24 C.F.R. § 891.205

§ 891.205 Definitions. (24 CFR Part 891)

In Force
Verified 8/21/2026 · Next check 9/20/2026
effective 8/21/2026FederalAffordable Housing Programs

Operative Text

24 C.F.R. § 891.205
As used in this part in reference to the Section 202 Program, and in addition to the applicable definitions in § 891.105:

Acquisition means the purchase of (or otherwise obtaining title to) existing housing and related facilities to be used as supportive housing for the elderly.

Activities of daily living (ADL) means eating, dressing, bathing, grooming, and household management activities, as further described below:

(1) Eating—May need assistance with cooking, preparing, or serving food, but must be able to feed self;

(2) Bathing—May need assistance in getting in and out of the shower or tub, but must be able to wash self;

(3) Grooming—May need assistance in washing hair, but must be able to take care of personal appearance;

(4) Dressing—Must be able to dress self, but may need occasional assistance; and

(5) Home management activities—May need assistance in doing housework, grocery shopping, laundry, or getting to and from activities such as going to the doctor and shopping, but must be mobile. The mobility requirement does not exclude persons in wheelchairs or those requiring mobility devices.

Congregate space (hereinafter referred to as community space) shall have the meaning provided in section 202 (12 U.S.C. 1701q(h)(1)). The term “community spaces” excludes offices, halls, mechanical rooms, laundry rooms, parking areas, dwelling units, and lobbies. Community space does not include commercial areas.

Elderly person means a household composed of one or more persons at least one of whom is 62 years of age or more at the time of initial occupancy.

Frail elderly means an elderly person who is unable to perform at least three activities of daily living as defined in this section. Owners may establish additional eligibility requirements acceptable to HUD based on the standards in local supportive services programs.

Owner means a single-asset private nonprofit organization that may be established by the Sponsor that will receive a capital advance and project rental assistance payments to develop and operate supportive housing for the elderly as its legal owner. Owner includes an instrumentality of a public body. The purposes of the Owner must include the promotion of the welfare of the elderly. The Owner may not be controlled by or be under the direction of persons or firms seeking to derive profit or gain therefrom.

Private nonprofit organization means any incorporated private institution or foundation:

(1) No part of the net earnings of which inures to the benefit of any member, founder, contributor, or individual;

(2) That has a governing board:

(i) The membership of which is selected in a manner to assure that there is significant representation of the views of the community in which such housing is located; and

(ii) Which is responsible for the operation of the housing assisted under this section, except that, in the case of a nonprofit organization that is the sponsoring organization of multiple housing projects assisted under this section, HUD may determine the criteria or conditions under which financial, compliance, and other administrative responsibilities exercised by a single-entity private nonprofit organization that is the owner corporation of an individual housing project may be shared or transferred to the governing board of such sponsoring organization; and

(3) Which is approved by HUD as to financial responsibility.

Services expenses means those costs needed to provide the necessary services for the elderly tenants, which may include, but are not limited to: health related activities, continuing education, welfare, informational, recreational, homemaking, meal and nutritional services, counseling, and referral services as well as transportation as necessary to facilitate access to these services.

Sponsor means any private nonprofit entity, including a consumer cooperative:

(1) No part of the net earnings of which inures to the benefit of any private shareholder, member, founder, contributor, or individual;

(2) That is not controlled by, or under the direction of, persons or firms seeking to derive profit or gain therefrom; and

(3) That is approved by the Secretary as to administrative and financial capacity and responsibility. The term Sponsor includes an instrumentality of a public body.
Source: Legislative text reproduced verbatim
Plain English

Section 891.205 establishes the specific vocabulary used throughout the Section 202 Supportive Housing for the Elderly program, supplementing the broader definitions found at § 891.105. The provision precisely defines who qualifies as an "elderly person" or "frail elderly" individual, what counts as an activity of daily living (ADL), and what types of organizations may serve as Owners or Sponsors under the program. It also clarifies what constitutes community space, services expenses, and acquisition, ensuring consistent interpretation of these terms across the regulatory framework.

Written by anthropic/claude-sonnet-4.6 · Reviewed on September 4, 2026

Plain English — not legal advice.

For Property Managers

Organizations operating under the Section 202 program should treat the definitions in § 891.205 as the authoritative reference point when determining tenant eligibility, structuring ownership entities, and categorizing allowable expenses. A compliant Owner under § 891.205 is a single-asset private nonprofit that does not permit profit-seeking control, maintains purposes oriented toward elderly welfare, and has received HUD approval for financial responsibility. Operators generally document how prospective tenants meet the ADL-based eligibility thresholds and ensure that any additional eligibility criteria they establish align with local supportive services program standards acceptable to HUD.

General guidance for property managers — not legal advice for your specific situation. Consult an attorney for advice on your case.

For Tenants

For residents or prospective residents of Section 202 supportive housing, § 891.205 defines the baseline eligibility criteria that govern who may qualify for occupancy, including the age threshold of 62 years and the ADL-based definition of "frail elderly." Understanding these definitions can help individuals assess whether a housing provider's eligibility determinations are consistent with the regulatory framework. Those who believe an eligibility decision may not align with the standards set out in § 891.205 may wish to consult a tenant-rights organization, a HUD-approved housing counselor, or seek guidance from HUD directly.

General guidance for tenants — not legal advice for your specific situation. Consult a tenant-rights organization or attorney for advice on your case.

Generated September 4, 2026 — auto-generated, not yet human-reviewed. See /transparency for methodology.

Effective Timeline

Current
Aug 21, 2026
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Related Rules

§ 1437
Declaration of policy and public housing agency organization
§ 5.100
§ 5.100 Definitions.
§ 5.107
§ 5.107 Audit requirements for non-profit organizations.

Source Information

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