Types of Home Repair Grants for Seniors

Due to today’s tough economic times, it can be difficult for senior citizens to be able to pay for home repairs.  This can affect more than 6.8 million seniors whom are believed to be living in poverty today.  Fortunately, there are some grants available to help them with these home repairs.

The U.S. Department of Agriculture

The U.S. Department of Agriculture's Rural Development office has grants available through the Rural Repair and Rehabilitation program.  In order to qualify you must be at least 62-years-old, have an income below 50 percent of the area median average and live in a rural area.  You can use these funds of up to $7,500 to remove health and safety hazards or to improve sanitation.

The U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development

The U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development (a.k.a. HUD) offers grants to repair, renovate and revitalize senior’s homes.  This is made available through the Financial Tools to Modernize or Construct Elderly Public Housing (a.k.a. HOPE VI) program.  These grants can be used to pay for demolition, major rehabilitation, new construction and other physical improvements.  This money will also fund relocation costs if elderly residents must move during the repair process.

Cities Offering Grants

There are also several cities that offer home repair grants for seniors.  These include:

• Daly City, California


• Detroit, Michigan


• Cleveland, Ohio

These grants range anywhere from $1,000 to $12,000 and are available to seniors over the age of 50 who meet certain income guidelines.  They can be used to make emergency repairs and to correct problems with the home itself (i.e. roofs, plumbing, furnaces, electrical systems, structural repairs).