By Jayne Thompson Updated August 01, 2017

The U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development awards grants for home repairs by giving money to local housing agencies, cities and charities. Much of the cash goes toward helping senior citizens through local Area Agencies on Aging programs, but other programs such as Community Block Development Grants, Rebuilding Together and HOME also help finance home repairs.

Area Agency on Aging

The Area Agency on Aging assists elderly citizens with subsidized or free home repair, depending on their city of residence. Services are focused on making the home safe and warm, for example, by replacing outdated heating and plumbing systems, fixing hazardous electrical systems or deteriorated roofs, and making modifications for handicapped accessibility. Assistance is based on income according to a sliding scale. Contact your local Area Agency on Aging to see if you qualify.

Community Block Development Grants

Through the CDBG entitlement program, HUD provides grants that enable cities and counties to revitalize urban communities. Grant recipients use the money to buy, construct or rehabilitate housing, primarily for low- and moderate-income households, and some communities provide grants to eligible families for home repair. Assistance varies by area, so contact the program administrator for your town or city listed on HUD’s CDBG contacts page for details.

Rebuilding Together Program

HUD provides grant money to the national Rebuilding Together program. Through its local offices, the program provides home modifications and critical repair programs for eligible individuals. Programs are focused on assisting low-income seniors, veterans and disabled individuals. San Francisco, for example, provides free home repairs to low-income elderly and disabled residents to allow them to live more safely and independently in their homes, such as installing shower chairs and bathroom grab bars. Find your local office by searching “Rebuilding Together” and the name of your city or county.

Home Investment Partnerships Program

The Home Investment Partnerships Program provides grants for home repair and rehabilitation projects to eligible city and county governments. Local governments and community housing development organizations distribute the money to local homeowners in serious need of repair. Assistance may take the form of grants, loans or other types of credit assistance. The major requirement is that beneficiaries must not earn more than 80 percent of the median annual income for the area. In Alameda County, for example, a family of four earning less than $80,400 qualifies for HOME. HUD publishes income limits each year on its website. Learn more by contacting the California Department of Housing and Community Development.

Indian Housing Block Grant Program

The Indian Housing Block Grant Program provides grant money to federally recognized Indian tribes or tribally designated housing entities. Recipients must use the assistance for eligible housing activities such as house building, home repairs and energy audits for low-income Indian families on Indian reservations and other Indian areas. Contact HUD’s Southwest Office of Native American Programs for information and eligibility requirements.

About the Author

Jayne Thompson earned an LLB in Law and Business Administration from the University of Birmingham and an LLM in International Law from the University of East London. She practiced real estate law in various “big law” firms before launching a career as a commercial writer. Her work has appeared on numerous property sites including Housemaster, For Rent and Active Rain. Find her at www.whiterosecopywriting.com.

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