Supportive Housing - Senior Citizen Housing in Pennsylvania

Supportive Housing includes a variety of environments: senior adult condominiums, market rate rental units, and subsidized housing apartments.

The type of housing a person chooses depends on a variety of factors, including an individual's/family's needs and preferences, location, availability of support and assets, and income. Presbyterian SeniorCare offers a variety of settings to meet the needs of these persons who typically do not need the medical and daily support services of an assisted living/personal care home or nursing facility.

Supportive Housing Options:
Senior Adult Condominiums:
For seniors looking to move from a large family home to a more manageable setting without leaving the community at large, condominium living may be the most appropriate decision. A condominium is often less expensive to purchase and may offer more recreational facilities. It can offer a greater sense of personal safety and is easier to leave unoccupied for long periods of time. It also offers all the financial and tax benefits of home ownership without the level of maintenance that a single-family home requires.

(Note: Presbyterian SeniorCare's Senior Adult Condominiums provide no structured or specialized services as part of their monthly fees.)

Supportive Rental Housing for Persons of Limited Income:
For many older persons of lower income, the cost of maintaining a home and property becomes prohibitive as their fixed income becomes unable to meet the demands of increasing taxes, maintenance and repair costs, utilities, medical care and other expenses. Entry into subsidized housing can be the best move for these individuals or couples to make.

Through the federal Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD), private, non-profit sponsors obtain loans for the development of rental units for elderly or disabled persons. Known as "Section 202" housing, these rental units are available to persons 62 years of age or older or physically disabled persons age 18 or older who need the design features of the unit and who meet income eligibility requirements. HUD Section 8 funds are also made available to the occupants of these units, enabling persons of low income to reside there by subsidizing their monthly rental payments with federal monies.

On an annual basis, HUD determines the income levels within each county that qualify for subsidized housing. An applicant's total annual income must fall below the set guidelines to qualify for admission. Eligibility for housing programs vary based on federal regulations and are program specific.

Many HUD facilities now have a "service coordinator" program to facilitate the provision of supportive services and to help residents maximize their independence.

This form of living is very popular among older persons because it provides affordable housing in an environment where one can enjoy socialization as well. Occupants of these facilities typically form close community ties, looking out for one another's welfare and providing a network of support and friendship to one another.

Supportive Rental Housing for Persons with Disabilities:
Presbyterian SeniorCare also has housing programs for persons with special needs. Specific programs are available to persons eighteen years of age or older who meet income eligibility levels and have a special need including physical disability, developmental disability or mental disability.

Supportive Rental Housing for Persons of Moderate Income:
Older persons of moderate income often find retirement care options limited in Western Pennsylvania. Many have too high an income to qualify for subsidized housing available through the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development and not quite enough income to sustain long-term placement in an Assisted Living Facility.

Moderate income seniors now have supportive housing options available through housing programs built through a public/private partnership of Low Income Tax Credit Housing. Individuals must be 62 years of age or older and meet the income eligibility requirements of the program. Each housing program is unique -- income eligibility can be 40%, 50%, or 60% of median income, which are determined annually on a county-by-county basis. An applicant's total annual income must fall below the set guidelines to qualify for admission.

This form of living is very popular among older persons because it provides affordable housing in an environment where one can enjoy socializing as well. Occupants of these facilities typically come from close community ties, looking out for one another's welfare and providing a network of support and friendship to one another.

Several of the facilities offer supportive services on an "a la carte" basis to assist the resident, including home and community-based services.

Cassandra Burkett, RM-419768, SeniorCare Network, Inc., Oakmont, PA, RB-044552