There is no correct answer to who is eligible for free government home improvement grants, as the available programs have varying criteria and different objectives.
Federal agencies promote energy efficiency, health, and safety while redistributing wealth from wealthy taxpayers to needy families. Learn the qualifying standards to increase your chances of approval.
Several population groups are more likely to be eligible than others. Follow along as we break down the approval advantages and apply what we learned to your situation.
Finally, scour a comprehensive listing of available programs broken down by objective and discover when and how to apply for benefits.
Government Home Improvement Objectives
Before answering who qualifies for free home improvement grants, we must address what the federal government is trying to accomplish through these programs. The proposed renovation must meet at least one project and equity goal.
Project Goals
The families eligible for home improvement grants select projects that meet government standards for energy efficiency or health and safety.
Home renovation loans are the primary alternatives for projects falling outside these parameters. You must pay the money back with interest.
Energy Efficiency
Many government home remodeling grants seek to promote energy efficiency to protect the environment. Therefore, your proposed project must reduce the use of oil, gas, or electricity by specified amounts.
Each program uses different energy-efficiency measurements, including a savings-to-investment ratio (SIR), Predicted Energy Savings, and other metrics. Some projects will score more highly than others in this area.
- HVAC replacement equipment (furnaces and air conditioning)
- Household appliances (refrigerators running 24 hours per day)
- Electric heat-pump-driven water heaters (as opposed to gas)
Health & Safety
Other government home renovation grants address health and safety issues to prevent costly medical problems and hospitalizations before they happen. For example, slippery surfaces, fire hazards, and poor indoor air quality are areas of concern.
Therefore, your proposed renovation might need to correct one of these health hazards to qualify. Some of these projects are likely to rank well on this criteria.
- Bathroom remodeling (grab bars, non-slip flooring, walk-in tub)
- Roof repair or replacement to minimize mold from leaky shingles
Equity Goals
Many government home improvement grants seek to foster equity, utilizing means testing and previous enrollment in other entitlement programs as qualifying standards.
Means Testing
Many government home renovation grants are means tested, using the Federal Poverty Level (FPL), Area Median Income (AMI), and other equity-related measures that matrix two components.
- Projected Modified Adjusted Gross Income: Do not overstate
- Number of qualifying household members: Do not understate
Projected Income
Estimate your expected income you will file on your taxes next April, not what you earned in the past. This nuance is especially critical for families coping with unemployment or the onset of a disability (temporary or permanent).
MAGI
Communicate the Modified Adjusted Gross Income (MAGI) for the household, not the total earnings from everyone in your family. MAGI excludes many sources.
- Supplemental Security Income (SSI)
- Gifts of cash
- Worker’s Compensation
- Veterans’ disability payments
- Child Tax Credit checks
Household Size
Report every qualified household member, including yourself, your spouse, and your tax dependents. The bigger the number, the better your qualification odds will be. Do not omit any viable dependents.
- Adopted or foster children
- Children under 21 you take care of
- Dependent parents and siblings
Previous Enrollment
Many government home remodeling grants foster equity by making it easier for specific disadvantaged people to qualify. Several programs waive the means testing requirements noted above for applicants already enrolled in other entitlements.
- Medicaid
- Supplemental Security Income (SSI)
- Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program
- Section 8 Housing Vouchers
- Temporary Assistance for Needy Families (TANF)
Government Home Improvement Eligibility
There is no universal answer to who is eligible for free government home improvement grants, as many agencies offer programs with slightly different means-testing benchmarks. Draw inspiration from these examples to boost your approval odds.
Low-Income
Low-income families are most likely eligible for home improvement grants because the government prioritizes equity and uses means testing in the standards for many programs. See the section above for more details.
Low-income households have extra home repair help, as many non-government entities target help for impoverished families. You might find non-profit organizations, churches, and outreach ministries willing to lend a hand.
Senior Citizens
Senior citizens who satisfy the low-income family requirements are often eligible for free home improvement benefits. Social Security retirement benefits are sometimes inadequate, especially for elderly adults with insufficient IRA balances.
Seniors have expansive home repair benefits. Programs from non-profits, churches, outreach ministries, and other government benefits might apply or reduce other expenses.
- USDA Section 504 Home Repair Program ($10,000 Grant)
- Special Supplemental Benefits for the Chronically Ill (SSBCI)
- The Medicare Savings Program (MSP)
Disabled Homeowners
Homeowners with disabilities often qualify for free home improvement grants because they meet the low-income family requirements or have already enrolled in another government benefit.
Home repair assistance for the disabled is sometimes limited because SSDI recipients do not automatically qualify. Also, projects that do not address energy efficiency or health and safety concerns might require help from charities or churches.
- Disabled homeowners receiving Supplemental Security Income (SSI) have already met the means-testing requirements for many programs.
- Disabled individuals receiving Social Security Disability Insurance (SSDI) meet the benchmarks if their household income falls below the means testing limit, given their household size.
Disabled Veterans
Military veterans with service-related disabilities qualify for free home improvement benefits and the opportunities noted in the section above. The Veterans Administration offers several programs unique to this brave group of patriots.
Apply for service disability grants through the VA to determine eligibility.
- Specially Adapted Housing (SAH)
- Special Housing Adaptation (SHA)
- Temporary Residence Adaptation (TRA)
- Home Improvement and Structural Alterations (HISA)
Single Mothers
Single mothers frequently satisfy free government home improvement requirements when they meet the low-income family standards. Women raising young children alone often have difficulty holding down a full-time job.
Other government assistance programs for single mothers translate into automatic approval of the means testing requirement. As noted above, previous enrollment in other benefit programs allows applicants to skip this qualifying step.
- Medicaid
- Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program
- Section 8 Housing Vouchers
- Temporary Assistance for Needy Families (TANF)
Foster Parents
Foster parents are more likely to be eligible for home improvement grants because both components in the means-testing conditions favor their unique situations.
- Foster children count as dependents when filing federal income taxes, meaning parents can report them as household members. Larger households are more likely to meet the income limits established by the specific programs.
- Monthly subsidies to foster parents represent non-taxable payments, meaning the extra money does not count towards the Modified Adjusted Income (MAGI) reported when applying for benefits.
Cancer Patients
Cancer patients often qualify for free home improvement grants because they meet the low-income family requirements, have already enrolled in a related program, and have an acute health and safety need.
- Providers can deny cancer treatment without insurance, so many patients enroll in Medicaid, making them automatically eligible for several government programs.
- Many cancer patients must stop working, meaning they rely on disability benefits to replace their earning power. They often meet the low-income means testing requirements.
- Cancer patients have weakened immune systems after debilitating rounds of radiation and chemotherapy, meaning they have a pre-existing condition that may spur upgrades. For instance, poor air quality, mold, and asthma triggers might require remediation.
Autistic Child
Parents raising an autistic child have two unique avenues for boosting eligibility odds for specific home improvement grants from the government. They can address health and safety concerns or take advantage of other benefits.
Children with autism require specific adaptations to keep them safe at home. Acceptable projects might include the following health and safety-related adaptations.
- Removal of fluorescent lighting and replacement with softer LED
- Upgrading blinds and shades to control outdoor light intensity
- Install surveillance technologies to alleviate intrusion anxiety
- Mount soundproof panels and curtains to minimize noises
- Deploy alarm systems and locks to prevent wandering
Disaster Victims
Natural disaster victims frequently meet free home improvement benefits requirements because two additional government programs might contribute assistance.
Two programs might assist disaster victims with zero-cost roof replacement if high hurricane winds or wildfire flames destroy shingles, sheathing material, rafters, etc.
- Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA)
- Single Family Housing Rural Disaster Home Repair (USDA)
High-Income
Households with higher incomes are eligible for different government home improvement grants because they pay federal income taxes, whereas most other recipients do not. The IRS supports money-saving tax credits (energy efficiency) and medical expense deductions (health & safety) with a hidden benefit.
Rigid flooring financing with no credit check is possible via a Flexible Spending Account when the project is medically necessary. Employers must reimburse qualifying expenses immediately, giving the employee up to 52 weeks to repay the loan using pre-tax payroll deductions.
For instance, a moldy, dusty, and mite-harboring rug might exacerbate breathing issues for a family member with asthma. Installing hygienic rigid flooring could alleviate the symptoms.
School Teachers
Finally, school teachers are the least likely group to qualify for free home improvement because they fall into the middle ground, and no unique government benefits seem to exist.
Teachers are middle-income wage earners. They make too much to pass the means-testing requirements and might earn too little for IRS tax credits and medical expense deductions. However, educators who are single mothers, foster parents, cancer patients, disaster victims, or have an autistic child might have better approval odds.
The National Education Association lists grant opportunities for teachers, but the program objectives revolve around cultivating learning outcomes, not residences.
- Enhanced critical thinking and problem-solving skills
- Master of essential academic content
- Communication and collaboration skills
Home Improvement Grant Availability
The government agency administering each home improvement grant determines eligibility for each applicant and project. Scan this listing of available opportunities organized by the objective of finding programs that match your needs and profile.
The federal money often flows to states where pertinent agencies implement the benefits. Therefore, as these related pages outline, you must apply at a local endpoint.
General Purpose
At least two home improvement grants are available to address general-purpose renovations. Given their non-specific nature, the eligibility requirements are strictest, and the application points are most challenging to find.
| Program | Means Test | Application Point |
|---|---|---|
| HUD Home Investment Partnership Program | 30% of AMI | State agencies and local non-profit organizations |
| BAI Housing Improvement Program | 150% of FPL | State Indian Tribal Servicing office |
| USDA Housing Preservation | Not Applicable | State agencies, non-profits, tribal offices |
Energy-Efficiency
Multiple home improvement grants for energy efficiency are available (or will be soon) from various government agencies. To qualify, the project must meet specified measurable standards.
| Program | Means Test | Energy Criteria | Application Point |
|---|---|---|---|
| DOE Weatherization Assistance Program | 200% of FPL | Meet Savings-to-Investment Ratio | Local certified contractor |
| HHS Low Income Home Energy Assistance Program | 150% of FPL Poverty Level 60% of State Median Income | Determined at the state level | Local utility provider (gas or electric) |
| DOE Home Energy Rebates* | 150% of AMI: covers up to 80% of costs Above 150% AMI: covers up to 50% of costs | Predicted to save at least 20% of the home’s energy use | To be determined by each state participating |
| DOE Home High-Efficiency Electric Home Rebates* | 80% of AMI: covers up to 100% of costs 150% of AMI: covers up to 50% of costs | Qualified electrification projects as listed | Point of Sale as determined by states participating |
| EPA Energy Star Rebates | Not Applicable | Meet strict energy-efficiency specifications set by the U.S. EPA | Point of Sale |
| IRS Home Energy Tax Credits | Filers with a tax liability | Requirements detailed on energy.gov | Complete IRS Form 5695 |
* The Inflation Reduction Act enacted and funded both programs. However, at publication time, the states have yet to establish systems supporting the effort. Delay any suitable projects until your state is ready.
Health & Safety
Several home improvement grants are available to address health and safety issues. You may need a signed letter from your physician to establish medical necessity, as the government lacks concrete standards to measure when qualifying recipients.
| Program | Means Test | Health Criteria | Application Point |
|---|---|---|---|
| USDA Section 504 | Very Low Income by County Over age 62Reside in a designated rural area | Remove health and safety hazards. | Local Rural Development office |
| VA Home Improvements and Structural Alterations | Have a service-connected disability | Medically justified given the disability | Complete VA Form 10-0103 and submit |
| IRS Medical Expense Deductions | Have a tax liabilityItemize deductions Medical expenses exceed 7.5% of Adjusted Gross Income | Payments for the diagnosis, cure, mitigation, treatment, or prevention of disease or treatments affecting any structure or function of the body | Complete Schedule A |
| IRS Flexible Spending Account | Have a tax liability | Same as above | Enroll at work |
| IRS Health Savings Account | Have a tax liability | Same as above | Enroll at work or through Healthcare.gov |
Disaster Assistance
At least two home improvement grants are available from government agencies to help homeowners victimized by natural disasters such as earthquakes, hurricanes, wildfires, flooding, tornados, landslides, and mudslides.
| Program | Means Test | Disaster Criteria | Application Point |
|---|---|---|---|
| Federal Emergency Management Agency | Project costs exceed homeowner insurance claim payment | Your area has been declared for individual assistance | Complete the online form at disaster.gov |
| USDA Single Family Housing Rural Disaster Home Repair | Located in an eligible rural area Have an adjusted household income within the very-low- and low-income limit | Presidentially declared disaster in your county | Contact the USDA office in your state |
Water Conservation
Finally, at least one government home improvement grant is available to help homeowners conserve water by lowering the use of precious H2O in bathtubs, showers, faucets, toilets, sprinkler systems, etc.
| Program | Means Test | Conservartion Criteria | Application Point |
|---|---|---|---|
| EPA WaterSense Rebates | Not applicable | WaterSense labeled products | Contact your local water provider directly |
