bluebreezes
Senior Member
- Location
- New England
As someone who has been doing months of online research for affordable senior housing options in many states, I agree with Guitarist that the HUD senior list is a good start point. I have also used this HUD link: http://portal.hud.gov/hudportal/HUD?src=/topics/information_for_senior_citizens. To view state specific options, click on the Find Affordable Rents link under the Find an Apartment section. From there you'll be able to choose a state and city/town. Be sure to specify Elderly in the Apartment Type drop-down.
The limitation of the HUD search is that it will only list some of the affordable senior options in each state. I found more comprehensive information by wading through search results for "affordable senior apartments" with a city name, and then navigating to the specific websites. For example, here in Maine we have the Maine State Housing Authority, which provides a terrific list of senior housing options by county and town. In each of those listings, there is property manager contact information. Not all state/county/city housing authorities are organized or operate the same, so it takes quite a bit of time to do the research.
Many times I've found that it's specific housing developers and property managers who may have multi-state listings that are the most helpful. Examples would be the Walton Communities in Georgia, and the Volunteers of America senior housing listings. There are many, many more. I've found some of those developers/property management companies by searching general apartment search sites and then researching the property management company. And don't laugh, I've also reviewed specific town planning board meeting minutes concerning senior housing development projects. One such project is a brand new place opening in August 2016 in Madison, Georgia. I've keep notes and browser bookmarks about my findings to easily search and revisit places. I also keep a log of who I've contacted and the response, as well as saving the actual emails too.
ETA: In my research I have found many affordable senior communities that do not have long waiting lists. I'm happy to help anyone here who posts a specific state or city needing research. I'm not yet sure what the policy of the forum is about posting URLs, but maybe someone can fill me in about that.
The limitation of the HUD search is that it will only list some of the affordable senior options in each state. I found more comprehensive information by wading through search results for "affordable senior apartments" with a city name, and then navigating to the specific websites. For example, here in Maine we have the Maine State Housing Authority, which provides a terrific list of senior housing options by county and town. In each of those listings, there is property manager contact information. Not all state/county/city housing authorities are organized or operate the same, so it takes quite a bit of time to do the research.
Many times I've found that it's specific housing developers and property managers who may have multi-state listings that are the most helpful. Examples would be the Walton Communities in Georgia, and the Volunteers of America senior housing listings. There are many, many more. I've found some of those developers/property management companies by searching general apartment search sites and then researching the property management company. And don't laugh, I've also reviewed specific town planning board meeting minutes concerning senior housing development projects. One such project is a brand new place opening in August 2016 in Madison, Georgia. I've keep notes and browser bookmarks about my findings to easily search and revisit places. I also keep a log of who I've contacted and the response, as well as saving the actual emails too.
ETA: In my research I have found many affordable senior communities that do not have long waiting lists. I'm happy to help anyone here who posts a specific state or city needing research. I'm not yet sure what the policy of the forum is about posting URLs, but maybe someone can fill me in about that.