There are over 182 Illinois home repairs grants, home improvement grants and resources available to homeowner families in 2024.
This article provides you with all the main home repair programs offered throughout the State of Illinois.
Updated: June 26, 2024
Home repairs can be a financial strain. In Illinois, the 2024 Homeowners Repairs Survey found 1/5 of homeowners need to postpone repairs and they delay in majority for financial reasons:
So you’re not alone. The programs below will help you find those funds for your home.
There are 5 main sources of financial assistance for home improvement in Illinois:
The important thing to keep it mind it that most programs can help with a broad range of home repairs. For example, there’s not only 1 roof or window program but many programs can help with roof and windows repairs. That’s why we created the projects summary below.
Jump to a project:
Window (8) | Heating & HVAC (9) |
Roof (7) | Foundation (7) |
Electrical (7) | Bathroom (6) |
Plumbing (7) | Remodel (7) |
Sewer & water (5) | Asbestos & lead (5) |
Jump to a group:
Seniors (9) | City & suburb (9) |
Disabled (9) | Rural (5) |
Veterans (7) |
Can I get a $10,000 grant for home improvement?
What free government grants for homeowners for repairs exist?
Who is eligible for government home improvement grant?
Confused about home improvement programs terms?
In general all homeowners are eligible for home improvement and repairs grants and assistance in Illinois (find them all below). In reality, because the needs are so big, some groups like seniors, veterans, disabled 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 program has their own eligibility, so you need to verify with programs in your area to see info you meet the income eligibility level.
Cities & Suburbs | Rural | |
---|---|---|
Low income | HUD, WAP, Cities & Counties programs, State, Disasters, Community Organisations, | USDA, WAP, Cities & Counties programs, State, Disasters, Community Organisations, |
Medium/High income |
Home Improvement Loans, State, Disasters, HUD | USDA, Home Improvement Loans, State, Disasters. |
Important reminder: Programs such as cities or counties assistance programs determine eligibility based on the median income in your area. This means that even if you have a moderate income, you might qualify for these programs if you live in a wealthier area. In other words, it’s better to verify your edibility with each programs first before thinking you won’t be able to receive funding for your project.
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 by the State of Illinois, by cities and by counties. Learn: how much they provide, if you’re eligible and where to apply.
In general in the state of Illinois, repair grants for homeowners can help with:
Windows are expensive in Illinois; broken windows, no longer opening, warped frame, drafty and leaking air are a few among many common signs homeowners’ windows need repair or replaced. See also the Windows Repair Guide for common window problems.
We have a separate resource explaining the funding programs for windows replacement in Illinois.
Window programs for lower income living in a city or suburb:
HUD, State, Cities & Counties programs, WAP, Community Organisations, Disasters
Window programs for lower income living in a rural area:
USDA, State, Cities & Counties programs, WAP, Community Organisations, Disasters
Window programs for medium and higher income in a rural area:
USDA, State, Disasters, Home Improvement Loans
Window programs for medium and higher income in a city or suburb:
HUD, State, Disasters, Home Improvement Loans
Illinois have lots of homes roof at the end of their lifespan, then hail and wind are always signs of big expenses when it comes to a home roof. But not everyone have a sizable amount ready at any time to fix or replace its roof. To start with the basics, we created the Guide to repair or change your roof.
Once it’s time to find a roofer, our community selection of Illinois best roofers can help.
Roof help for lower income living in a city or suburb:
HUD, State, Cities & Counties programs, Community Organisations, Disasters
Roof help for lower income living in a rural area:
USDA, State, Cities & Counties programs, Community Organisations, Disasters
Roof help for medium and higher income in a rural area:
USDA, State, Disasters, Home Improvement Loans
Roof help for medium and higher income in a city or suburb:
HUD, State, Disasters, Home Improvement Loans
Cracks, uneven settling/heaving, soil conditions and drainage system issues are the most common problems requiring foundation repair.
Foundation help for lower income living in a city or suburb:
HUD, State, Cities & Counties programs, Community Organisations, Disasters
Foundation help for lower income living in a rural area:
USDA, State, Cities & Counties programs, Community Organisations, Disasters
Foundation help for medium and higher income in a rural area:
USDA, State, Disasters, Home Improvement Loans
Foundation help for medium and higher income in a city or suburb:
HUD, State, Disasters, Home Improvement Loans
Electrical: Faulty wiring, circuit breaker problems, and electrical panel issues are major concerns.
Plumbing: Leaky pipes, water heater malfunctions, and clogged drains are common plumbing problems.
Electrical and plumbing help for lower income living in a city or suburb:
HUD, State, Cities & Counties programs, Community Organisations, Disasters
Electrical and plumbing help for lower income living in a rural area:
USDA, State, Cities & Counties programs, Community Organisations, Disasters
Electrical and plumbing help for medium and higher income in a rural area:
USDA, State, Disasters, Home Improvement Loans
Electrical and plumbing help for medium and higher income in a city or suburb:
HUD, State, Disasters, Home Improvement Loans
The weather can be extreme in Illinois. This often create furnace, boiler and HVAC malfunctions, thermostat problems, and duct work leaks cause heating issues while AC compressor failures, refrigerant leaks, and airflow restrictions are major cooling problems for house owners.
Furnace and hvac programs for lower income living in a city or suburb:
HUD, State, Cities & Counties programs, Community Organisations, Disasters
Furnace and hvac programs for lower income living in a rural area:
USDA, State, Cities & Counties programs, Community Organisations, Disasters
Furnace and hvac programs for medium and higher income in a rural area:
USDA, State, Disasters, Home Improvement Loans
Furnace and hvac programs for medium and higher income in a city or suburb:
HUD, State, Disasters, Home Improvement Loans
Lead paint and asbestos in are still one of the main health hazard in older homes. Removing them is costly and most local governments have a program to help homeowners removing this hazard.
Asbestos and lead programs for lower income living in a city or suburb:
HUD, State, Cities & Counties programs, Community Organisations, Disasters
Asbestos and lead programs for lower income living in a rural area:
USDA, State, Cities & Counties programs, Community Organisations, Disasters
Asbestos and lead programs for medium and higher income in a rural area:
USDA, State, Disasters, Home Improvement Loans
Asbestos and lead programs for medium and higher income in a city or suburb:
HUD, State, Disasters, Home Improvement Loans
Fortunately frequent but replacing water line or sewers pipes is very costly. The programs below can help fund this repair or replacement depending of your income and where you live.
Water and sewer programs for lower income living in a city or suburb:
HUD, State, Cities & Counties programs, Community Organisations, Disasters
Water and sewer programs lower income living in a rural area:
USDA, State, Cities & Counties programs, Community Organisations, Disasters
Water and sewer programs medium and higher income in a rural area:
USDA, State, Disasters, Home Improvement Loans
Water and sewer programs medium and higher income in a city or suburb:
HUD, State, Disasters, Home Improvement Loans
In Illinois, 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.
Lower income living in a city or suburb:
HUD, Cities & Counties programs, State, Community Organisations, Disasters
Lower income living in a rural area:
USDA, State, Community Organisations, Disasters
Medium and higher income in a rural area:
USDA, State, Disasters, Home Improvement Loans
Medium and higher income in a city or suburb:
HUD, State, Disasters, Home Improvement Loans
The programs’ goal is to bring bathroom to sanitary and health standards. Improving the bathroom finishing can be done with your own funds or a loan.
Lower income living in a city or suburb:
HUD, Cities & Counties programs, State, Community Organisations, Disasters
Lower income living in a rural area:
USDA, State, Community Organisations, Disasters
Medium and higher income in a rural area:
HUD, State, Disasters, Home Improvement Loans
Medium and higher income in a city or suburb:
USDA, State, Disasters, Home Improvement Loans
Having a disability create issues in a home. Most funding resources let you upgrade and make modifications to your home in order to be able to live in it much longer. Ramps, bathroom and kitchen modifications, installation of grab bars, doorways enlargement, are all covered by accessibility programs.
Accessibility modifications for lower income living in a city or suburb:
HUD, Cities & Counties programs, State, Community Organisations, Disasters
Accessibility modifications for lower income living in a rural area:
USDA, State, Community Organisations, Disasters
Accessibility modifications for medium and higher income in a rural area:
HUD, State, Disasters, Home Improvement Loans
Accessibility modifications for medium and higher income in a city or suburb:
USDA, State, Disasters, Home Improvement Loans
Most Illinois programs help you upgrade and make modifications to your home in order to be able to live in it much longer as a senior. Ramps, bathroom and kitchen modifications, installation of grab bars, are all covered by home adaptation programs for seniors.
Local Area Agency on Aging can also often help with some repairs.
You can find resources below and the curated resource for senior home modifications.
Senior home modifications for lower income living in a city or suburb:
HUD, Cities & Counties programs, State, Community Organisations, Disasters
Senior home modifications for lower income living in a rural area:
USDA, State, Community Organisations, Disasters
Senior home modifications for medium and higher income in a rural area:
USDA, State, Disasters, Home Improvement Loans
Senior home modifications for medium and higher income in a city or suburb:
HUD, State, Disasters, Home Improvement Loans
Living in an Illinois city is often expensive and there are home improvement programs available to city and suburbs homeowners.
Home repair programs for lower income living in a city or suburb:
HUD, Cities & Counties programs, State, Community Organisations
Home improvement for medium and higher income in a city or suburb:
HUD, State, Home Improvement Loans
Homeowners in Illinois rural areas have to rely on less external resources but there are still resources available to them for home repair and improvements.
Rural homeowner with a lower income:
USDA, State, Community Organisations, Disasters
Rural homeowner with a medium and higher income:
USDA, State, Disasters, Home Improvement Loans
When the Federal Agency FEMA declare some area(s) of Illinois a disaster area, the area’s residents can then apply for financial aid.
You can find if your area is declared a disaster area by FEMA here then if it is, claim disaster assistance with the federal government. If you’re impacted by a disaster, you may be able to claim housing, financial, food, medical, etc.
The VA provide grants and loans to help veterans to adapt their housing to their needs when they have a disability.
Veteran with a lower income living in a city or suburb:
HUD, Cities & Counties programs, State, Community Organisations, Disasters
Veteran with a lower income living in a rural area:
USDA, State, Community Organisations, Disasters
Veteran with a medium and higher income in a rural area:
USDA, State, Disasters, Home Improvement Loans
Veteran with a medium and higher income in a city or suburb:
HUD, State, Disasters, Home Improvement Loans
HUD is the federal agency funding the Illinois’ housing agencies: in 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 Illinois’ 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.
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.
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.
IHDA Provides assistance for you to repair your home with 2 programs:
Home Accessibility Program (HRAP): Provides funding to local governments and non-profit organizations for home accessibility grants to their local residents. These grants help people stay in their homes and prevent premature or unnecessary institutionalization of the elderly and people with disabilities.
Eligible homeowners can receive up to $45,000 for eligible repairs and/or accessibility improvements, while homeowners participating in the Roof Only option may receive up to $21,500.
Assistance is provided to homeowners in the form of a 5- or 3-year forgivable loan.
Illinois Homeowner Assistance Fund Home Repair Program (HAFHR): The program provides funding to local government and non-profit organizations to help homeowners make necessary repairs to their homes. IHDA does not directly fund homeowners.
Eligible critical home repairs can be up to $60,000 per household. The home repair grants carry a 3-year forgivable agreement.
You can find your local Illinois’ participating organisation.
Habitat rehabilitates houses for families and people in need with volunteers. Habitat 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 in Illinois provide discounted used, surplus building materials, appliances and furniture.
Rebuilding Together Illinois (RT) provide free home repair to low income homeowners and seniors. RT is active Chicago Metro area, Northern Chicago, Aurora, Peoria, Southern Illinois and Henry county plus Stephenson county.
These non-profits are located throughout the state and they provide many services to residents. For homeowners, all of them offer weatherization services, LIHEAP. They also provide home modifications for seniors and disabled resident and most of them regularly offer emergency home repair services through third parties.
Find your local agency for help.
Window replacement can be done for homeowners with 4 different programs. You can find a more complete article on Illinois window replacement 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 | |
---|---|---|---|
Illinois |
$8,000 |
11,228 | $127M |
Find the program detail and contact your local organisation 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 organisation managing LIHEAP.
All official programs on this page cane be used by seniors, even if they are not for seniors only since they’re also free grants for seniors home repairs programs.
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.
For seniors programs only: You can contact your local Agency on Aging.
You can also call or contact the Senior Helpline here: 1-800-252-8966
You can also find specific programs for home modification for seniors.
The USDA provide home improvement loans and government grants for home repairs to low-income homeowners in rural areas.
IL homeowner amounts:
Grant (average): $7,840
Loan (average): $7,150
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.
Illinois’ counties have approved home repair and government grant programs and most major cities also have similar help for homeowners. Cities and counties received over $119M ($159M CDGB + $60M HOME) last fiscal year to help residents with various programs.
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.
Its Home Modification Program make forgivable loans to very-low and extremely-low income elderly and/or disabled persons to make the home more accessible and safe for them.
The program’s funds are for major rehabilitation work on owner-occupied properties in need of repairs and/or necessary work to bring these properties up the local building codes standards.
Minor Home Repair: The program offer grants and forgivable deferred payment loans to eligible homeowners to correct housing deficiencies threatening the health or safety of the occupants or its structural integrity.
Major Home Repair: program provides grants and/or low interest loans to eligible homeowners in targeted areas to repair deteriorated homes. Renovations done through this program are for moderate to substantial rehabilitation.
Retrofit: This program eliminate barriers, modify the layout, or add structural accessories or improvements to the dwellings to make it more accessible for occupants with disabilities.
There are a few Cook county home repair grants programs available in local communities. The city of Chicago have it’s own (see below), plus some suburbs also have their own programs (also see them below). The county usually partner with local non profit organization such as Rebuilding Together to offer its home repair programs.
Roof and Porch Emergency Repairs: The program provides grants to owner-occupants of 1 to 4-unit residential buildings for improvements to their roof or porch. Because of the big demand for this program, residents need to signup and once a year there’s a lottery to pick the lucky winners.
Home repair: This program provides grants to income-eligible homeowners to repair health and safety issues for 1-to-4-unit residential property. The program covers:
Small Accessible repairs for Seniors: This program provides safety, security and accessibility improvements that help senior citizens to remain in their homes.
Repair types are limited to minor repairs not limited to: Grab bars, Lever faucets, Door repairs, Carbon monoxide detectors, Smoke detectors, Wheelchair ramps.
The repair program helps homeowners correct code violations and address long-overdue repairs that affect the health or safety of their families. Improvements include basic structural repairs, roof, doors & windows, electrical, plumbing, heating, and weatherization.
Provides funding up to $15,000 to eligible homeowners for home repair and improvements to correct code violations, correct health and safety issues, provide accessibility improvements and fix system failures.
Find the eligibility criteria and eligible improvements.
The Weatherization Program enables low income families to permanently reduce their energy bills by making their homes more energy efficient. Here’s a partial list of work covered:
Homeowners may receive funding in the amount of up to $4,999.00 in the form of a 3 year forgivable loan, and for certain activities, additional funding of up to $5,000.00 in the form of a deferred loan. See full list of eligible work on the application here.
Housing Rehabilitation: This program provides grants and low interest loans for rehab projects to make homes safer and compliant with local housing standards. Grants are available to address lead-based hazards in homes. Up to $30,000 is generally available for homes.
Home Rehab: The program rehabilitate seniors’ homes in order meet local housing codes and standards. Homeowners in Kane and DeKalb counties may be eligible for the program’s interest free, deferred loans to rehab their homes.
Homeowner Rehabilitation: Homeowners with a house that needs repairs or accessibility improvements may be eligible for financial assistance. If the property is located in Waukegan, please contact the City of Waukegan, as it administers its own Homeowner Rehabilitation Program.
If your home is located elsewhere in Lake County, please contact the Community Partners.
Contact for Affordable Housing Department for more information.
Home repair program: Eligible homeowners may receive up to $40,000 to make necessary life-safety, health and accessibility repairs and improvements.
Repairs can include but are not limited to roofing, windows & doors, heating & cooling, electrical, plumbing, lead Based Paint, mold and asbestos remediation, kitchens, bathrooms, flooring, foundation and structural repairs.
In Lake County, assistance is structured as a 0%-interest forgivable loan with no monthly payments.
In Evanston, grant assistance may be structured as a 0%-interest forgivable loan with no monthly payments or as loan, depending on the program.
Home Accessibility Program: Grants of up to $20,000 are available for homeowners and renters. At least 50% of the work needs to be accessibility-related; the remaining funds can be used for other life-safety and health repairs.
Assistance is structured as a 0%-interest forgivable loan with no monthly payments. Grants are forgiven 1/60th each month (fully forgiven after 5 years in the home).
Eligible improvements: ramps, lifts, accessibility improvements to kitchens and bathrooms, flooring, widening doorways, grab bars, and other accessibility, health and safety improvements.
Home Repairs: Madison County Community Development partners with IMPACT provide accessibility ramps for disable residents. Madison County Community Development partners with Senior Services Plus to provide a small home repair program to help senior homeowners remain in their homes.
The county also offer a Wheatarisation program to help homeowners save on their energy consumption.
Home Rehabilitation: The program assist low-income homeowners with Health, Safety, and accessibility issues in their home. Work cost under $3,000 qualify as no payment, no interest loans that will be forgiven over a five year recapture period. Work costing $3001 and over qualify as a no payment no interest deferred payment loan that must be paid in full upon the home’s sale.
Housing Rehabilitation Loans: The loans are available to income-qualified residents who are the owner/occupant of a single-family housing unit located within the city limits. Assistance is provided through a 0% interest, deferred payment loan up to $25,000.
Eligible repairs include but are not limited to structural and mechanical repairs, roof, windows, siding, gutters, electrical, plumbing, energy conservation and accessibility modifications. Housing issues affecting the health and safety of the occupants are addressed first.
The county’s organisation provide a home rehab for eligible residents.
Single Family Rehabilitation: The program offer up to $45,000 for critical home repairs that improve health and safety.
Home Accessibility: The program offer grants up to $25,000 to low-to-moderate income seniors and disabled residents in order to make home modifications and repairs, provided in many different forms and may include the addition of walk-in showers, installation of wheelchair ramps, fixing leaky roofs, and remodeling hallways and flooring for wheelchair access and more.
Housing Rehab: Programs address necessary repairs such as leaky roofs, plumbing issues, electrical problems, handicapped accessible bathrooms, and ramps.
This organisation also manage a weatherization program.
Weatherization Program: Eligible improvements are attic and wall insulation, caulking, glazing, weather stripping etc.) to income eligible clients based on income for the preceding twelve months for all members in the household. Furnace tune-ups, retrofits and repairs are included with dollar limits for all work done.
The county offer programs for homeowners.
Home rehabilitation assistance: Eligible homeowners can repair their homes and remove health and safety hazards by replacing costly maintenance items. Eligible homeowners may receive up to $45,000 in assistance as a five-year forgivable loan.
Will County Center of Community Concerns
Home Rehabilitation: The programs cover home & safety repairs, accessibility improvements, roof repair & Replacement, energy efficiency improvements, environmental hazards, replace inoperable or inefficient appliances, structural improvements to home, electrical, plumbing, insulation, HVAC.
Single-Family Rehabilitation Roof Only: The program offer grants eligible homeowners a five-year forgivable loan to assist with the roof repair and to remove health and safety hazards.
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.