| A few years ago Miranda M. lost her husband. After a | | | | large metropolitan area. There are always more |
| short time her grandson (her only available relative) | | | | options in a larger town. But somewhere between 20 |
| persuaded her to move across several states to be | | | | and 25 percent of Section 202 funds have been set |
| closer to him. | | | | aside for use in non- metropolitan areas, so these |
| He located a nice retirement apartment where meals, | | | | apartments aren't only found in big cities. |
| housekeeping, and transportation are provided. By | | | | Hunting for a Section 202 apartment can be |
| using her small Social Security income, and funds left | | | | labor-intensive. When an apartment becomes available |
| by her loving husband, Miranda was just able to | | | | it rarely stays empty long. Often there are lengthy |
| afford her rent and basic living expenses. | | | | waiting lists. |
| She didn't much like taking all her meals in the | | | | The first piece of business was to telephone every |
| community dining room, so she continued to fix some | | | | apartment complex on the Section 202 list (see |
| of them in her own kitchen. | | | | below for the web address to get a list). I verified |
| She reluctantly accepted the help of housekeeping | | | | that they were still participating in the program, and |
| for the heavy cleaning. But, as she said, "I need to | | | | asked whether they had any vacancies. |
| keep busy. If I can't make my own bed and dust | | | | Frankly, I didn't expect a "yes" to the vacancy |
| around I feel like a useless slug. I intend to keep | | | | question, but it never hurts to ask. |
| doing for myself just as long as I can get up out of | | | | Lo and behold, and miraculously for Miranda, there |
| this chair." | | | | actually was a vacancy in an older building near |
| But for one unforeseen disaster, Miranda and I never | | | | downtown. Because it's not in the pretty suburbs it |
| would have met, and she would have happily lived on | | | | isn't as popular as some of the others. For our |
| in her sunny apartment. | | | | purposes, it was a palace and a kingdom all in one. |
| You see, disaster struck because Miranda lived too | | | | Beggars couldn't be choosers! |
| long. | | | | If there hadn't been a vacancy, Miranda and her |
| Both she and her grandson had counted on Miranda | | | | grandson would have had to visit each apartment |
| dying before her 85th birthday. It made perfect | | | | complex and place her name on every waiting list. |
| sense, they thought, as her family was not generally | | | | Sometimes the wait can be as long as 2 years or |
| long-lived. | | | | more, so I don't advocate waiting as long as Miranda |
| Her sister and brothers had all passed away at | | | | did. |
| relatively young ages, as had her parents. Miranda | | | | Along with her application form, Miranda was required |
| figured she would be long gone before her money | | | | to give the apartment manager proof of her income |
| ran out. | | | | (a Social Security statement or a pay stub). She was |
| There was only enough left to cover two more | | | | asked about previous landlords who could vouch to |
| months in the retirement apartment when Miranda's | | | | her suitability as a tenant. She was asked to provide |
| grandson called me. | | | | copies of her pharmacy bills, as those expenses are |
| What was she to do? | | | | taken into account when the rent is calculated. This |
| Her monthly income of under $900 wasn't enough to | | | | particular apartment manager also wanted a |
| pay for rent, utilities, food, and her medications in the | | | | statement from her doctor that she was truly |
| least expensive apartment he could find. He asked | | | | independent. |
| me to find her a place in a Medicaid nursing home. | | | | If she had planned on visiting multiple places, Miranda |
| Well, Miranda certainly wasn't nursing home material. | | | | would have taken along several photocopies of all her |
| There was nothing wrong with her mind. She could | | | | information so she could leave it everywhere she |
| fix her own meals, and she could keep up her | | | | applied. |
| apartment (with a little muscle help). She really had no | | | | This is where having someone to come along is |
| medical needs, and wouldn't have qualified for | | | | invaluable. The job can be overwhelming and |
| Medicaid and nursing home care even if she had | | | | exhausting for an older person. |
| wanted to. | | | | If she hadn't found this affordable place, Miranda |
| Which she certainly didn't. | | | | probably would have had to move in with her |
| Her only real problem was lack of money (and a | | | | grandson (NOT a happy thought for either of them), |
| grandson who wasn't any better at planning ahead | | | | or find a little private room to rent in someone's |
| than she was). | | | | home, or try to find someone looking for a |
| After talking with her doctor and the manager of her | | | | roommate. I was ready to try whatever it took to |
| apartment to confirm that she really was capable, I | | | | keep her off the street. |
| set out to try to find a "Section 202" apartment. | | | | Because time was short Miranda had to take what |
| Section 202 housing - named after the section of the | | | | was available. She has since put her name on the |
| federal legislation authorizing it - is rental housing | | | | waiting list at two other apartments that are a little |
| specifically for people over the age of 62 who have | | | | nicer and closer to her grandson. The great thing |
| incomes under 50 percent of the area median | | | | about Section 202 apartments is that you can move |
| income. | | | | whenever and wherever you wish - depending of |
| According to HUD, the U.S. Department of Housing | | | | course on the terms of the lease you have signed. |
| and Urban Development, the average Section 202 | | | | To locate a directory of Section 202 housing in your |
| resident is a woman in her 70s with an annual income | | | | state, go to and choose your state. If you, or |
| of less than $10,000. | | | | someone you care for, is over 62 and on a limited |
| Section 202 residences are built and run by private, | | | | income, Section 202 housing can be a lifesaver. It's |
| non-profit groups who have received loan incentives | | | | very important to plan ahead, though, because these |
| from HUD. HUD is not involved in day to day | | | | apartments are popular. |
| operations. Rents are calculated according to income, | | | | If you have concerns about finances becoming a |
| and rental assistance funds pay whatever balance | | | | problem in the future, start NOW to investigate your |
| remains. | | | | options. There's nothing more frightening than |
| Luckily for them, Miranda and her grandson live in a | | | | outliving your savings - - ask Miranda. |