Can I get a grant to repair my home?
Yes — homeowners 62 and older with low income in a USDA-designated rural area can receive a Section 504 home repair grant that never has to be repaid when it is used to remove a health or safety hazard, and homeowners elsewhere can often get free repairs through Rebuilding Together affiliates or their Area Agency on Aging.
What this means
- The USDA Section 504 program offers loans to low-income rural homeowners of any age and grants specifically to owners 62 and older who cannot afford to repay a loan.
- Grant money must fix something that is a hazard, such as a leaking roof, unsafe wiring, a broken furnace, or a lack of safe water.
- A rural area under USDA rules includes many small towns, so check the map rather than assuming you do not qualify.
- If the home is sold within three years, a USDA grant generally has to be repaid.
What to do first
- Contact your USDA Rural Development state office through the Section 504 program page and ask for the local specialist.
- If you are not in a rural area, find your local Rebuilding Together affiliate and ask about their next project cycle.
- Call your Area Agency on Aging and ask about home repair and safety modification funds under the Older Americans Act.
- Ask about the Weatherization Assistance Program at the same time, because it covers insulation and heating equipment.
Weatherization Assistance Program
Free insulation, sealing, and heating repairs that permanently lower your energy bill.
USDA Section 504 Home Repair Grants for Homeowners 62 and Older
Up to $10,000 that does not have to be paid back, to remove a health or safety hazard from your home.
Free Home Repairs and Safety Modifications (Rebuilding Together)
Volunteers install grab bars, ramps, and railings and make critical repairs, at no cost to the homeowner.
What you'll need
- Proof of homeowners insurance in some places
- Photo identification
- Property tax and insurance records
- Deed or proof of ownership
- Proof of age
- Proof of home ownership or a signed landlord agreement
- Contractor estimates
- Proof of income for everyone in the home
- Proof of income
- Recent utility bills
Deadlines and timing
- USDA grant funding is limited each federal fiscal year and applications can be queued.
- Rebuilding Together affiliates often work in seasonal cycles with an application deadline months ahead of the work.
- Never sign a home repair contract with someone who knocks on your door offering a government grant.
Where to go
- Weatherization Assistance Program: https://www.energy.gov/cmei/scep/wap/how-apply-weatherization-assistance
- USDA Section 504 Home Repair Grants for Homeowners 62 and Older: https://www.rd.usda.gov/about-rd/state-offices
- Free Home Repairs and Safety Modifications (Rebuilding Together): https://rebuildingtogether.org/find-your-local-affiliate
Reviewed by Jason Burns, Editorial Steward · Last verified August 25, 2026
Sources
- Single Family Housing Repair Loans and Grants · USDA Rural Development
- Rebuilding Together · Rebuilding Together
Need help today?
- Shut-off notice in hand: call the number on the bill and ask for a medical hold and a payment plan, then call 211.
- No food today: call 211 or the Eldercare Locator at 1-800-677-1116 for a same-week food bank or meal.
- In danger: call 911, or reach Adult Protective Services through the Eldercare Locator at 1-800-677-1116.
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