Help staying in your home
Staying put usually costs less than moving, and four kinds of help make it possible: USDA repair grants for homeowners 62 and older in rural areas, HUD Section 202 apartments built only for older adults, senior property tax relief in nearly every state, and free or low-cost home modifications like grab bars and ramps. Most of these are applied for locally, not online.
Written and checked by Jason Burns, Editorial Steward · Checked August 25, 2026
Repairs you do not pay back
The USDA Section 504 program offers loans to low-income rural homeowners and outright grants to homeowners 62 and older who cannot repay a loan. Grants must be used to remove a health or safety hazard, such as a failing roof, bad wiring, or an unsafe furnace. Rebuilding Together affiliates and local Area Agencies on Aging do similar work with volunteer labor.
Apartments built for older adults
HUD Section 202 Supportive Housing for the Elderly funds buildings reserved for very low-income people 62 and older. Rent is generally set at 30 percent of your adjusted income, and most buildings have a service coordinator on site. Waiting lists are long and are held building by building, so apply at several.
Property tax relief is real money every year
Nearly every state offers older homeowners something: a homestead exemption, a senior freeze that locks your assessed value, a circuit breaker credit tied to income, or a deferral that postpones the tax until the home is sold. These are applied for through your county assessor or treasurer, usually once, with an annual income form.
Grab bars, ramps and a safer bathroom
Home modification money can come from a Medicaid home and community-based services waiver, from Older Americans Act funds through your Area Agency on Aging, from Rebuilding Together, or from a USDA 504 grant. The same ramp can be paid for by four different programs depending on where you live.
Questions people ask
Can I get help paying my rent as a senior?
Yes — two kinds exist and you should pursue both: emergency rent help from local funds you reach by dialing 211, and ongoing rent help through a Housing Choice Voucher or a HUD Section 202 senior apartment, where your rent is set at about 30 percent of your income.
What if I can't afford to fix my roof or furnace?
A broken furnace is usually treated as an emergency and can often be repaired or replaced free through the Weatherization Assistance Program or LIHEAP heating repair funds, while a failing roof for a homeowner 62 or older in a rural area may be covered by a USDA Section 504 grant that never has to be repaid.
Is there help making my house safe after a fall?
Yes — after a fall, ask your doctor for a home safety evaluation by an occupational therapist, which Medicare Part B covers when it is medically necessary, and ask your Area Agency on Aging about free installation of grab bars, railings, and better lighting.
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 is HUD Section 202 housing?
HUD Section 202 Supportive Housing for the Elderly is a federal program that funds apartment buildings reserved for very low-income people 62 and older, where rent is generally set at about 30 percent of your adjusted income and many buildings have a service coordinator who connects residents to help.
How do I lower my property taxes as a senior?
You lower your property taxes as an older homeowner by applying to your county assessor or treasurer for the senior relief your state offers, which is usually one of four things: a homestead exemption that reduces the taxable value, an assessment freeze, an income-based credit sometimes called a circuit breaker, or a deferral that postpones the tax until the home is sold.
Can I get help modifying my home for a wheelchair or walker?
Yes — ramps, grab bars, wider doorways and walk-in showers are commonly paid for by a Medicaid home and community-based services waiver, by Older Americans Act money through your Area Agency on Aging, by a Rebuilding Together affiliate, or by a USDA Section 504 grant if you are 62 or older in a rural area.
Programs covered in this guide
- USDA Section 504 Home Repair Grants for Homeowners 62 and OlderUp to $10,000 that does not have to be paid back, to remove a health or safety hazard from your home.
- HUD Section 202 Supportive Housing for the ElderlyApartment buildings built only for people 62 and older, where rent is set at 30 percent of your income.
- Housing Choice Voucher (Section 8)A voucher that pays part of your rent in a regular apartment you choose yourself.
- 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.
- Senior Property Tax ReliefHomestead exemptions, senior freezes, circuit breakers, and deferrals that can cut or pause your property tax bill.
Sources
- Single Family Housing Repair Loans and Grants · USDA Rural Development
- Section 202 Supportive Housing for the Elderly · U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development
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.
Every program on this site is free to apply for. Anyone who asks you to pay to apply, or to “unlock” a government benefit, is a scam — hang up and call Senior Medicare Patrol or 211.
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Checked August 25, 2026. Licensed under the Citation License 1.0. © 2026 Adolicious LLC.