Free Home Repair Help for Low Income: 12 Grants, Charities & Government Programs

1. Weatherization Assistance Program (WAP)

The Weatherization Assistance Program (WAP) is a government program from the US Department of Energy (DOE). It provides free home repair grants for low-income families.

The WAP provides households with free weatherization services. So, families can use WAP to improve their home’s heating, cooling, and electrical systems. You can also use it to upgrade energy-consuming home appliances.

• Learn more about the program here.

2. Home improvement loan programs

The government offers a few different home improvement loan programs. These home improvement loan programs can help with home repairs and modifications. And, they are the most common type of government financial assistance for home improvements. Some programs are available nationwide, but others are only available at the state or county level.

Some examples include:

• The HUD Title 1 Property Improvement Loan program: The amount you can loan, and repayment terms are limited based on the type of property. Learn more about the program here.
• The 203(k) Rehabilitation Mortgage Insurance Program: This program allows homebuyers and homeowners to borrow an extra $35,000 through their mortgage for home repairs and improvements. Learn more about the program here.

Here’s how you can find programs in your community:

• Contact your local or county government housing department. Get the details here.
• Contact your state Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD) office. Get the details here.
• Find information about energy efficient modification loans or incentives in your state. Get the details here.
• Review a list of FAQs about tax credits here and find rebates near you here for Energy Star products and energy efficiency home improvements.

3. Specially Adapted Housing grant or a Special Housing Adaption grant

Veterans can contact the Department of Veterans Affairs Home Loans Service about Disabled Veterans Housing Assistance.

Veterans with certain service-connected or aging-related disabilities can get housing help. So you may qualify for special housing grants from the Department of Veterans Affairs (VA). This can include the Specially Adapted Housing (SAH) or a Special Housing Adaptation (SHA) grant.

You can apply for a SAH or an SHA grant and use it to:

• Build an adapted home.
• Install ramps or widen doors.
• Make other modifications to help you live independently.

And, if you do qualify for an SAH or SHA grant, but you’re living temporarily in a family member’s home, you may be able to get a Temporary Residence Adaptation (TRA) grant. It can pay for necessary changes to your relative’s home.

• Learn more about disability housing grants for veterans here.

4. Home Improvements and Structural Alterations (HISA)

Another type of Disabled Veteran Housing Assistance is the Home Improvements and Structural Alterations (HISA) grant.

If you are a veteran, then you may be eligible for a Home Improvements and Structural Alterations (HISA) grant. This grant provides medically necessary improvements and structural changes to Veterans/Servicemembers’ primary homes for the following purposes:

• Allowing entrance to or exit from the primary residence.
• Use of essential lavatory and sanitary facilities (e.g., roll in showers).
• Allowing accessibility to kitchen or bathroom sinks or counters (e.g., lowering counters/sinks).
• Improving entrance paths or driveways in the immediate area of the home in order to facilitate access to the home through the construction of permanent ramping.
• Improving plumbing or electrical systems that have been made necessary due to the installation of home medical equipment.

You do not need to have a service-connected disability to qualify.

• Learn more about the HISA grant here.

5. Single Family Housing Repair Loans & Grants/Section 504 Home Repair program

The Single Family Housing Repair Loans & Grants, also known as the Section 504 Home Repair program, provides loans to very-low-income homeowners to repair, improve or modernize their homes or grants to elderly very-low-income homeowners to remove health and safety hazards.

• Learn more about Single Family Housing Repair Loans & Grants from USDA Rural Development here.

6. Habitat for Humanity

Although Habitat for Humanity is known for building affordable housing, it also renovates existing buildings, and it has programs that can help people to repair and upgrade their own homes.

• Find your local Habitat for Humanity affiliate here.

7. The Home Depot Foundation

The Home Depot Foundation works to improve the homes and lives of U.S. veterans, train skilled tradespeople to fill the labor gap, and support communities impacted by natural disasters.

The Home Depot Foundation has a Veteran Housing Grants Program. It awards grants to nonprofit organizations for the new construction or rehabilitation of permanent supportive housing for veterans. Awards typically range from $100,000 to $500,000.

• Learn more about grants from The Home Depot Foundation here.

8. Rebuilding Together

Rebuilding Together helps to provide people with safe and healthy housing.

According to the organization, “Safe and Healthy Housing is the foundation of Rebuilding Together’s home repair work, targeting significant safety and health hazards based on the Eight Principles of Healthy Homes—keep it dry, clean, pest-free, safe, contaminant-free, well-ventilated, maintained and thermally controlled.”

• Find your local affiliate and apply for home repair help from Rebuilding Together here.

9. Homes For Our Troops

Homes for Our Troops is one of America’s top-rated veterans and military charities.

Its mission is to build and donate specially adapted custom homes nationwide for severely injured post-9/11 Veterans, to enable them to rebuild their lives.

• You can request assistance from Homes For Our Troops here.

10. Regional Charities

Low-income families can often get assistance from local charities that help with home repairs. So, it can be a good idea to do some research into charities in your area. An option you can try is calling United Way 211. This is a program that you can use to find services near you. Just call and you can get help with finding free home repairs near you.

• Learn more about United Way 211 here.

11. Local churches

Many churches can help you if you are on a low income and need repairs. It can be a good idea to get in touch with local churches to ask if they could provide you with any assistance.

12. Low Income Home Energy Assistance Program (LIHEAP)

If you are on a low income and need home repairs, then try the Low Income Home Energy Assistance Program (LIHEAP).

LIHEAP assists eligible low-income households with their heating and cooling energy costs, bill payment assistance, energy crisis assistance, weatherization and energy-related home repairs.

• Learn more about LIHEAP here.

Closing Thoughts

If you are on a low income and need home repairs, but can’t afford them, try one of the options on our list above.

Whether you are disabled, a veteran, a senior citizen, or low income, there are government grants and charities that help with home repairs that can help you if you cannot afford home repairs.