The elderly population is particularly vulnerable when it comes to limited affordable housing opportunities. In an effort to understand which states offer the most senior low income housing — and which offer the least — we crunched the numbers.
The states and territories on the Top 10 Best and Worst States for Senior Low Income Housing greatly overlapped with our across-the-board top 10 best and worst states for affordable housing. Typically states with more affordable housing options, generally speaking, also ranked highly for senior low income housing. The reverse is also true. Fewer affordable housing options also correlates to fewer opportunities for senior low income housing.
The Methodology
The most recent census data provided an estimate of residents over the age of 65 by state, and the U.S. Office of Housing & Urban Development Section 8 data revealed the number of affordable housing complexes designated to elderly residents.
Income limits for section 8 housing are the same for senior citizens. But in some areas where competition for a section 8 housing voucher is high, elderly residents may get higher priority on waiting lists. In Oakland, Calif., for example, candidates are ranked by weighted criteria including military status, age, disability and other factors.
Explore the Top 10 Best and Worst States for Senior Low Income Housing and the resources that follow our map infographic.
Resources
In addition to HUD searches, the U.S. Department of Agriculture also subsidizes apartment complexes through its Section 515 program. The Rural Development Office state branches can also be contacted for information about senior low income housing opportunities.
Also, HUD-approved Housing Counseling Agencies have resources on how to find local and non-profit affordable senior housing.
SeniorHousingNet.com, part of Realtor.com, offers senior housing listings by zipcode.
The Top 10 Best States for low income seniors
#1 Vermont
- Affordable housing complexes for elderly: 81
- Amount of residents over 65: 91,078
#2 Maine
- Affordable housing complexes for elderly: 183
- Amount of residents over 65: 211,080
#3 Rhode Island
- Affordable housing complexes for elderly: 117
- Amount of residents over 65: 151,881
#4 New Hampshire
- Affordable housing complexes for elderly: 131
- Amount of residents over 65: 178,268
#5 South Dakota
- Affordable housing complexes for elderly: 85
- Amount of residents over 65: 116,581
#6 Nebraska
- Affordable housing complexes for elderly: 132
- Amount of residents over 65: 246,677
#7 North Dakota
- Affordable housing complexes for elderly: 51
- Amount of residents over 65: 97,477
#8 Alaska
- Affordable housing complexes for elderly: 27
- Amount of residents over 65: 54,938
#9 Wisconsin
- Affordable housing complexes for elderly: 360
- Amount of residents over 65: 777,314
#10 Minnesota
- Affordable housing complexes for elderly: 314
- Amount of residents over 65: 683,121
The Top 10 Worst States for Low Income Seniors
#1 Nevada
- Affordable housing complexes for elderly: 16
- Amount of residents over 65: 324,359
#2 Florida
- Affordable housing complexes for elderly: 304
- Amount of residents over 65: 3,259,602
#3 Texas
- Affordable housing complexes for elderly: 266
- Amount of residents over 65: 2,601,886
#4 Arizona
- Affordable housing complexes for elderly: 107
- Amount of residents over 65: 881,831
#5 Virginia
- Affordable housing complexes for elderly: 138
- Amount of residents over 65: 976,937
#6 New Mexico
- Affordable housing complexes for elderly: 40
- Amount of residents over 65: 272,255
#7 Georgia
- Affordable housing complexes for elderly: 106
- Amount of residents over 65: 1,032,035
#8 South Carolina
- Affordable housing complexes for elderly: 109
- Amount of residents over 65: 631,874
#9 California
- Affordable housing complexes for elderly: 744
- Amount of residents over 65: 4,246,514
#10 Illinois
- Affordable housing complexes for elderly: 294
- Amount of residents over 65: 1,609,213