Finding Low-Income Senior Housing in Denver, CO

Denver is one of the country’s most visually stunning cities. Backed by magnificent mountain ranges, crystal clear streams, and acres and acres of lush woodlands, you’re never far away from seeing something that truly takes your breath away. Denver is a literal wonderland for adventurous souls.

In fact, Denver is quite a popular city for older adults. It’s considered an age-friendly city thanks to it being highly walkable and having an excellent public transportation system. Accessible transportation is key to its ability to enhance the mobility and independence of its older adults. But it is also home to several nationally recognized healthcare facilities, hospitals, and medical centers, as well as a wide variety of specialized care providers. With its well-developed healthcare system, Denver has award-winning healthcare solutions that every older adult will appreciate.

Denver also offers a vibrant cultural scene with its impressive array of museums, art galleries, theaters, and music venues. The city also provides ample social and cultural opportunities for older adults to enjoy thanks to the numerous events and festivals it hosts throughout the year. Further adding to Denver’s allure is its mild climate with four distinct seasons. While winters can be cold, the city enjoys plenty of sunshine throughout the year. The mild and moderate climate can be especially appealing to those seniors who prefer experiencing the changing of the seasons but without the extreme temperatures.

Denver also offers certain tax advantages to older adults that can help them maximize their limited incomes. For instance, Colorado law excludes from Colorado state income tax total pension income up to $20,000 per year per person for those retirees age 55 through 64, or $24,000 for those retirees age 65 and over. The retiree’s age on December 31 is used to determine the exclusion amount for that year.

There’s even a very good selection of affordable senior housing options in the metro Denver area, including many low-cost apartment communities for seniors. In this guide, you will learn more about the different low-income senior housing options available in Denver, as well as eligibility requirements, and more. The topics covered include:

• Low-Income Seniors' Housing Options in Denver, CO
• About Denver’s Low-Income Senior Housing Programs
• DHA/HUD Housing Choice Voucher Program
• Section 202 Supportive Housing for the Elderly Program
• Low-Income Housing Tax Credit Program (LIHTC)
• Frequently Asked Questions About Qualifying For Affordable Housing Programs
• Additional Assistance for Denver’s Low-Income Seniors
• How to Find Low-Income Housing for Seniors in Denver, CO

Low-Income Seniors' Housing Options in Denver, CO

In the metro Denver area, seniors make up a sizable portion of the population. In fact, nearly 20% of the population in the metro Denver area are seniors aged 60 and over. But while poverty among the elderly has slightly reduced in Denver over the last decade, there remains 14% who live at 200% of the poverty threshold, and another 7% who live at 100% of the poverty threshold.

With so many seniors facing financial hardship, it is important for the city to provide adequate and affordable housing options for those who do meet low- to very low-income standards. In recent years, Denver has certainly improved in this area, with several new senior-friendly apartment communities being built that accept one or more of the reduced rent programs for low-income seniors.

But despite recent increases in units, it can still be challenging to find affordable housing for some low-income seniors, especially for those who don’t know where to start. Additionally, it can also be easy to get overwhelmed when trying to determine which housing program to apply for. The following will give you a brief overview of the different low-income senior housing programs in Denver, CO.

About Low-Income Senior Housing Programs in Denver

With more than 60 senior living and retirement communities in the Denver area, seniors have a good selection of communities to choose from. There are also a few different income-based housing programs that can help older adults afford their monthly rent. These programs include the DHA/HUD Housing Choice Voucher Program, Section 42 Housing, HUD’s Section 202 Supportive Housing for the Elderly Program, and Low-Income Housing Tax Credits (LIHTC).

DHA/HUD Housing Choice Voucher Program

The Denver Housing Authority (DHA), along with HUD, offers a Housing Choice Voucher Program (formerly known as Section 8) that can help seniors afford safe, high-quality housing by providing them with rental assistance payments. To qualify for the vouchers, the senior (or the entire household if others are living in the same apartment) must meet certain basic eligibility requirements, including:

• Must not be a registered sex offender and/or not convicted of methamphetamine manufacture or production on public housing premises
• Must have not been evicted from federally assisted housing for drug-related criminal activity in the past 3 years
• Must have not been evicted from federally assisted housing within the past 5 years
• Must not owe money to any subsidized housing program
• Cannot exceed annual gross income guidelines, which are currently set at or below 30% of the area median income

Since these housing vouchers are in such high demand, the DHA holds an online interest lottery registration once a year. Entries do not carry over from year to year, so persons who are not selected must re-register each year. Once a senior is selected from the interest lottery, they are mailed an HCV housing application to complete and return with their verification documents. This begins the application process to being approved for the voucher program.

Section 42 Housing

Section 42 housing is a type of subsidized housing that is intended to help seniors and families with low incomes acquire safe and affordable housing. Generally, incomes for Section 42 housing must be less than 50% of the county’s average mean income (AMI) with a floor set at 30% of AMI. Applicants must also meet their local HUD’s requirements and programs.

Unlike the housing voucher program, which is designed to help people with very low income, Section 42 housing is for people who fall under the low-income classification. Section 42 tenants pay a capped rent amount that is determined by HUD guidelines and their landlord. To apply for Section 42 rent assistance, you can apply through your landlord or property manager.

Section 202 Supportive Housing for the Elderly Program

Section 202 Supportive Housing for the Elderly Program is another HUD program that is designed for seniors over the age of 62 who meet either low-income or very low-income standards as well as any other eligibility requirements established by HUD. Under this program, capital advances are provided by HUD to “finance the construction, rehabilitation, or acquisition with or without rehabilitation of structures that will serve as supportive housing for very low-income elderly persons, including the frail elderly.” The program also provides rent subsidies for the projects to help make them more affordable to those in need.

The Section 202 program provides very low-income elderly with options that allow them to live independently but in an environment that provides certain beneficial support activities such as cleaning, cooking, transportation, and more. To apply for a Section 202 apartment, a senior must submit an application in response to a Notice of Funding Availability (NOFA) posted on Grants.gov.

Low-Income Housing Tax Credit Program (LIHTC)

The Low-Income Housing Tax Credit program is designed to encourage owners of multi-family apartment communities in Denver to designate a certain number of their units as income-based apartments to provide low-income seniors with reduced rent housing. These complexes are also known as tax credit properties.

Low-income tax credit communities can sometimes be identified because they use the word “affordable” or the terms “Income Limit Restrictions Apply" and/or "Variable Pricing Structure” in their ads and/or other marketing materials. Unlike the above-mentioned programs, every community that partakes in the LIHTC program has its own income eligibility requirements, so it's important to ask when contacting them.

It is also important to note that LIHTC apartments can be in short supply due to the high demand in Denver, and in many cases, they can have even stricter qualification requirements than HUD’s programs. As a result, there tends to be long waiting lists for these programs, and some can even be closed to new applications periodically simply because the agencies can’t keep up with the demand.

Frequently Asked Questions About Qualifying For Affordable Housing Programs

Low-income apartments, especially those that are designed for seniors, are routinely in short supply, so it is not uncommon for seniors to be kept on a waiting list while they wait their turn for a unit to become available. Some applicants may even be outright denied eligibility for one of several reasons. If you are applying for low-cost senior housing, then here are answers to some of the most common questions about qualifying and being approved.

Q1. What are the eligibility requirements for Denver’s low-income senior housing?

Seniors applying for low-income senior housing in Denver must be at least 62 years old and have a gross annual income that does not exceed HUD’s income limits. Applicants must also meet the terms of the lease for the apartment they are applying for.

Q2. Can I be denied low-income senior housing?

Yes. Not all of the programs have the same eligibility requirements, so it is important to know what the requirements are before you apply for the program you’re interested in. That said, you can still be denied for a range of different reasons. The most common reason for denial is having an income that exceeds the income limit imposed by the housing program being applied for, but other reasons can include having a low credit score, a poor rental history, a criminal record, and/or the need for ongoing medical care or daily assistance that’s not provided by the apartment community.

Q3. Can I appeal my denial?

Yes. If you apply for a program and are denied, you will receive a written notice from the program that includes the reason for denial. In that letter, there will also be instructions for filing an appeal.

Q4. How can I improve my chances of being approved for low-income senior housing?

Failing to provide the program’s authorities with complete and accurate information on your application will automatically result in a denial, so providing honest, up-to-date information is essential. You will also be immediately denied if you fail to show up at any scheduled interview, so you should also plan on being present at all requested interviews and follow up whenever needed.

Additional Assistance for Denver’s Low-Income Seniors

If you are a low-income senior in Denver, then along with the low-income housing programs there are some other programs that you may find beneficial that can help you live a better quality of life. One is the state’s Old Age Pension program. The Old Age Pension program provides financial assistance and, at times, health care assistance, to low-income Colorado residents who are 60 and older. To apply, you must be a Colorado resident, apply in the county where you live, and be either US-born, a naturalized citizen, or a legal alien admitted to the United States. To learn more, call 720-944-4DHS (4347).

Denver’s Office on Aging also offers a variety of programs and services that can benefit older adults. From transportation services to adult protective services and more, the office is committed to improving the quality of life and accessibility to care and culture for the city’s aging residents.

If you need to apply for SNAP food benefits, help paying energy bills, cash assistance, or other state-provided benefits, Colorado PEAK is the resource you need. Simply create an account online and submit your application to find out which programs you are eligible for.

How to Find Low-Income Housing for Seniors in Denver, CO

Finding available low-income housing solutions in Denver, CO can already be difficult, but finding such apartments that are designed for seniors can be even more challenging. But at Senioridy, we help take the worry out of your apartment search. Use our free online search directory and make your search easier. With our customizable search options, you can find the perfect senior apartment in your choice of neighborhood.

Once you find an apartment you are interested in, you will find the appropriate contact details within the search results and you can apply for residency directly through the community. The unit's managing authority will conduct an interview and screening to determine if you qualify for low-income senior housing. If you meet all the eligibility requirements for low-income senior living, then an apartment will be allocated for you and you can take your next step toward obtaining a safe and well-maintained living space that is designed for low-income seniors in Denver.