This website lists virtually all of the subsidized low income and very low income senior housing sites throughout the five boroughs of New York City. Also listed are middle income Mitchell-Lama developments which are either wholly or partially set aside for seniors, and “Market Rate Housing With Services” sites, which are commonly, but incorrectly (since they’re not yet licensed), referred to as assisted living facilities.

If your main reason for seeking new housing is financial relief rather than needing to live in a senior environment, then you may also want to check out other sources of low income “Family Type” housing that aren’t listed in this website. The best referral tool to locate all affordable housing within New York City is the New York City Affordable Housing Resource Center.

Adult Homes

Adult Homes provide long-term residential care, room and board, housekeeping, personal care (which includes assistance with bathing and dressing), and supervision to a minimum of five dependent adults. Congregate meals are provided three times daily, and a full range of planned activities and outings are usually offered. Adult homes do not provide nursing and medical care, but a number of these facilities contract with physicians who visit residents when necessary. A large number of adult homes also provide services to younger, mentally ill or disabled adults. Rooms may be private or shared, and homes in New York City range in size from 30 to 400 beds.

To be eligible for an adult home, an individual must be either ambulatory or able to transfer from a bed to a chair, alert, and continent.

Adult Homes are licensed by the New York State Department of Health (regulated by the New York State Department of Social Services, and) Operators may be proprietary, public or not for profit agencies. Private facilities often charge between $1,200 and $3,000 a month, and may not be a viable option for seniors with limited incomes. Some residences that offer luxury hospitality services may have monthly charges significantly higher. However, approximately one-third of the adult homes in New York City accept Social Security (SSA), Supplemental Security Income (SSI), or Social Security Disability (SSD) as full payment.

Market Rate Housing with Services

Market Rate Housing with Services usually consist of studio or one bedroom apartments which come with a basic package of housekeeping and personal services. Services usually include light housekeeping, linen service, social programs, and two or three meals daily served in a congregate dining room. Additional personal and home health services are available on an ala carte basis, including services for individuals with dementia in some residences. This type of accommodation with the basic service package generally costs between $4,000-$6,000 per month.

At present, many of these facilities are not licensed and have no governmental oversight. Some are certified by New York State as an Enriched Housing Program, and a few are certified Adult Homes; both monitored by the state.

Mitchell-Lama Housing

Mitchell-Lama housing, overseen by either the New York State Division of Housing and Community Renewal or the New York City Department of Housing Preservation and Development, provides subsidized rental and cooperative apartments for middle income New Yorkers. A small portion of this housing stock was developed for and is occupied exclusively by the elderly, but there are no age limitations on applying to any Mitchell-Lama development. This type of housing does not generally provide supportive services, but limited services such as transportation, social services, and leisure activities are available in some developments. Rents and carrying charges vary throughout the Mitchell-Lama developments, as do income requirements. Generally, for a household of three persons or less, annual income may not exceed seven times the annual rent.

Public Housing

This refers to housing built and managed by the New York City Housing Authority (NYCHA) for low and moderate income residents of New York City. Public Housing provides independent, rent subsidized apartment living with the availability of some social services as needed. NYCHA maintains over 300 housing developments throughout the five boroughs. Most of these developments are "family type" i.e. not specifically reserved for the elderly. Forty-two of these developments have been built for and are occupied almost exclusively by the elderly. This guide lists the senior only NYCHA developments for this borough.

It is important to note that, at present, NYCHA policy doesn't allow application to a specific project thus, an application to NYCHA may result in the applicant being offered housing that is not "senior only".

Current (2004) maximum gross annual income limits for NYCHA public housing are $35,150 for a one-person household, and $40,200 for a two-person household. These limits are subject to change on a yearly basis.

Section 202 Housing

Section 202 Housing, is the main source of subsidized, low-income housing for seniors in New York City with over 170 projects located throughout the five boroughs. The program is federally funded by the U.S. Dep't of Housing and Urban Development (HUD) which provides grants to not-for-profit religious and civic groups, each of which constructs their own building.

Accommodations consist of studio and one bedroom apartments which are made available to seniors aged 62 and over. Residents pay 30% of their income for rent, with federal subsidies covering the balance of the unit's fair market price. Projects vary in the services that are provided, ranging from none to a full complement of support services. Services may include a daily congregate meal, housekeeping, transportation, and social services. Most buildings have 5-10% of the apartments set aside for accessible units for disabled. Buildings built prior to 1991 can also accept disabled adults aged 18 and over for these units.

To be eligible for residency in most Section 202 projects, a household must have at least one member 62 years of age or older, and must have a gross annual income of no more than $22,000 for a one-person household, and no more than $25,100 for a two-person household.

Single Room Occupancy (SRO)

SROs offer single adults permanent housing consisting of a one-room unit, often with a shared bathroom and/or kitchen. Most SROs accept any age group, and some accept the elderly as the primary population. Some SROs offer supportive services for residents with special needs, including the mentally ill, homeless or people with AIDS-related illnesses.

Generally, tenants are referred to an SRO through the City's shelter system or community-based agencies (see the Emergency Housing section), but up to 20% of the units may be rented to very low income adults from the community in need of housing.