If you’re looking for affordable housing, be forewarned that not all government-subsidized buildings are the same.
“People tend to lump subsidized buildings together,” said Stephen M. Golant, a gerontologist at the University of Florida, Gainesville. “There are a considerable number of differences that an older person looking for subsidized housing will confront.”
Golant came to this conclusion after studying low-rent apartments in Florida, though he believes his observations apply to other areas of the country because most subsidized buildings are federally funded.
Golant’s research is part of what he calls the CASERA project, or, Creating Affordable and Supportive Elder Rental Accommodations. Supported by the Chicago-based Retirement Research Foundation, the project’s goal is to understand the unmet service needs of tenants in rent-subsidized buildings and make a set of recommendations to link support services to residents who are becoming frail.
Apartment hunters don’t need to know all the ins and outs of complicated government programs. But it’s important to understand the basics. That’s because the way in which a building is funded can make a difference in how it is managed and what types of services are provided.
Here’s basically how it works: The government funds low-rent apartments through a variety of programs, most of which have numbers instead of names. The numbers simply specify the type of financing used to build the apartments. For example, seniors-only buildings are generally funded by Section 202, Section 236 or Section 8 housing grants that come through the Department of Housing and Urban Development.
The government also finances traditional public housing sites that are managed by local public housing authorities. In addition, the government has so-called Section 8 vouchers. These can be used to rent market-rate apartments, or units in seniors-only Section 8 buildings.
The first decision a senior has to make is whether to opt for a seniors-only building. Golant says his research shows there is an advantage to grouping seniors together. A seniors-only building can often afford to provide services to its residents because it’s cost-effective. If an apartment building has only a few units for seniors, Golant says elderly residents are less likely to get the support services they need.
Some seniors prefer buildings with a mixed-age population. You might think that’s because seniors want to interact with young folks, but that wasn’t what Golant found. He says many seniors prefer so-called intergenerational buildings because the units in those buildings tend to be larger than units in seniors-only buildings, perhaps a topic for another research paper.
In the seniors-only category, there are lots of low-rent choices. Golant believes the best subsidized housing can be found in buildings funded through Section 202 government programs. These buildings are run by non-profit organizations.
“Non-profit organizations tend to be more concerned and dedicated,” said Golant. “And the `202′ buildings are more likely to have supportive services on site or to have established more links with community organizations.”
Even so, Golant says Section 202 buildings can vary dramatically depending on the property manager’s zeal. For example, some managers might make transportation arrangements for residents, or have a doctor visit the building weekly to check residents.
Golant is quick to point out that Section 202 buildings aren’t the only subsidized properties with good services. He says some Section 236 buildings, which are privately owned, and some public housing authorities, also have aggressive managers.
“Buildings differ significantly,” he said.
One encouraging trend noted in Golant’s research is that more subsidized seniors-only buildings are hiring service coordinators, who link tenants with community resources. Unlike the social worker, the service coordinator doesn’t provide services, but helps arrange for those services.
A federal government program helps pay for service coordinators. But because the program is small, most buildings use rent receipts to hire service coordinators.
It’s often a good sign if a building has a service coordinator, Golant says, because property managers have not been trained to deal with social service-type issues.
Though important differences exist among subsidized buildings, poor seniors may find their options limited because of a shortage of low-rent housing.
“This is not like looking for an assisted-living facility where you have a lot of choices,” said Golant. “Subsidized housing is not a buyer’s market.”
Seniors will generally find long waiting lists for the best buildings.
Resources
The Chicago Department on Aging has a resource list of apartment buildings that includes subsidized housing. Call 312-744-4016 for a copy. If you are interested in developments owned by the Chicago Housing Authority, call 312-791-8528. Or if you want to apply for Section 8 housing, call the Chicago Section 8 Housing Program at 312-791-8534. Note, these programs are for people with low incomes.
– On Chicago’s Northwest Side, a new, subsidized seniors-only building has opened at 4444 W. Lawrence Ave. The six-story building, called Mayfair Commons Senior Living Center, has 97 units.
The building is already full, but you can put your name on the waiting list. The wait may differ depending on whether you want a studio, one- or two-bedroom unit.
For more information, call the property manager at 773-205-7862.
———-
Jane Adler is a Chicago-area freelance writer. If you have questions or information to share regarding housing for senior citizens, write to Senior Housing c/o Chicago Tribune Real Estate Section, 435 N. Michigan Ave., 60611. Or e-mail adler@megsinet.net
