USDA Section 504 Repair Loans and Grants
The USDA Rural Development Section 504 program provides loans and grants to very low-income homeowners in rural areas for critical repairs and health/safety hazard removal. Loans: up to $40,000 at 1% fixed interest, 20-year term, for households at or below 50% AMI. Grants: up to $10,000 for homeowners age 62+ who cannot repay a loan — for health and safety hazards only. Combined maximum: $50,000 for elderly homeowners. Apply at your local USDA Rural Development Service Center (rd.usda.gov). Property must be in a USDA-eligible rural area.
HUD CDBG Home Repair Programs
HUD's Community Development Block Grant (CDBG) funds local housing rehabilitation programs. Cities and counties above population thresholds receive CDBG entitlement funding and can use it for owner-occupied home repair. Programs typically offer deferred loans (converted to grants if you stay 5–15 years), low-interest second mortgages, or emergency repair grants for acute health and safety hazards. Income limits are typically 80% AMI. Call your city or county housing department and ask about "housing rehabilitation" or "home repair assistance."
State Home Repair Programs
Many states operate their own repair assistance through housing finance agencies — search "[your state] housing finance agency home repair." State programs vary significantly: some provide emergency repair grants for furnace failures and roof damage; others offer below-market home improvement loans. Area Agencies on Aging (eldercare.acl.gov) often have repair programs specifically for seniors. Contact your state HFA and local AAA to find what's available. Also see HUD Home Improvement Grants for federal grant channels.
Habitat for Humanity and Nonprofits
Habitat for Humanity's A Brush With Kindness program uses volunteer labor to provide free exterior repairs — painting, siding, porch repair — for income-qualifying homeowners (typically 30–60% AMI). Find your local affiliate at habitat.org. Rebuilding Together (rebuildingtogether.org) similarly provides critical home repair through volunteer networks, particularly for elderly and disabled homeowners. Area Agency on Aging programs often coordinate minor repair and modification work for seniors. Contact your local CAA, which typically knows about all repair programs in the county.
VA Home Repair Grants for Veterans
Veterans with qualifying service-connected disabilities can receive significant VA home modification grants: Specially Adapted Housing (SAH) grant up to $109,986; Special Home Adaptation (SHA) grant up to $22,036; Home Improvements and Structural Alterations (HISA) grant up to $6,800 for non-service-connected disability adaptations. Apply through VA Regional Loan Centers at va.gov or call 1-800-827-1000.
How to Find Programs Near You
Four reliable approaches: (1) Call 211 and ask for home repair assistance for low-income homeowners. (2) Call your city or county housing department — ask for housing rehabilitation programs. (3) Contact your local community action agency (communityactionpartnership.com) — they know all programs in the county. (4) Contact your Area Agency on Aging (eldercare.acl.gov) if you're 60+. The Local Assistance Directory covers repair programs alongside housing and energy resources.
What Repairs Are Typically Covered
Programs generally prioritize health and safety hazards over cosmetic improvements. Commonly covered: roof repair or replacement, furnace/heating system repair or replacement, plumbing failures, electrical hazards, structural repairs, accessibility modifications (ramps, grab bars), and lead paint hazard remediation in homes with young children. Cosmetic work — flooring, kitchen/bath upgrades, paint — is generally not covered.