New Jersey (NJ) has over 131 official home improvement grants, repairs grants, programs and local resources available to low income homeowner families and individuals (most programs are based on income). This article provides you with all the main home repair programs offered throughout the state.
Updated: January 1, 2025
We understand home repairs can be financially challenging. The 2025 Homeowners Repair Survey found in New Jersey, over 1/10 of homeowners have to postpone them, and more than half delay repairs for financial reasons:
So if you have problem finding money to repair your home, you’re clearly 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 and repair in NJ:
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 program but many programs can help with roof repairs.
In general all homeowners are eligible for home improvement and repairs grants and assistance in New York (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.
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 grants for homeowners for repairs exist?
Who is eligible for government home improvement grant?
Confused about home improvement programs terms?
More Home Repair & Renovation Tips?
Funding Urgent Repairs : Find out how to quickly pay home repairs.
Common Home Repair Cost : Get an idea of the costs for common repairs.
Home Improvement Guide : Your complete guide to planning your next project.
Funding Home Improvements : Learn about financing options to support your renovation.
More Home Improvement & Repair Resources.
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 New Jersey, by cities and by counties. Learn: how much they provide, if you’re eligible and where to apply.
In general in New Jersey, free grants for home repair help homeowners with:
So yes, government grants for home repairs do exist and you can find them on this page.
Windows are expensive; 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 Replacement Guide for common window problems and replacements.
We have a separate resource explaining the programs for windows replacement in New Jersey.
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
Storm debris and damages, roof at the end of their lifespan, 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. See also our Guide to repair or change your roof.
Once it’s time to find a roofer, our community selection of New Jersey’ 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
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.
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 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 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 a city is often more 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 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 New Jersey 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.
If you have been in a natural disaster, you may qualify for New Jersey’s Disaster Recovery Programs for disasters. These homeowners repair programs exist for a long duration after a natural disaster happened and they help repair homes during a natural disaster such as hurricanes.
The VA provides grants and VA renovation loans to adapt their housing to their needs when they have a disability. And naturally, veterans are also eligible to all existing home improvement programs:
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 New Jersey’s Housing agencies in its 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 New Jersey’shomeowners 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.
New Jersey does not have a direct home improvement or repair program for homeowners. The sole program is for lead paint removal (see below).
Lead assistance: The program exist to deal with lead-based paint hazard. It assist eligible occupants in remediating and/or abatement lead-based paint hazards in pre-1978 one to four family residential units..
These 24 non profits located throughout New Jersey offer many services to their residents area. One is often home repair assistance programs for low and moderate income homeowners.
Find your area CAP by looking in this table. Then contact your closest agency to see the programs they have for homeowners like you.
With 17 local organizations in NJ and its volunteers, Habitat provide help to low income, disable and elderly homeowners to fix their home. Find and contact your local Habitat organization in New Jersey.
ReStores provide discounted used and surplus building materials, plus appliances and furniture in over 56 location throughout the state.
RT helps homeowners in need repair or modify their home and be able to live safely in it much longer. RT have 2 local chapters in Jersey city and the Northern Jersey.
Home improvement & modification: Program provides medically necessary improvements and structural alterations to Veterans/Service members’ primary residence for $6,800.
Work purposes:
– Allowing entrance to or exit from the primary residence
– Use of essential lavatory and sanitary facilities (e.g. roll in showers)
– Allowing accessibility to kitchen or bathroom sinks or counters (e.g. lowering counters/sinks)
– Improving entrance paths or driveways in immediate area of the home to facilitate access to the home through construction of permanent ramping
– Improving plumbing or electrical systems made necessary due to installation of home medical equipment
Find more details and how to apply
WAP: Weatherization Assistant Program (WAP) is funded by the Federal but managed locally. It helps 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’s energy efficiency.
| Spent per Home | Homes Weatherized | Budget | |
|---|---|---|---|
| New Jersey |
$7,556 |
6,516 | $68M |
Types of assistance:
Find the program detail and contact your county since they manage funds locally.
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 contact your county since they manage funds locally.
The USDA provide home improvement loans and government grants to low-income homeowners in NJ’s rural areas.
NJ homeowner amounts:
Grant (average): $8,630
Loan (average): $5,690
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?
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?
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.
There are official elderly home repair assistance in New Jersey but they are not only for seniors. Seniors, just like all New Jerseyans, are eligible to the same home improvement programs listed on this page.
You can also contact your local Area Agency on Aging to find local programs for seniors home repairs and home modifications.
You can also find home modification programs for seniors
There is a specific resource explaining New Jersey window replacement programs.
Most New Jersey counties have approved home repair and government grant programs and most major cities also have similar help for homeowners. Cities and counties received over $127M ($87M CDGB + $40M 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.
Home Improvement (HIP): Program assist qualified low to moderate income Bergen County home and condominium owner occupants with an interest free, no monthly payment loan with improvements that upgrade the home and enhance the neighborhood. HIP provides loans of up to $17,500 for a one-family home and condominium interiors and up to $25,000 for a two-family home.
Eligible work:
Home improvements to basements and attics (other than related to infrastructure, e.g., plumbing, heating, HVAC, etc.) are not permissible.
The county provide funding to local communities for home rehabilitation. Contact your city housing or community department to find out about their housing rehab program.
Home Improvement: Program is up to $22,000 loan for repairs with no interest ten year forgivable.
Eligible work:
Housing Rehab: Program offers a no-interest ten-year loan up to $15,000 to assist low and moderate income persons for the purpose of rehabilitating their home.
Eligible repair:
Home Improvement: Program provides Deferred Loans to low-and moderate-income homeowners who occupy a 1 to 3 family home. Homeowners in following municipalities may be eligible for assistance through this program: Belleville, Caldwell, Cedar Grove, Essex Fells, Fairfield, Glen Ridge, Livingston, Maplewood, Millburn, Montclair, North Caldwell, Nutley, Orange, Roseland, South Orange, Verona, West Caldwell, and West Orange.
Examples of repairs:
HOME FACADE IMPROVEMENT: Program provides up to $20,000 no-interest forgivable loans for owner-occupied homes. The loans is used for repairs or improvements to the property’s exterior which are intended to beautify the community and may also satisfy code violations or threats to the health and safety.
MINOR HOME REPAIR & WEATHERIZATION: This program offer free home repairs to seniors residents age 62+, homeowner, household income not to exceed $40,000, must have current home owners insurance – most retirees are eligible.
Work can include:
The county provide funding to local communities for home rehabilitations through the HOME investment partnership. If you live in 1 of the following communities call them to find out about their housing rehab program: Bayonne, East Newark, Guttenberg, Harrison, Hoboken, Kearny, North Bergen, Secaucus, Union City, Weehawken, or West New York.
Home Improvement Program (HIP): This forgivable, deferred payment loan assists low-moderate income homeowners in abating code violations and to eliminate health & safety hazards existing in the Jersey City. Maximum amount of assistance is $24,900 per home and the Emergency repairs will receive up to $15,000 assistance.
Eligible Work Items Include:
Housing Rehabilitation: Heating, Weatherization, Aging in Place, Plumbing, Code Issues Structural Concerns, Roofing.
Habitat for Humanity Ocean
Habitat low income and seniors homeowners with minor and substantial repairs through volunteers. Contact them to see if you’re eligible, the work they can do and when they could do it at your home.
Rehabilitation & Improvements: The programs are a rehabilitation Deferred Loan not to exceed $25,000 will be made available on a first come, first served basis. A lien will be placed on your home which will be recorded with your property deed.
Eligible Major Repairs or Replacements:
Eligible Minor Repairs or Replacements:
Toms River housing authority have the program as Lakewood above.
Home Repair: Program funding is not clear but it can help homeowners with minor and major repairs. Contact the county to learn about program funding.
Major Repairs Examples
Minor Repairs Examples
Barrier Free examples:
Home Improvement: Program is a Deferred Payment loan of up to $24,999.
Eligible work:
Senior Home Improvement Grant: Program’s grant is capped at $5,000 and it assist with home rehabilitation
Senior Home Repair: Home repairs eligible for consideration should be $500 or less, and should increase or restore the individual’s health and safety. Feasible home repairs include, but are not limited to, fixing a door or broken window, installation of grab bars, toilet repair, and window insulation.
Emergency repair: Program to repair or change hot water boilers and furnaces.
Home Repair: Program help residence of 1-2 families for up to $25,000.
Types of repair:
HOME IMPROVEMENT: Program’s assistance must be used for the correction of housing code violations which are dangerous or injurious to the occupants. Improvements considered as eligible repairs will be determined by the
Inspector at the time of inspection. Funding is a deferred payment loan up to $ 20,000.00.
Housing Rehabilitation: Program offers up to $40,000 in repairs as a no interest (0%) ten year forgivable loan. There are no monthly payments and the loan is forgiven if the homeowner maintains title and occupancy for a ten year period.
Eligible uses include:
Habitat for Humanity of Passaic
Critical Repair: The program helps low-moderate income homeowners alleviate health and safety issues in and around their homes.
Repairs Include
Minor home repair: Program offer a maximum grant of $15,000 per household for approved home repairs. A mortgage in the amount of the grant is placed on the property for a period of seven years. If the household retains ownership of the property and uses the house as their primary residence for the seven year period, the mortgage will be removed in its entirety.
Only minor exterior repairs are eligible, including the following:
Housing Rehabilitation: Program offer no Interest, no Payment 6- Year or 10-Year Forgivable Loan (Term is dependent on amount of assistance) to help fix by example:
Habitat of Morris
HOME REPAIR: Program helps lower income homeowners who are affected by age, disability, or family circumstances and struggle to fix and maintain the integrity of their homes. The maximum cost of repair is $5,000.
Services covered:
Emergency Home Repair: Program provides limited grants to eligible homeowners to make emergency repairs to their homes. Eligible repair services correct conditions that pose an immediate threat to Occupants’ health, safety and/or welfare and can include, but are not limited to the following:
Residential Rehabilitation: Code violations and safety improvement assistance
Weatherization Assistance: Energy conservation improvements
Raritan Valley Habitat for Humanity (Somerset) (3 programs)
Owner Occupied Rehabilitation: The program provide funding to renovate homes through emergency repair loans and deferred payment loan programs. Loans are 0% deferred payment loans from $1,000 to $24,999.
Weatherization Assistance: The program help income-eligible families reducing their heating/cooling costs and improving the safety of their homes through energy efficiency measures. Energy efficiency measures performed through the program include:
Housing Rehabilitation: The program provide financing up to $25,000 per household for eligible activities,
All assistance is offered to the homeowner in the form of a 0% interest deferred loan, secured by a mortgage, to be repaid to the program in full at time of resale, transfer of title, or refinancing
Example of work allowed including major systems:
Fix-It: The program provides minor home repairs to protect the safety of county residents 60 years and older in to help them maintain their independence and their ability to remain in their own homes.
HOME REHABILITATION: Program pays for home repairs, focusing on those to correct code deficiencies, in residences of qualified homeowners. A maximum of $20,000 in assistance can be provided per eligible home within Carlisle Borough and $22,000 in Cumberland County.
Eligible work include but are not limited to:
EMERGENCY REPAIR: The program provide up to $10,000 in assistance to homeowners in need of emergency repairs to their home through an interest-free deferred loan.
Repairs can include:
WHOLE HOME REPAIRS: Program is paused but it improves habitability, energy efficiency, and disability accommodation concerns. Funding are grants of up to $25,000 are available with a maximum of $50,000 per household.
Habitat for Humanity
Home Repair: Program is paused right now but it usually help with floors, decks, ramps, painting, electrical, plumbing, and more.
Housing Rehabilitation: Program goal is to maintain safe, accessible, and energy-efficient housing by helping eligible residents to correct code violations and other deficiencies in their homes.
Eligible work:
Raritan Valley Habitat for Humanity (Hunterdon) (3 programs)
Housing Rehabilitation : The program provides up to $16,000 per dwelling for home improvements such as: new roof, electrical improvements, smoke detectors, etc. The funds are in the form of an interest free loan which is forgiven after a 10 year period. The loan must be repaid only if the property is sold within the 10 year period.
Warren County Habitat for Humanity
Critical Home Repair Program (CHR): The program keep existing homeowners in their homes safely and affordably by providing critical home repairs to roofing, electrical, plumbing, interior or exterior damage or other items deemed necessary.
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.