Mortgages & Home Loans Homeowner Guide Home Improvement Grants for Your Next Project By Aly J. Yale Updated on December 7, 2022 Reviewed by Julius Mansa Fact checked by Hilarey Gould In This Article View All In This Article Where To Find Home Improvement Grants Requirements & Eligibility Other Options Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs) Photo: The Balance / Adriana Sanchez One of the primary problems when doing a home improvement project is the cost to do the project correctly. Luckily, there may be a home improvement grant that will help you offset the expense. Dozens of government-sponsored home improvement grants offer money to homeowners making selected updates to their properties. Of course, not everyone—nor every project—will qualify for grant funds. Grants are highly competitive, and many are designed for specific improvements that ensure the home is safe, accessible, livable, and non-hazardous to those on the property and in the community. Read on to see if a home improvement grant can help you achieve your goals. Key Takeaways Home improvement grants are a type of financial aid for homeowners. They're usually issued by federal, state, or local governments.As long as you and your project meet certain requirements, a home improvement grant does not need to be repaid.Eligibility requirements vary by the grant.Grants aren’t the only way to pay for a much-needed home improvement project. You can also use a loan, refinance your property, or leverage the equity in your home. Where To Find Home Improvement Grants A home improvement grant, also called a “home repair grant,” is a type of financial aid issued by the government at the federal, state, or municipality level. It’s designed to help homeowners in that region make select improvements to their properties. HUD Grants There are several places you can find available home improvement grants. Your best bet is to start with your local Housing and Urban Development (HUD) office. HUD offers grants like the HOME Investment Partnerships Program for homeowners with lower incomes, as well as various types of home repair loans. Visit HUD.gov to find the office in your area. National Residential Improvement Association Grants You can also look to the National Residential Improvement Association (NRIA) for grants. Just fill out the NRIA’s application form, and tell them about your property, the home’s history, and the projects or improvements you’d like to take on. An NRIA specialist will get back to you with potential grants you may be eligible for. They might also include options for tax credits, home improvement loans, discount programs, and local incentives that can help you cover—or at least reduce—the cost of your projects. Note Visit your local chamber of commerce, municipal building, businesses, and more to see if there are other grants or funding opportunities that will help homeowners pay for home improvements. Requirements and Eligibility Eligibility requirements vary by grant. For the most part, grants will have requirements pertaining to your income, location, and the project the money can be used on. Just like with your mortgage application, you will need to produce documentation to prove your income. You may also need to prove your financial need, as well as offer assessments of your home’s conditions, your estimated project costs, and more. Make sure you know the full scope of requirements for each grant you apply for. Remember, most grants are very limited in number and only a few homeowners are chosen. Home Improvement Grants and Their Eligibility Check out the following resources for eligibility on some of the more commonly used home improvement grants: HOME Investment Partnerships Program HUD Community Development Block Grant Program VA Specially Adapted Housing Grant Native American Housing Improvement Program Home Improvement Grants vs. Other Options Grants aren’t the only way you can fund your much-needed home improvement projects. You can also use a loan, refinance your property, or leverage the equity in your home. The Federal Housing Administration’s 203K loan is a popular choice for homeowners looking to improve their properties. The 203K improvement loan lets you borrow cash to use toward your home repairs and projects, typically at a low rate. There are also low-cost loans from the USDA and HUD if you meet certain location and income requirements. If you’ve lived in your home a few years and have built up home equity, you can also look to home equity lines of credit (HELOCs), home equity loans, or a cash-out refinance. Make sure you shop around first for the best rates. You do not have to use your current lender when refinancing or taking out a home equity loan. Note If you're not eligible for a grant, and you can't get a HELOC or a home equity loan, there are other ways to finance a home improvement, including other loans and lines of credit. In the event you’re making green or eco-friendly improvements to your home, you may also qualify for certain green-energy grants or tax credits that can help offset your costs. For information on this, check out EnergyStar.gov, contact your city or state energy commission, and call up local energy companies. Many will offer grants or even reduce your monthly costs when you add certain energy-saving upgrades. The PACE loan is also a good option for green improvements if you’re looking to borrow funds. Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs) How do you apply for a home improvement grant? To apply for a home improvement grant, contact the program in charge of the grant. You'll typically need to complete an application. The application will tell the program whether you meet the qualifications for the grant. It will typically ask for information about your home, assets, and income. You may need to provide supporting documentation, as well. What is the Section 504 Home Repair program? The Section 504 Home Repair program is administered by the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA). It provides loans to homeowners with very low incomes to repair, improve, or modernize their homes. It also provides grants to older homeowners with very low incomes to remove hazards to their safety or health. You must be age 62 or older, have an income below 50% of the area's median income, and be unable to obtain affordable credit to qualify for a grant. Was this page helpful? Thanks for your feedback! Tell us why! Other Submit Sources The Balance uses only high-quality sources, including peer-reviewed studies, to support the facts within our articles. Read our editorial process to learn more about how we fact-check and keep our content accurate, reliable, and trustworthy. U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development. "HOME Investment Partnerships Program." NRIA. "Application." U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development. "203(K) Rehab Mortgage Insurance.” Office of Energy Efficiency & Renewable Energy. “Property Assessed Clean Energy Programs.” U.S. Department of Agriculture, Rural Development. "Single Family Housing Repair Loans & Grants."