| What is a Home Repair Grant? | | | | with this money, the qualifying process is typically |
| Home repair grants are a way for people to pay for | | | | less rigorous than for a line of home equity credit |
| home repairs that may otherwise remain unfixed. | | | | from a lending institution. |
| Home repair grants can bring electric wiring up to | | | | Will My Home Repair Be Covered By A Home Repair |
| code, repair or replace septic systems, and add | | | | Grant? |
| energy saving features such as insulation and storm | | | | Home repair grants cover a variety of home |
| windows. | | | | improvement projects. Typically projects that are |
| Home repair grants are available from a variety of | | | | funded by the federal government have stringent |
| sources, with differing qualifications. The common | | | | guidelines for approval. Generally speaking a home |
| denominator is, of course, ownership of the home. | | | | that has safety concerns, such as outdated electrical |
| Proof of income, work completed by a licensed | | | | wiring or an old porch that makes entering and exiting |
| contractor, and a limit to the dollar amount of the | | | | the house potentially dangerous would be considered |
| work are all considerations that must be made when | | | | for a home repair grant. A federal grant may also |
| finding the appropriate grant. | | | | pay for adding insulation, repairing or replacing |
| Home repair grants, as a rule, are for repairs | | | | windows and doors, or doing other types of work to |
| necessary for safe habitation of the home or to | | | | make the home more energy efficient. A federal |
| make the home more energy efficient. Home repair | | | | grant will not pay for a kitchen remodel, adding |
| grants will typically not cover painting, home additions, | | | | closets or storage space, or other project that could |
| or landscaping. | | | | be considered cosmetic. In addition, a federal grant |
| Who Provides Home Repair Grants? | | | | will not pay for repairs on a home that will remain |
| Home repair grants can come from a variety of | | | | questionably habitable even after repairs. |
| sources. The federal government, through the United | | | | State and community level grants have different |
| States Department of Agriculture, is one provider of | | | | qualifying standards, and vary greatly. While some |
| home repair grants. Many states and communities | | | | grants will mirror closely the directives of the federal |
| also provide home repair grants. While it may seem | | | | programs, other grant programs are for a particular |
| impossible to find these grants, don't be discouraged. | | | | purpose. Some programs are aimed at making homes |
| One way to find local recommendations for home | | | | more energy efficient, more attractive, or preserving |
| repair grants is to contact your local bank or other | | | | original structures. These programs, while still |
| lending institution. Familiar with home repair issues, | | | | maintaining tough standards for qualifications, can be |
| most lending institution can point you in the direction | | | | an excellent way to obtain money if your project |
| of an appropriate granting agency. | | | | lines up with their purpose. |
| If your housing situation needs immediate help, you | | | | Other state and local grant programs are geared |
| should contact your local municipality. Many | | | | toward particular recipients, whether they are first |
| communities offer emergency grants for immediate | | | | time homeowners, the elderly or other groups within |
| needs, such as a broken furnace or water problem. | | | | the population. If you qualify for one of these grants, |
| Who Can Qualify for a Home Repair Grant? | | | | you may find fewer restrictions on the type of home |
| Home repair grants are typically aimed at those | | | | improvements that you may make. As with any |
| people that would not qualify for a traditional home | | | | grant program, it is important to make sure that your |
| equity line of credit or personal loan. Whether due to | | | | plans match up with the plans of the grant making |
| age, income, or credit history, home repair grants can | | | | organization before you begin the remodeling process. |
| close the gap between a traditional home | | | | While it may seem that applying for and accepting |
| improvement loan and allowing a home to fall into a | | | | grant money limits the options available to |
| state of uninhabitable disrepair. | | | | homeowners, the reality is very different. Home |
| If, after researching your options, you find that you | | | | repair grants are a way for people that would not |
| do not qualify for a home repair grant, there are | | | | normally be able to make improvements to their |
| other choices available. The same agencies that | | | | homes to do so. In addition to making their homes a |
| provide home repair grants many times will also offer | | | | safer and more comfortable place to live, they also |
| low interest loans. While there are still stipulations on | | | | increase their property values as well as the value of |
| the types of home repairs that can be implemented | | | | the neighborhood. |