(10 votes, average: 4.50 out of 5)
Loading...Georgia has over 122 grants for home repair and home improvement grants available to low income homeowner families and individuals. This article provides you with all the main home repair programs offered throughout the state in 2024.
Updated: April 25, 2024
Who provide grants for home repairs in Georgia?
There are 3 main sources of financial assistance for home improvement in Georgia:
- 1- Federal Programs : HUD (Housing and Urban Development) is the Federal housing agency providing programs and funds to the State, Counties and cities.
- 2- State of Georgia : Georgia Department of Community Affairs: (GDCA) is a state agency offering funds to Counties, cities and local organisations in Georgia.
- 3- Counties and cities programs : The main organizations offering funds and programs to help Georgians with home repair, rehabilitation and improvement are at your county and city level.
You can review the Federal and the State of Georgia home repair grants but ultimately your county, city and local organiations are the one you need to contact and where you apply for funding.
Who is eligible for government home improvement grant?
In general, every homeowner is eligible to home improvement and repairs grants and assistance in Georgia (find them all in this article). In reality, because the needs are so big, some groups like seniors, veterans, disable and low-income households are given priority. Even in those case, you need to apply as soon as possible because funds are limited.
So it’s often a first arrived first served basis: apply early.
Each programs have their own eligibility, so you need to verify with programs in your area to see info you meet the income eligibility level.
Can I get a $10,000 grant for home improvement?
Can you get a $10,000 grant for home improvement? Quick answer is yes. Find on this page all the information you need for home improvement programs in Georgia, by cities and by counties. Learn: how much they provide, if you’re eligible and where to apply.
Which home improvement & repair are usually covered?
In general in Georgia all repair and improvement help with:
- – Ensure your home does not harm its residents’ health.
- – Ensure your home structure is sound and will not hurt its resident.
- – Help seniors and disabled residents stay in their homes longer and safer.
More precisely the following work and repair are usually covered by home improvement grants programs:
- – Roof: Grants for roof placement or repair. Plus our our Guide to repair, fix or change your roof.
- – Windows & doors: Windows replacement grants and exterior doors. We have also a Homeowner Guide for Windows Replacement
- – Foundations: Foundation repair grants and programs usually covers home foundation repairs.
- – Electrical & plumbing : Grants for electrical repair and plumbing assistance repairs are covered as long as they bring your home electrical and plumbing up to the local code.
- – Heating & cooling: Some States and Counties have heating grants and cooling programs to bring your system up to living standards.
- – Lead paints & pipes plus asbestos: Most programs cover the removal and change of lead and asbestos materials dangerous to your health.
- – Sewers and water line: Most home improvement grant programs cover funds to have your home connected to your town water and sewer system and in other cases to your well or septic tank.
- – Home structure: In some cases, if your home structure is no longer safe, programs will help with fixing the home structural problems. Note: in some cases the cost may be too high to fix and another program can help get a new one.
- – Home remodeling: In some cases a home can be remodeled if they need major repairs as long as the cost is not prohibitive. Since the total amount vary by program you have to verify on this page for programs in your area.
- – Bathroom remodeling: Some programs let you remodel a bathroom in order to bring them to sanitary and health standard.
- – Home modifications for seniors: There are multiple programs to modify seniors’ homes to help them living longer independently at home. Common modification are ramps, handle bars, bathrooms modication and kitchen are adaptations. You can find those resources in our resource for senior home modifications.
Confused about home improvement programs terms?
It can be confusing to understand the terms. Lots of different organizations have different words for the same type of help programs: home improvement grant, home repair grants, programs, free grants, relief service, repair assistance, etc. They are all synonyms of programs designed to help low and moderate income homeowners repair and fix important element of their house.
What types of free grants for homeowners is in Georgia?
Home repair programs comes in many form but they are usually in the 5 types:
Home Repair Grants & Home Improvement Grants: Typically grants don’t need to be repaid. The organization providing the funding covers the cost of the work and you don’t pay anything back.
Volunteers and charities home repairs: Some organizations rely on volunteers to repair your home so there’s no cost to you.
Home improvement loans: These are traditional loans where you have to repay a fix amount monthly but they are usually with a lower than normal interest rate.
Home improvement loans paid at term: It’s a traditional loan paid back in full only when you leave or sell your home. This mean you have nothing to pay monthly. The organization offering these loans usually take a lien on your home to be certain to be paid in the future.
Forgivable home improvement loans: It’s a traditional loans but you do have to pay it back monthly. Instead after a few years the organization forgive your loan.
Note: In some rare case you may find yourself with a mix of the types above. In all cases the important is you get help to fix your home and keep it secured and a place for you to live in a safe and healthy home.
HUD (Housing Urban Development) (2 programs)
HUD is the federal agency funding the States’ Housing agencies, Counties and Cities. HUD have many programs from home buyer help, renter help, homeowners funding among many for home repairs and improvements.
2 loans programs helps people renovate, rehabilitate or improve their home (mobile homes included). Both are loan insurances for homeowners who couldn’t otherwise get a loan:
Rehabilitation and repair loan (insurance): Known as “Title I Property Improvement Loan Program”, it helps you if you have not enough equity for a traditional loan, and the FHA (part of HUD) insure your loan for your lender.
- – House Loan amount limit: $25,000
- – Mobile home Loan amount limit: $25,090
203(k) Rehabilitation Mortgage Insurance: This a special FHA loan that allows you to finance both the purchase or refinancing of a house and the cost of renovations into a single mortgage.
- – Limited 203k: loan less than $35,000.
- – Standard 203k: loan over $35,000.
In both Tittle 1 and 203(k), the money for the renovations is put in an escrow account and is only released to the contractor when the work is completed and inspected by a qualified professional. This helps ensure that the renovations are done properly and that the money is used for its intended purpose. It protects both the lender and you the homeowner.
Georgia Department of Community Affairs (GDCA)
This department doesn’t have a direct home improvement and home repair program. Instead it provides funding to counties and local organizations such as Habitat to help georgians homeowners. Most funds come from the CHIP program.
Georgia Community Action Associations (20 programs & resources)
This statewide non-profit organization helps residents with many services and programs. For homeowners, they can help with weatherization services, LIHEAP, emergency home repairs and home renovations through third parties.
Habitat for Humanity (52 programs)
Thanks to their volunteers, Habitat rehabilitates houses for families and people in need in Georgia with 52 local chapters with their own home programs. They may be able to help with home repairs and updates to make your home safer. This organization relies on you, or some neighbors if you’re elderly, to put some of the work into your home repairs. You can apply through Habitat to learn about help available in your area.
Habitat for Humanity ReStores (18 resources)
ReStores provide discounted used, surplus building materials, appliances and furniture.
Veterans Home Repair and Rehabilitation (1 program)
HOUSE OF HEROES: Provide home improvement assistance and repairs to disabled Veterans homes to include painting, installation of access ramps, appliance repair, and yard maintenance at no cost. House of Heroes works to improve the living condition and keep military Veterans and their families safe in their homes.
Georgia Free Window Replacement Programs 2024 (2 programs)
WAP: Weatherization Assistant Program (WAP) is funded by the Federal but managed locally. It help improve or change windows for energy efficient ones at no cost. It also pay for attic insulation and ventilation, repair or replace broken heating, cooling and water heaters, as well as many other small work to improve your home energy efficiency.
| Spent per Home | Homes Weatherized | Budget | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Georgia |
$8,224 |
305 | $4.3M |
Find the program detail and contact your local organisations managing WAP.
LIHEAP: This program is mostly to help pay your heating and cooling cost but it may also help fix, repair or replace broken windows for energy efficient ones.
Find more info about the program eligibility and your local organisations managing LIHEAP.
Free Roof Replacement Grants (many programs)
Major storms, wind and fires often damage roofs, and Georgia have many programs for roof replacement grants and assistance. There’s no 1 specific program only for roof but most programs on this page include roof repair and replacement. The programs on this page cover roofs damages either in form of grants, interest free loans or low interest loans.
Verify if your City and County have a roof repair assistance program and if you live in a rural area the USDA can help you.
Once it’s time to find a roofer, our community selection of Geogia’s best roofers can help.
Home Repair for Senior Citizens for Free (1 program)
Georgia Human Service department offer many services to seniors. You can find the list here.
Question: Are home repair for senior citizens free?
Answer: Yes, usually, but it’s often different for each program. Some programs are 100% free while some other require a contribution and in other case. In most case they are free if the senior have a low income. You find your programs and your eligibility with the programs on this page.
Home Modification and Repair: This program promote the safety and well-being of adults in their homes; designed to increase accessibility, reduce the risk of injury, and improve older adults’ ability to stay at home; may also include the purchase of certain assistive devices. It’s managed locally by your local Area Agencies on Aging.
You can also home repair and modification programs for seniors.
IMPORTANT: All the programs on this page are available to seniors citizens and people with disabilities.
Georgia Rural Residents (1 program)
The USDA provide home improvement loans and government grants to low-income homeowners in Georgia’s rural areas
Who may apply for this program?
To qualify, you must:
- – Be the homeowner and occupy the house
- – Be unable to obtain affordable credit elsewhere
- – Have a family income below 50 percent of the area median income
- – For grants, be age 62 or older and not be able to repay a repair loan
What is an eligible area?
Applicants may check the address of their home to determine eligibility.
How may funds be used?
- Loans may be used to repair, improve or modernize housing or remove health and safety hazards
- Grants must be used to remove health and safety hazards
How much money can I get?
- – Maximum loan is $40,000
- – Maximum grant is $10,000
- – Loans and grants can be combined for up to $50,000 in payment assistance
What are the terms of the loan or grant?
- – Loans can be repaid over 20 years
- – Loan interest rate is fixed at 1%
- – Full title service is required for loans of $7,500 or more
- – Grants have a lifetime limit of $7,500
- – Grants must be repaid if the property is sold in less than 3 years
- – If applicants can repay part, but not all of the costs, applicants may be offered a loan and grant combination
Is there a deadline to apply?
Applications for this program are accepted through your local USDA’s RD office all year round
How long does an application take?
Approval times depend on funds availability in your area.
Programs by County & City (26 programs)
Some Georgia counties have home repair and government grant programs and most major cities also have similar help for homeowners.
If you don’t see your county or city below you should contact it directly and ask them if the city have a home repair program.
Fulton County & City of Atlanta (2 programs)
Senior Services Minor Home Repair Program: Seniors must be 55-years-old and above, own their own home, and have proof of homeowners insurance and live in Fulton County. There is no cost for this service. It may take up to 30-45 days before the contractor makes an appointment.
Examples of work that may be approved:
- – Structural issues: ceiling, wall, floors, doors, windows and sealants to protect from deterioration and security modification
- – Accessibility modification: installation of thresholds, ramps, zero step doorways, repair and installation of grab bars.
- – Plumbing: replacement of fixtures such as tub, shower, bathroom sink, or toilet.
- – Weatherization: installing storm doors, insulation, servicing heating and cooling units, and minor roof repairs.
- – Home and Exterior maintenance: removal of safety hazards, such as yard debris, fallen limbs, overgrown vegetation and replacement of window panes.
Call (404) 613-6000 to be added on the waiting list.
Minor Home Repair: Program for low to very low income homeowners and its purpose is to improve the livability of a home, to extend its life for a minimum of 10 years, and to meet the current minimum building codes, whenever possible. Major emphasis is given to housing problems affecting safety and health (such as gas leaks, outdated and hazardous electrical wiring, and plumbing).
The actual amount of repairs needed will be determined from an inspection and evaluation of the home. This type of assistance can vary depending on the needs in a home. If the home has too many major problems, it may not qualify for our minor home rehab/repair program.
Call 404-612-7193 to be added on the waiting list.
City of Atlanta (1 program)
HOME REHABILITATION PROGRAM: assist senior citizen homeowners that are at least 62 years of age and the house is located within the corporate city limits of the City of Atlanta.
There are multiple organizations there to help in Atlanta. Consult the up-to-date list on this document along their contact information and the types of repair they can do for you.
Gwinnett County (2 programs)
Housing rehabilitation: Program provides financial assistance to make home repairs for homeowners who qualify for the program. The cost of the repairs cannot exceed $20,000, as determined by the County’s cost estimate.
Examples of rehabilitation:
- – Repair electrical wiring
- – Replace rotted wood or siding
- – Repair damaged walls
- – Replace heating equipment
- – Replace roof
- – Improve energy efficiency
- – Insulation
- – Weather stripping
- – Replace faulty plumbing
- – Accessibility improvements for the disabled
Find eligibility details here and here
Brush With Kindness: Program done by Habitat for Humanity and provides basic interior and exterior home repair services for low to moderate-income homeowners who reside within the Gwinnett and Walton Counties service area. The program assists homeowners who are unable to complete repairs on their own due to age, finances, or physical ability.
Cobb County (1 program)
Housing Rehabilitation Programs: Program helps low and moderate income homeowners renovate their homes through emergency repair loans and grants and deferred payment loan programs. These programs make homes more livable for the homeowners, increase property values, and serve as a catalyst for neighborhood revitalization.
City of Marietta (5 programs)
Housing Rehabilitation: Program is designed to assist low-to-moderate income homeowners with repairs/rehabilitation that are imminent health/safety threats, deferred maintenance problems or code violations.
Emergency Grant Program: Can provide a One-Time Grant of up to $10,000.00 dollars to Extremely Low Income (XLI); or Very Low Income (VLI) Elderly (Age 62 and Older) and Disabled homeowners who have lived in the home as the principal residence for a minimum of three (3) years, to address housing conditions that are imminent health and/or safety threats.
A limited amount of grant funds will be available annually to qualified homeowners on a first-come first-served basis.
Grant funds may be used to correct the following deficient conditions caused by deferred maintenance and lack of other financial resources:
- – Heating, ventilation and air conditioning system repair or replacement.
- – Exterior doors and window replacements, insulation.
- – Electrical rewiring, including breakers, receptacles, GFCI, switches and plates.
- – Roofing shingles and deck replacement, soffits, fascia, boots and caps, including gutters.
- – Plumbing-sewer line repair- or replacement. Bath or kitchen appliance replacements (when necessary).
- – Other items as determined by Community Development Specialist.
Rehabilitation Loan: The Housing Rehabilitation Program MAY provide loans to eligible low-to-moderate income homeowners who have lived in the home as the principal residence for a minimum of three (3) years; are current with home loan, taxes and insurance- to address deferred maintenance problems, code violations and imminent health and/or safety threats.
20-Year Forgivable Loan: Loans MAY BE offered for zero percent (0%) interest and non-payable while the eligible homeowner maintains the home as the principal residence. The loan will be secured by a lien against the property totaling the value of the rehabilitation costs.
Funds may be used to correct the following deficient conditions:
- – Heating, ventilation and air conditioning system repair or replacement
- – Exterior doors and window replacements, insulation
- – Electrical rewiring, including breakers, receptacles, GFCI, switches and plates
- – Roofing shingles and deck replacement, soffits, fascia, boots and caps, including gutters
- – Plumbing-sewer line repair- or replacement
- – Bath and kitchen appliance replacements (when necessary)
- – Other items as determined by Community Development Specialist
Lead/Asbestos 5 Year Forgivable Loan: Homes built before 1978 are required to be tested and treated for lead-based paint and asbestos as part of any federally funded rehabilitation project. Homes built after 1978 do not require any federal testing.
A five (5) year forgivable loan [one fifth (1/5) of loan amount to be forgiven annually] with a zero percent [0%] interest rate. The loan will be applied to costs for inspection, testing, assessment and abatement of lead and asbestos.
The 5 programs details above can be found here.
DeKalb County (1 program)
SPECIAL PURPOSE HOME REPAIR: Program is designed to assist DeKalb County seniors (aged 62 and over) and disabled adults (aged 21 and over) in repairing critical conditions that threaten the subsistence of their homes or present threats to health or safety due to hazardous and/or unsanitary conditions.
Eligible Repairs
- – Heating/Cooling Systems: Failure of the Main Source of Heating and Cooling
- – Heat Pump
- – HVAC Unit
- – Plumbing: Plumbing Leaks or Failure of Water Supply Components
- – Waterlines
- – Water Pumps
- – Hot Water Heaters
- – Electrical: Damaged or Non-Working Electrical System or Wiring
- – Electrical Boxes (Breaker/Fuse
- – Basic Wiring
- – Roofing: Roof replacement or Failure of Roofing Components
- – Shingle
- – Gutters
- – Flashing
More details and your application
Chatham County & City of Savannah (1 program)
HOME REPAIR ASSISTANCE: Provides small home repair grants or loans to eligible homeowners who own and occupy their home. Some funds may be used to purchase materials installed by volunteers. Some may be used by homeowners to hire contractors of their choice to perform approved work. Repairs typically focus on helping solve one or two exterior or system repairs. This is not a whole house renovation or extensive home remodeling program. The property must be located in the Savannah city limits. Household income restrictions apply for some funding sources. Assistance limits is typically, between $1,000 and $10,000
Typical Repairs:
- – Replace roofs
- – Exterior surface repair/painting
- – Plumbing, electrical and HVAC repairs
- – Correct code violations
Clayton County (2 programs)
EMERGENCY HOME REPAIR PROGRAM: Eligible Repair will address issues that pose a threat to the welfare of the homeowner and/or affects the livability of the home.
Who is Eligible: Clayton County residents 62 years of age or older, disabled person or a veteran who have lived in their principal residence for the last 5 years.
HOME REPAIR PROGRAM: Designed to help seniors keep their homes warm and dry with working plumbing and safe electrical systems.
List of Eligible Repairs:
- – Roofing
- – Heating and Air Conditioning
- – Improperly Working Plumbing
- – Unsafe Electrical
- – DA style accessibility items (ex: ramps, grab bars)
Cherokee County (1 program )
Home Repair Program: Goal is to fix dangerous health and safety issues that are in violation of current Cherokee County code standards. The funds are a grant and not a loan. Program is managed with Habitat for Humanity.
For low-to-moderate income homeowners;
- – The amount of the total cost of repairs cannot exceed $15,000; and
- – The homeowner must sign an agreement to remain in the home for 5 years.
- – The applicant must own and live in the home; manufactured home must be on a permanent foundation.
- – The applicant must be 55+ years old.
- – Family income must not be more than the maximum allowed (60% of median household income). Exceptions to the limits require the County Manager’s approval.
Eligible repairs (but not an all-inclusive list) include:
- – Leaky roof;
- – Plumbing problems
- – HVAC
- – Electrical problems;
- – Windows/doors;
- – Handicap accessibility; and
- – Flooring/carpet if there is a safety issue.
More details can be found here
Forsyth County (1 program)
Home repair Program: This program is managed by Habitat for Humanity of North Central Georgia and serves senior citizens age 60 or older, active U.S. military and U.S. veterans, and disabled non-habitat homeowners with repair needs.
There’s also a Critical Home Repairs for Veterans and/or accessibility modifications. Critical home repairs include:
- Safe: steps, windows, doors, locks, lighting, electric, etc.
- Warm: furnace, weatherization, hot water heater, etc.
- Dry: roofing, siding, plumbing, etc.
- Accessible: ramps, ADA modifications, accessible kitchens/baths, etc.
Verify both programs requirement and eligibility.
Richmond County & City of Augusta (5 programs)
HOUSING REHABILITATION PROGRAM: provide decent, safe, sanitary, and affordable housing and bring houses up to code in addressing the roof, foundation, floors, siding, and the electrical and plumbing systems and to comply with Historic Preservation requirements. The country will inspect your home to determine if its feasible for repair and to obtain a cost estimate then see which of the 4 programs you are eligible for.
CONDITIONAL DEFERRED PAYMENT LOAN (CDPL): This assistance is made to individuals who are the owner of their property and whose income falls within 50% Area Median Income guideline. The property owner is exempt from making monthly payments. The funds assigned to their home will be collected in full, at the time of transfer and/or sale of the property.
LOW INTEREST RATE LOAN (LIRL): This assistance includes repayable loans made at interest rates of three percent (3%). LIRLs are made to applicants who qualify as moderate-income households. The loan approvals are based on the applicant’s ability to repay a loan. Loan repayment periods may extend up to twenty (20) years.
EMERGENCY GRANT: Those grants are dependent on the circumstances and the severity of the situation as determined by the Housing Rehabilitation Department. This program is limited to emergency work only and must be within our established emergency cost limit.
FREE PAINT PROGRAM: This program addresses the deteriorating exterior conditions of the older housing stock within Augusta Richmond County. The program provides free exterior paint to qualified homeowners and landlords whose tenants are residing within the county and who meet the low income guidelines established by HUD for that size household. The program provides the paint but the owner must make arrangements to have the structure painted.
Henry County (1 program)
Housing Rehabilitation: The county doesn’t have a specific home improvement program but they have funds that can be used for home repairs when a home health and safety needs to be addressed. You can contact the Community Development person in change on this page.
Hall County (1 program )
Homeowner Housing Rehabilitation: The emphasis of this program is to address health and safety issues for qualifying homeowners. This program will also focus on the vital life systems of a home, which include, but are not limited to, Electrical, Roof, Plumbing, HVAC, and Environmental Mitigation (Lead-Based Paint and Asbestos). The program offers a five-year deferred payment loan to qualifying homeowners with 0% interest. Verify the program eligibility income level.
Muscogee County & City of Columbus (2 programs)
Continuing Hope Program: Program offered by Habitat for Humanity of Columbus’s region. Program offers critical repairs and/or installations to include heating and air conditioning systems, roofs, flooring, plumbing, electrical updates and repairs, windows and exterior doors, etc. Eligibility: Seniors age 62 or over, Homeowners with disabilities and those that meet the income requirement set forth by HUD’s guidelines for Columbus, GA/Muscogee County.
Home Access Program: Program offers modifications for greater accessibility. Improvements may be in the form of disability accessibility (bathtub and/or shower modifications, widening of hallways, doorways, lowering countertops, ramps, lift system, track system, etc.).
Eligibility: Disabled homeowners living in Muscogee County and homeowners that have disabled persons living in their home.
Contact: Access2Independance