Question:
What are age-designated communities?
Answer:
In an effort to preserve housing specifically designated for older adults, Congress exempted age-designated senior housing from the familial status requirements of the Federal Fair Housing Act which prohibits discrimination against children. The exemption allows HUD to determine that the housing is:
- specifically designed for and occupied by elderly persons under a federal, state, or local government program, or
- occupied solely by persons who are 62 or older, or
- houses at least one person who is 55 or older in at least 80 percent of the occupied units, or
- adheres to a policy that demonstrates intent to house persons who are 55 or older.
The Housing for Older Americans Act (HOPA), passed by Congress in 1995, establishes the criteria for age-designated communities. In addition to meeting the above criteria, the housing facility or community must also comply with rules issued by HUD for the verification of occupancy provisions, and other requirements which can be found in the legislation. For more information, go to www.hud.gov.