Low-income disabled seniors in Detroit and other parts of southeastern Michigan have access to Housing Choice Vouchers.
Seniors lost 32 percent of their buying power from 2000 to 2010, according to the Senior Citizens League. Nine percent of seniors in Michigan are living at or below the poverty level, per the Kaiser Family Foundation. Social Security benefits are based on how much you paid in over your lifetime; disabled persons may not have worked as long, and so may have a lower monthly benefit. So, low-income housing is critical for disabled seniors. Disabled seniors in southeastern Michigan have access to housing assistance, public housing, specialized apartment search sites and other financial help.
Housing Choice Vouchers
Housing Choice Vouchers are funded by the federal government and distributed by local public housing authorities. There are public housing authority offices throughout southeastern Michigan. Eligibility for Housing Choice Vouchers is based on income, assets, size of your household and other circumstances, like disability or age. If you're approved for a voucher, you can use it for any apartment you choose that accepts the vouchers and is approved by the Public Housing Authority as being healthy and safe. The voucher is paid directly to your landlord and you're responsible for any difference in cost.
Public Housing
Detroit is the largest city in Michigan and is located in southeastern Michigan. Detroit has 4,000 public housing units; to apply you need to visit the individual public housing building. Eligibility is based on your income, assets, the size of your household and your situation, including if you're disabled or a senior. All adults also have to pass a credit and criminal background check. One of the buildings, Woodbridge Senior Enhanced, is an assisted living facility. Ann Arbor, also in southeastern Michigan, has seven public housing apartment buildings specifically designed for seniors and the disabled, along with couples or small families. These are near downtown Ann Arbor and along bus lines.
Housing Search Assistance
In addition to the Detroit Housing Commission and local public housing authority offices, there are a few websites that focus on low-income housing. Apartmenthomeliving's Detroit page has a specialized low-income search that you can filter by neighborhood, number of bedrooms and amenities. Affordable Housing Online lets you search by city and only lists low-income apartments. The Michigan Housing Development Authority website lets you narrow your low-income apartment search to buildings that accept vouchers, buildings that base the rent on your income, senior apartments or are accessible for the disabled (see Resources).
Other Assistance
Assisted living facilities are apartments that allow you a measure of independence and privacy, but you can elect help as needed. You may want meal delivery and medication reminders, for example, but not help with dressing or getting in or out of bed. There are assisted living facilities throughout southeastern Michigan and the costs vary widely. You also can opt to have home health care in your own home; this may be covered by Medicaid depending on the services required and whether they are prescribed by a doctor. Your home health care agency can help you determine whether your services are covered by Medicaid.
Tags: public housing, southeastern Michigan, Choice Vouchers, Housing Choice, Housing Choice Vouchers, also have, apartment search
