Look for our resource-rich local coverage on how to thrive while aging in place in our upcoming summer issue.
A Place for Us
Rental Housing After 55
By Estelle Rodis-Brown
Our homes should reflect who we are, both in style and substance. Comfortable, safe, clean and age-appropriate housing should be within reach of older adults, but the realities of Northeast Ohio’s rental landscape leave many out in the cold.
With inadequate income for amenity-rich retirement complexes and too much money to qualify for government-subsidized housing, folks in the middle face hard choices and no easy answers.
“Those still living in their own homes may not realize what renters face and that they could be confronted with similar issues if they choose to downsize their living space,” says Justine, the pseudonym we have given to protect the identity of a single, 72-year-old West-Side renter.
Orion Bell is familiar with Justine’s plight. He is President and CEO of the Benjamin Rose Institute on Aging. This Cleveland-based organization provides support services to older adults, caregivers and individuals with disabilities, including affordable senior rental housing at Margaret Wagner Apartments.
“There’s a long waiting list for all the affordable housing apartments in Cleveland and probably everywhere,” he says. “Many people don’t qualify for those subsidized units. You can be modestly middle-class and be over-resourced for most subsidized programs. We see that story play out in a number of different ways — how much they spend on housing, finding suitable housing, maintaining what they have — it can all be costly.”
The Numbers
Northeast Ohio’s population is aging rapidly, and rental options for those over 55 haven’t kept pace. Rising rents, stagnant housing inventory, outdated buildings, management turnover, and a lack of age-friendly apartments leave few options for people relying on Social Security and modest pensions.
People like Justine want to know: Where are the affordable rentals for those in the middle?
Nationally, nearly half of older households are considered economically insecure or struggle to cover basic living costs. Many fall into or below the ALICE (Asset Limited, Income Constrained, Employed) category, meaning they are above the federal poverty level but cannot afford necessities.
It’s a national issue with local impact. Senior housing is a big part of the affordability crisis, with 12.1 million U.S. renter households now spending over 50% of their income on rent. Many older adults cannot afford housing, food and medication, so they go without.
Bell said the definition of affordable housing is when no more than 30% of household income goes toward housing (monthly rent/mortgage plus utilities, including water, sewer, gas, electric, etc). For a typical middle-income retiree in their mid-70s in Northeast Ohio who earns $58,000 annually with Social Security, a 401k and an average pension, their affordable price point is $15,000 annually ($1,000 monthly rent plus $250-$300 for utilities).
Apartments for older adults at that price are very difficult to find. Monthly rents in Akron and Cleveland for middle-market, non-subsidized apartments start in the $1,031-$1,658 range. Long wait lists swallow up vacancies as soon as they appear.
Bell says that the housing crisis “is not just a poor people’s problem. We’re talking about most area retirees — The Forgotten Middle. More than half of middle-income seniors in their mid-70s don’t have enough resources for both the costs of housing and health care. Due to inflation, both costs keep going up. Retirees are feeling the squeeze. Those on fixed incomes are kind of stuck.”
Justine’s Story
Justine pays $751 per month for her government-subsidized apartment. She appreciates the reasonable rent, but her living conditions are challenging. She wants to move; however, market-rate rents are three to four times what she pays now.
Justine’s journey — from growing up in Euclid to pursuing higher education and a vibrant career in California, then spending the past decade in a senior apartment complex — mirrors the systemic limitations of this region’s older adult housing landscape. Despite a lifetime of work and careful planning, she’s priced out of and doesn’t qualify for better-suited apartments.
“Many (homeowners) I know would like to downsize but realize what’s out there is unacceptable or financially not where they’re able to go. You’re either stuck in low-income subsidized housing or priced out of more sophisticated facilities with people who may need more care,” she says.
One in five Americans is 65 or older; by 2050, older adults will make up 22.8% of the population.
Fit and healthy, Justine lived in a condo for 12 years before moving to a senior apartment complex at age 62. She waited until she was nearly 69 before drawing Social Security, relying on part-time jobs for cash. Because Justine didn’t earn a salary that was at least three times her rent, as required by most property managers, she opted for the affordable, subsidized senior apartment option. Justine thought it would be a temporary solution. A decade later, she feels locked in with nowhere else to go.
Her apartment building is old, with occasional burst pipes, broken elevators and poor ventilation. She recently looked into moving into a non-subsidized apartment in Rocky River, but the rent ran $1,900 a month for a one-bedroom unit.
Many senior communities charge $4,000 or more a month but are also part of a campus that includes independent living, assisted living and memory care facilities (with increasing monthly costs depending on care provided). These amenity and service-rich continuing care retirement communities are highly desirable, but far beyond what people like Justine can afford.
“Imagine how frustrating and humiliating it is to tell people I live in low-income senior housing,” Justine says. “I’ve had a wealth of experiences but never made a lot of money. However, I don’t consider myself poor.”
Justine’s attempts at self-advocacy — complaining to management, writing to city council and congressional members, health and community services departments, attending public meetings, and contacting nonprofits — have been met with indifference or bureaucratic runaround.
“This is a systemic problem far beyond my complex,” Justine says. “It’s a reflection of how older adults are regarded in our society. Public officials failed to have the foresight to address a growing demographic and incorporate policies that better serve the senior population in terms of housing.
“I’ll say it until I’m blue in the face: Either you are in low-income senior housing or you have to pay astronomical amounts of money to live in a higher-end facility. There is nothing in the middle.”
Justine says, “How can you thrive after 55 when your home does not reflect who you are?”
Rental Rates by Type of Senior Housing
Subsidized/Income-Based Housing (55+ or 62+): These 1-2 bedroom units designed for older adults are often managed through public housing agencies or tax credit programs. Rental rates are based on 30% of the tenant’s adjusted income.
Active Adult/Senior Apartments (55+): These communities offer a maintenance-free lifestyle with amenities like fitness centers and social activities. Examples include 1-2 bedroom units with costs ranging from $1,800 to $2,100+ per month. (Garages/Storage: +$75– $165 per month.)
Independent Living Communities: Designed for active, self-sufficient older adults, these often include dining and social activities, typically at a lower cost than assisted living. In Northeast Ohio, costs average $2,400-$4,800+ per month, with Cleveland averaging $3,920.
Assisted Living: Offers personal care, meals and housekeeping, with Ohio average costs around $5,663 per month.
Memory Care/Nursing Homes: Specialized, higher-cost care. Ohio nursing home average cost: ≈ $9,034 (semi-private) – $10,038 (private) per month.
Primary Source: Where You Live Matters
Senior Housing Trends, By the Numbers
HOMELESSNESS
1 in 4 adults experiencing homelessness in Northeast Ohio is aged 55 or older. (Joseph & Mary’s Home — Northeast Ohio’s only medical respite — reports that in some homeless populations they serve, 61% are over the age of 55.)
UNAFFORDABILITY
30%-45% of older households nationwide are economically insecure or struggle to cover basic living costs. Roughly half of older households fall into the middle-income tier, though the share of the middle class has been shrinking. Many are at risk of falling into lower-income status, with 80% of older households struggling now or at risk of future economic insecurity.
HAVES; HAVE-NOTS
Cleveland’s 22% poverty rate for older adults (65+) is among the worst in the nation. Based on 2024–2025 reports, the economic outlook for Northeast Ohioans aged 55+ is marked by high rates of financial vulnerability and significant income disparities. A small segment of upper-income seniors (roughly 19% of adults overall) holds 74% of all U.S. investable assets.
ALICE (Asset Limited, Income Constrained, Employed)
39% of Ohio households fell below the ALICE threshold in 2025, including a high number of seniors. They are above the federal poverty level but cannot afford necessities. In 2025, 43%-62% of Ohioans aged 65 and older would be considered poor if not for Social Security or pensions, according to the Ohio Poverty Report.
ACCESSIBILITY-FRIENDLY CONSTRUCTION
Less than 4% of available homes are age-appropriate (single-floor, wide doorways, no-step entry). Most existing housing stock lacks these basic accessibility features, and many seniors cannot afford needed modifications. New construction is hampered by high interest rates, labor shortages and rising material costs.
NATIONAL TRENDS; LOCAL IMPACT
In 2026, the U.S. faces a senior housing gap of nearly 370,000 units, with new construction at its lowest since 2012. While occupancy rates for independent living have climbed above 90%, new inventory growth is under 1%. In Northeast Ohio, the situation is further complicated by an aging housing stock, high costs and service gaps.
Local Innovations & Solutions
So, where do we go from here?
Local organizations are working toward flexible, affordable, respectable, community-integrated housing to support an aging population.
Aging-in-Place Support with home modification programs, rental assistance and repair services help seniors stay home safely. Examples: LakewoodAlive, Repair-A-Home Loans, Housing Enhancement Loan, Lead Hazard Control Order Program, Senior Homeowner Assistance Grant, Home Energy Efficiency Services and other community non-profit programs dedicated to supporting local seniors).
Advocacy
- The Benjamin Rose Institute on Aging provides multiple housing resources for older adults, including affordable Margaret Wagner Senior Apartments, service coordination for residents of low-income senior housing, rental and utility assistance programs, foreclosure prevention, property tax assessments, financial counseling and guidance with housing decisions.
- Cleveland’s “Residents First” laws (2024–2025) increase landlord accountability and offer tax abatement for aging-in-place projects.
- The Ohio Department of Aging (AGE) provides home and community-based long-term support and services, as well as initiatives to promote health and wellness throughout the lifespan.
- Unify Akron: The City of Akron and Unify America are collaborating to create the city’s first Civic Assembly to address the local affordable housing crisis, March 14-May 14, 2026.
Resources for Finding Housing
- OhioHousingLocator.org: Search for affordable/accessible units.
- CHN Housing Partners: Lists 55+ and 62+ communities.
- 55places.com: Provides options for 55+ rental communities.
- Portage Housing Authority: Offers lists of privately-owned subsidized housing.
Enhanced funding for programs like the Low-Income Housing Tax Credit (LIHTC) that can spur development.
Technology and AI: Smart home features, telehealth and remote monitoring can support independence.
Policy and Planning: Zoning reforms, walkable communities, and better transit links between housing and healthcare providers. Various municipalities have anti-discrimination laws in effect to protect renters, including Akron.
Innovative Housing Models
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- Accessory Dwelling Units (ADUs): Small, independent units on family properties (popular in Akron, Cleveland and Cleveland Heights);
- Pocket Neighborhoods/Co-housing: Shared amenities and intentional community building (see The Greater Cleveland Cohousing Community Facebook page;
- Single-Story Developments: In partnership with Habitat for Humanity, Cleveland’s modular housing pilot is building affordable, high-quality senior units on vacant lots. Communities like Spencer Court in North Ridgeville offer middle-market, accessible rentals.
- Universal Design: Building and retrofitting homes with accessibility features (zero-step entries, lever handles, wide doorways).
- Integrated Care Models: Programs like PACE (Program of All-Inclusive Care for the Elderly) deliver medical, social and personal care at home, reducing institutionalization. McGregor and similar organizations are pioneering integrated care models. CHN Housing Partners’ Cleveland West Veterans Housing project will provide 62 supportive units for homeless veterans and seniors by Fall 2026.
- Affordable Assisted Living: New Silver Birch facilities in Amherst, Canton and Cuyahoga Falls use Ohio’s LIHTC program for low-to-moderate-income seniors.
- Intergenerational and Community-Centric Models: Griot Village in Cleveland’s Fairfax neighborhood serves seniors with legal custody of minor children, fostering intergenerational support.
- Rural Focus: Expanding broadband, telehealth and community-led care coordination via Area Agencies on Aging and local partnerships.
Higher-Priced,
With Amenities
By Marie Elium
While Northeast Ohio has a shortage of low and moderately priced apartments, there are far more options for those interested in continuing care retirement communities. They’re more expensive than traditional apartments, but offer all-inclusive amenities. One example is Copeland Oaks Retirement Community in Sebring.
An apartment with two bedrooms, two bathrooms, a living room, and a kitchen costs $4,514 per couple monthly, but includes one meal a day and weekly housekeeping. Cable, utilities, property taxes, linen service, transportation, a golf club membership, access to the wellness center and pool, and other benefits are part of the fee.
“One of the main reasons our all-inclusive independent living options (ranch style villas and apartments) appeal to older adults is the simplicity they offer,” says Chelsea Venables, Copeland Oaks director of marketing. “Residents often tell us they enjoy the predictability of knowing what their expenses will be each month without worrying about unexpected repairs or coordinating services themselves.”
Retirement communities like Copeland Oaks offer many accommodations. “Residents know that if their needs change over time, additional levels of care are available right here on campus. That allows many people to remain independent longer while staying in a community they already know and feel comfortable in,” she says.
