No — and this is the most common misconception we hear. A lot of people assume O.W. Collins is senior-only housing for adults 62 and older, but our community is designed for a wider group. There are two ways to qualify, and either path works:

• You're 50 or older
• You're 18 or older and have a disability

The disability path has no upper age limit and no lower limit beyond 18, which means younger adults who often think they "don't fit" anywhere actually do fit here. If you receive Social Security Disability (SSDI), SSI for a disability, or VA disability benefits, you generally meet HUD's disability definition. We never ask about the nature of your condition — just whether you have qualifying documentation.

There's also no upper age cap. Whether you're 50, 70, or 90+, you're welcome to apply.

The person applying for the apartment has to qualify themselves as the head of household — meaning the qualifying age or disability has to apply to the applicant directly, not to a spouse, parent, child, or other family member. We understand this can be confusing, especially when families are trying to help a loved one find housing.

Here's the good news: your family member can absolutely live at O.W. Collins. They just need to be the one who applies as head of household. If you have a parent, spouse, or relative who's 50 or older, or who's 18 or older and has a disability, they're welcome to apply directly. Family members can live with them in the apartment as long as everyone is listed on the lease and the household income falls below the limit for the household size.

The best next step is to call us at (409) 982-6441. We're used to helping families navigate this, and we'll walk you through exactly how to get your loved one started — including helping them gather paperwork and complete the application. We can also do most of the conversation by phone if that's easier.

Rent at O.W. Collins is based on your income, not a fixed monthly number. Most residents pay about 30% of their adjusted income — meaning your gross income minus certain allowances that lower what counts. For adults 50+ and adults with disabilities, those allowances often include things like high medical expenses, disability-related costs, and a standard deduction for elderly or disabled households. Many residents end up paying significantly less than 30% of their gross income because of these adjustments.

Utilities are included too — no separate bills from the electric company or the city water department. For most residents, the total monthly cost is much lower than what they'd pay for a comparable market-rate apartment in Port Arthur.

No. This is one of the most common worries we hear, and we want to put it to rest right away: living at O.W. Collins does not reduce, change, or affect your Social Security, SSI, SSDI, or VA disability benefits in any way. Those benefits are determined by the Social Security Administration or the VA — not by where you live.

Here's how it works on our side: your benefits count as income when we calculate your rent, just like wages or pension payments would. So if your only income is SSI or SSDI, that's what we use to figure out what you'll pay. But your benefit amount itself stays exactly the same as it was before you moved in.

If you've heard that "moving into HUD housing affects your benefits" — that's a myth. The two systems are completely separate. If you ever have specific questions about how your benefits work outside of housing, the Social Security Administration or your VA caseworker is the right place to ask. But living here won't change them.

The program is designed to flex with your life, so income changes don't have to be scary. We recertify your rent once a year — we review your income, household size, and any deductions, then adjust your rent if needed.

Between annual recertifications, you can — and should — let us know if your situation changes. If your income drops significantly (you lose a job, your hours get cut, a benefit gets reduced), call us and we can do what's called an interim recertification to lower your rent right away. You don't have to wait until your annual review to get relief. If your income goes up, we'll capture that at your next annual recertification.

There's no penalty for reporting changes honestly, and there's no benefit to hiding them. The whole point of the program is to make sure your rent stays in line with what you can actually afford. If you ever have a major life change — a new household member, a loss of income, new medical expenses, a death in the family — just call us. We'll handle the paperwork and make sure the math reflects your new reality.