can be daunting.
If you have a dog to keep you company, you will want to make sure it's a miniature, as the few complexes that permit dogs almost without exception limit the size to 25 pounds. If you've had problems with derelict landlords, which in the case of very low income applicants is a distinct possibility, your chances are nil that you'll get through the screening process. Any problem with credit, hardly a novelty these days, is also a killer.
Of course, given the trajectory of fraud supplanting governance in the federal government, HUD subsidized housing may disappear altogether. In that case, we'll all be on the street, and everything I've shared in this post will be moot.
Until then, plan ahead, seek advice, and get on the list.
