Home Improvement Grants: How To Obtain One

If your home needs updating or has been damaged by a natural catastrophe and you can't afford the renovation costs, you may be eligible for a number of different home improvement grants. To learn about different grants as well as tips on how to obtain one, keep reading.

Popular Grant Options

Local Resources

One of the first places you should look for home improvement grant programs is locally. Check with your county authorities and state welfare office to determine what kind of home improvement grant or low-interest loan programs they offer.

For example, King County in Washington offers a Housing Repair Program with 0% interest loans to low and moderate income homeowners. These interest-free loans allow homeowners to make their houses more energy efficient, take on major repairs and bring their houses up to code.

Another example is the Neighborhood Housing Services of Chicago that offers 4 different loan programs and a grant program for specific neighborhoods in the Chicago area. Home improvement financing programs like these exist all over the country and in most counties, so locating one in your area may not be so difficult.

National Resources

If your home has been damaged by a natural catastrophe, such as a flood, hurricane, or tornado, you may be eligible for grant programs sponsored by the Federal Government or FEMA. These agencies offer funding for specific areas and disasters. The U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD) offers a number of home improvement programs, many of which are tailored specifically to rural areas.

Other national options include non-governmental organizations like Habitat For Humanity. Groups like these build housing for low-income families. To be eligible, you must apply to your local chapter and be willing to invest in the project as well as prove that you're able to repay the cost of your home. Once in the home, the responsibility to pay off the ongoing mortgage and other expenses will belong with the new owner.

Tips on How to Secure a Home Improvement Grant

1. Read all the related paperwork. Go through every page of the grant documentation and application to make sure that you understand it. If you're having trouble, don't be afraid to ask for help by calling the people who are offering the grant or even simply by asking a friend to go over it with you. It is much wiser in the long run to swallow your pride and request assistance to help clearly understand the documents than to go move forward naively assuming all will somehow work out.

2. Pick the right program for you. Some programs are intended for residents of particular areas, income brackets or ethnic backgrounds. So, it's important to read through the documentation and make sure you meet the qualification requirements.

3. Have your own paperwork ready. Many of these programs require proof of your household income as well as a full and detailed budget of the project. Be prepared in advance by having on-hand copies of your and your spouse's most recent tax returns plus several months of pay stubs. Also, have a full project budget prepared to submit with your application.