Home Repair Grants For Seniors
Unlike younger people, seniors evidently have frail bodies and immune systems. This ultimately means that they’re more susceptible to illnesses and injuries caused by inappropriate living environments. Resultantly, home repair is a necessity for seniors, however it can be quite costly. That said, here’s a run down of home repair grants across the country.
The Weatherization Assistance Program
The Weatherization Assistance Program was initially designed to ensure that individuals and families living below the poverty line can equip their homes with the necessary tools to reduce energy consumption and ultimately their monthly energy bills. However, over the years, the program does not only Help with Bills, but has also expanded to include assistance to specifically senior citizens. In a nutshell, the program helps renovate specific parts of eligible candidates’ homes, particularly the elderly, to remove hazards and improve overall living conditions. To find out about the application process as well as eligibility requirements, visit their website at: https://www.benefits.gov/benefit/580
Section 504 Home Repair Program
Statistics show that over 30% of US residents live in homes that are deemed unsafe, but the majority lack the means to improve their situation. The Section 504 Repair Program aims to tackle this issue head on by providing loans and grants to the low income population, including the elderly. Eligible citizens may get up to $20 000 in loans and $7500 in grants. Additionally, they may apply for both the loan and the grant, in which case they will receive a maximum of $27500. It’s worth noting that the following requirements have to be satisfied before applying for this program:
- The home must belong to you and you must be residing in that home.
- If you’re applying for a grant, you need to be at least 62 years old and you must lack the ability to repay a loan.
- You can’t get affordable loans anywhere else.
Find out more on their website at: https://www.rd.usda.gov/programs-services/single-family-housing-repair-loans-grants
Area Agencies on Aging
The Area Agencies on Aging are hybrids of state-owned and private non-profit organizations that are primarily run by the state. They are located in major cities in nearly every state of the country. In essence, they make life a lot easier for the elderly who wish to remain in their homes, as opposed to moving into designated old age homes. Although they mainly provide services like meals on wheels, in-house medical assistance and monetary relief, they also ensure that senior citizens’ homes are frequently repaired and modified, when necessary. This is done to keep their homes safe and appropriate for the elderly. To get more information on how to get on board with this program, visit their website at: https://eldercare.acl.gov/Public/About/Aging_Network/AAA.aspx
The Rural Housing Repair Loans and Grants Program
The Rural Housing Repair Loans and Grants Program is another endeavour that targets individuals, especially older citizens, whose earnings fall below the poverty line. They provide assistance through modernization, improvement and renovation of current homes. In addition, they go the extra mile to ensure that all dangerous spots are eliminated from homes. This program supplies grants and loans. Loans are given at an interest rate of 1% and a loan term of up to 20 years. Grants on the other hand, are only given to candidates who are 62 years of age or older. The following are the eligible requirements:
- You need to be a citizen of the US or a legal permanent resident
- You need to be living in the home that needs to be repaired
- You need to be the homeowner
- You need to be living a rural area
Visit Federal Poverty Level Calculator (2023 Updated) to know your federal poverty level for this year.
Additional information regarding this program can be found here: https://www.benefits.gov/benefit/402
If you are looking for assistance to pay for your rent or housing, read Housing and Rent Assistance Programs for Seniors.
