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Low Income Senior Apartments in Chicago, IL

10 senior apartment properties in Chicago with rents below the market. Rent is about 30% of your income and the assistance is attached to the apartment. You apply to each property directly.

Senior properties
10
Apartments
2,145
income-based or income-restricted
Age eligibility
Varies
confirm household rules with each property
Historical average payment
$380/mo
HUD-assisted properties; not a current rent quote

Senior apartments in Chicago where rent is based on income

Section 202 and elderly-designated Section 8 properties. Residents pay about 30% of their adjusted income. Age and household requirements depend on the property's program.

How low income senior housing in Chicago works

In HUD-assisted Section 202 and elderly-designated Section 8 properties, HUD pays part of the rent on the apartment. You pay about 30% of your adjusted income, which for most seniors is Social Security and any pension, less HUD's deductions for elderly households. You do not need a voucher, and the assistance stays with the apartment if you move out.

Each property runs its own waiting list, and lists for senior buildings can be long. Apply to every property that fits; being on one list does not take you off another. Neither VoucherMatch nor HUD's data can tell you whether an apartment is open today. The office at each property can.

Income limits in Cook County (FY2026)

Section 202 and most elderly Section 8 properties admit households at or below the very low income limit (the middle column). Most seniors apply as a household of one or two.

Household sizeExtremely low (30%)Very low (50%)Low (80%)
1 person$25,550$42,550$68,050
2 people$29,200$48,600$77,800
3 people$32,850$54,700$87,500
4 people$36,450$60,750$97,200
5 people$39,400$65,650$105,000
6 people$44,360$70,500$112,800
7 people$50,040$75,350$120,550
8 people$55,720$80,200$128,350

Source: HUD FY2026 income limits. Income is gross annual income for the whole household; the property verifies it when your name comes up on the waiting list.

More low income housing in Chicago

All 48 low income apartment properties in Chicago, IL, including properties classified as family housing. Confirm each property’s household requirements. For Section 8 vouchers, see rent limits and housing authorities in Cook County.

Frequently asked questions

How old do you have to be for senior apartments in Chicago?
Age rules vary among HUD-assisted senior properties. Section 202 capital-advance housing requires at least one household member age 62 or older at initial occupancy. Elderly-designated Section 8 properties can have different household requirements; ask for the property’s tenant selection plan. The office at each property can tell you its rule.
How much is rent in low income senior apartments in Chicago?
In the HUD-assisted properties, residents pay about 30% of their adjusted income and HUD pays the rest. The average of reporting senior properties' historical monthly rent-and-utilities payment figures is $380. This is an average of property records, not a current rent quote or a household-weighted city average.
What is the income limit for senior housing in Chicago?
Section 202 and most elderly Section 8 properties admit households at or below the very low income limit, 50% of the area median. In Cook County for FY2026 the 50% limit is $42,550 a year for one person and $48,600 for two. Ask the office which benefit, pension, bank and asset records it needs and how it treats each payment or withdrawal under the applicable income rules.
How do I apply for senior housing in Chicago?
Apply to each property directly; there is no single application for Chicago. Every property keeps its own waiting list, so you can apply to as many of the 10 as you like. Ask each office whether its list is open and what documents it needs. A Section 8 voucher from the housing authority is a separate application, and you can do both.

Property list from HUD's Multifamily Assistance and Section 8 Contracts data. Public housing is not included.