Georgia has over 83 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 2023.
Updated: June 27, 2023
There are 3 main sources of financial assistance for home improvement in Georgia:
You can review the Federal and the State of Georgia home repair grants but ultimately your county and city are the one you need to contact and where you apply for funding.
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 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 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.
In general in Georgia all repair and improvement help with:
More precisely the following work and repair are usually covered by home improvement grants programs:
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.
This department doesn’t have a direct home improvement and home repair program. Instead it provide funding to counties and local organisations such as Habitat to help georgians homeowners. Most funds comes from the CHIP program.
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.
ReStores provide discounted used, surplus building materials, appliances and furniture.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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:
What is an eligible area?
Applicants may check the address of their home to determine eligibility.
How may funds be used?
How much money can I get?
What are the terms of the loan or grant?
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.
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.
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:
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.
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 organisations 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.
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:
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.
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.
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:
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:
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.
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
More details and your application
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:
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:
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;
Eligible repairs (but not an all-inclusive list) include:
More details can be found here
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:
Verify both programs requirement and eligibility.
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.
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 address 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 provide the paint but the owner must make arrangements to have the structure painted.
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.
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.
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