Home Improvement Grants

If you own your home and need to fix or improve it but can't afford the work, there are real programs that can help. They aren't the "$500 to $5,000,000 home improvement grants" advertised in scam emails. They're more specific, more targeted, and you have to qualify — but for the right person, they cover real money.

USDA Section 504 Home Repair (rural homeowners)

The USDA Section 504 program offers two things for very-low-income homeowners in eligible rural areas:

• Grants up to $10,000 for homeowners 62 or older to remove health and safety hazards (the grant doesn't have to be repaid)
• Loans up to $40,000 at 1% interest, repayable over 20 years, for general repairs and improvements

Apply through your local USDA Rural Development office.

Weatherization Assistance Program (low-income, any location)

The DOE Weatherization Assistance Program pays for energy efficiency upgrades — insulation, air sealing, heating system repair or replacement, weather stripping — for low-income households. Both homeowners and renters can qualify. The program is free to recipients and is administered by state energy offices.

State and local programs

Many cities and counties run their own home repair, lead abatement, and accessibility modification programs, especially for seniors, people with disabilities, and homes in historic districts. Examples:

• HOME Investment Partnerships Program funds local rehab work through state and city housing offices
• Community Development Block Grants (CDBG) fund many local "minor home repair" programs
• Local lead-based paint abatement programs (especially in older housing markets)

Start with your city or county housing department, or call 211 to be connected to local programs.

What changed in 2025–2026

The two big federal tax credits for residential energy efficiency (Section 25C) and clean energy installations (Section 25D) expired on December 31, 2025. Only improvements installed and placed in service by that date qualify. For details, see the IRS Residential Clean Energy Credit page.

Some state and utility rebates for heat pumps, insulation, and similar upgrades are still available. Check DSIRE for what's available in your state.

Avoid the scams

The federal government does not run a general home improvement grant program that gives every homeowner thousands of dollars. Anyone promising "up to $5 million in home improvement grants" — especially for an upfront fee — is running the pattern the FTC warns about at consumer.ftc.gov/articles/government-grant-scams.