Only specific people in rural areas can get free government grants to fix or improve their homes.
The federal government does not award grants to individuals or families. The money goes to states, universities, and non-profits to help the public.
State agencies receiving federal grants use the money to fund various home improvement and repair benefits. Families can get help if they meet the program’s qualifying criteria.
Changes may happen now that President Trump is in office. Watch for updates.
Income & Family Size Criteria
The federal government provides grants to state agencies. These agencies support free home improvement and repair benefits locally. Income relative to the federal poverty level (FPL) is the primary qualifier for most programs.
The FPL limits income levels based on household size, as shown below.
| Persons in Household | Poverty Guideline |
|---|---|
| 2 | $21,150 |
| 3 | $26,650 |
| Each additional | $5,500 |
Income Estimate
Don’t risk losing home improvement benefits by overstating your income. The government asks for a future estimate of your modified adjusted gross income (MAGI).
- Estimate the income you expect to report on your taxes next April, not what you earned before. This nuance is crucial for families dealing with unemployment or a new disability.
- 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
Don’t risk losing eligibility for home repair programs by underreporting your full household size. Each extra person adds $5,500 to the income limit.
Report every qualified household member, including yourself, your spouse, and your tax dependents. Do not omit any eligible dependents.
- Adopted or foster children
- Children under 21 you take care of
- Dependent parents and siblings
Single Parents
Single parents are most likely to qualify for home repair assistance based on income relative to family size. The FPL matrix favors one wage earner supporting many dependents.
Single mothers can get many government benefits because of this. Each new dependent moves the household higher in the FPL matrix.
Foster Parents
Foster parents often qualify for home improvement benefits based on income and household size.
- Foster children count as dependents when filing federal income taxes, meaning parents can report them as household members.
- Monthly subsidies to foster parents represent non-taxable payments, meaning the extra money does not count towards MAGI.
Other Benefits
Low-income families already enrolled in other entitlements automatically qualify for the state-run home improvement programs. You may not need to document MAGI and household size another time.
Many low-income households already receive other government assistance.
- Medicaid
- Supplemental Security Income (SSI)
- Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program
- Section 8 Housing Vouchers
- Temporary Assistance for Needy Families (TANF)
Geographic Criteria
Homeowners might be eligible for free home improvement and repair benefits based on where they live. Two federal agencies target help to rural and urban areas.
Rural Areas
Some homeowners living in designated rural areas may be eligible for government home improvement grants. Two US Department of Agriculture (USDA) programs provide grants directly to qualifying individuals.
These are the only two programs that work this way.
USDA Section 504
The USDA Section 504 program provides a $10,000 home repair grant to seniors in designated rural areas. Approved seniors must use the grant money to address health and safety concerns.
Apply for a Section 504 grant by completing Form RD 410-4. To qualify for the $10,000 grant, you must meet these criteria.
- Reside in an eligible rural area (not metropolitan)
- Be the homeowner and occupy the house
- Be unable to obtain affordable credit elsewhere
- Have a household income under the county limit
- Be age 62 or older and not be able to repay a repair loan
USDA Disaster Repair
The USDA Single Family Housing Rural Disaster Repair Grants provide up to $42,920 to restore homes damaged in a natural disaster.
Apply for a disaster repair grant by contacting the USDA office in your state. To qualify, you must meet several strict criteria.
- Be the homeowner and occupy the house (occupancy after repair can be authorized).
- Have an adjusted household income within the very low and low-income limit.
- Properties must have sustained damage due to a 2022 presidentially declared disaster.
Urban Areas
The US Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD) provides grants to state agencies to help low-income families in densely populated areas repair or improve their homes.
Homeowners must apply for benefits at the agency receiving the HUD grants. Each program will have different qualifying criteria.
Contact the HUD office in your state to learn about the programs available in your area. Expect to make many phone calls.
Health & Safety Criteria
People experiencing health and safety issues may qualify for free federal home improvement and repair benefits. Grant-recipient agencies often prioritize preventing medical problems before they happen by eliminating hazards.
Senior Citizens
Seniors frequently qualify for state-run home repair programs due to health and safety considerations. Older adults often have difficulty breathing and have a high risk of falling.
Home repair assistance might help seniors remove trip hazards such as uneven floors, broken tiles, or carpet ridges. Fixing leaky pipes, windows, and gutters can reduce mold risks and improve air quality.
Disabled Individuals
Individuals with physical disabilities are often eligible for home modification benefits due to health and safety concerns. The government offers extra help to people with mobility limitations.
Walk-in bathtubs or shower grab bars might be necessary adaptations for people with physical disabilities. They may also need to widen doorways, install ramps, or lower cabinets for accessibility.
Cancer Patients
Cancer patients often qualify for home improvement benefits through the health and safety criteria. People undergoing radiation and chemotherapy treatments have weakened immune systems.
Rigid flooring surfaces are a healthier alternative for cancer patients. Carpets tend to trap airborne pollutants like dust mites, pet dander, mold spores, and other allergens and germs.
Energy Savings Criteria
The federal government provides grants to state agencies to promote energy efficiency and protect the environment. The recipient agencies use the money to fund free home improvement and repair benefits that lower oil, gas, and electricity usage.
Each program has different income and energy-efficiency criteria. Not every state supports all federal initiatives, so this is an important consideration.
Savings to Investment
The Weatherization Assistance Program (WAP) supports home improvements and repairs targeting energy efficiency. WAP uses a savings-to-investment ratio (SIR) to determine whether a proposed modification qualifies.
SIR is the ratio of energy savings the weatherization project generates to the cost. WAP deems a SIR above 1:1 as cost-effective. These improvements are most likely to have a SIR above 1:1.
- Adding insulation to attic and exterior walls
- Sealing air leaks around doors and windows
- Upgrading heating and air conditioning equipment
- Switching to ENERGY STAR-certified appliances
State Adoption Status
The Inflation Reduction Act (IRA) supports two home improvement programs to reduce gas, oil, and electricity use. Both programs use projected energy savings and the household’s percentage of median area income to determine eligibility.
The IRA requires each state to implement the programs following their guidelines. Households can apply for these benefits only after the state makes them available.
- The Home Electrification and Appliance Rebates (HEAR) make installing electric appliances and upgrades more affordable. HEAR is currently available in Arizona, California, Colorado, Georgia, Maine, Michigan, New Mexico, North Carolina, New York, Rhode Island, Washington, D.C., and Wisconsin.
- The Home Efficiency Rebates (HER) reward retrofits that achieve verifiable energy use reductions. HER is currently available in Georgia, Michigan, North Carolina, Washington D.C., and Wisconsin.
