Wednesday, December 16, 2009

Home Repair Grants For The Elderly

Home repair grants help the elderly remain in their homes.


The U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) provides home repair grants for the elderly to help them remain in their homes and maintain their independence. Community organizations operate home repair programs that help seniors with small repairs to their homes, and other grants support emergency repairs that must be completed for the home to remain habitable. The grant programs usually assist seniors in finding qualified, licensed contractors, ensure that seniors are charged fair prices and confirm that the work is performed appropriately. Does this Spark an idea?


THDA Emergency Repair Program


The Tennessee Housing Development Agency (THDA) operates the Emergency Repair Program, which provides home repair grants to low-income elderly homeowners. The elderly grant recipients must be at least 60 years old, have income at or below 60 percent of median income in the area, must live in the residence to be repaired and have an ownership interest in the property.


The maximum grant award is $10,000, and THDA requires a 50 percent match, or $5,000, from one or more sources for projects that cannot exceed $15,000. Applicants must contact the local Development District for assistance in submitting the application and the request for payment.


Emergency Repair Program


Tennessee Housing Development Agency


404 James Robertson Parkway, Suite 1200


Nashville, TN 37243


800-228-THDA


615-532-2894 TTY


thda.org


USDA Rural Repair and Rehabilitation Loans and Grants


The U.S. Department of Agriculture provides federal funds to states, tribal governments and U.S. territories to operate housing repair programs for the elderly. The Very Low-Income Housing Repair Program provides grants of as much as $7,500 to help elderly homeowners pay for repairs and improvements that remove health and safety hazards.


Eligible applicants must be 62 or older, live in the property to be repaired and unable to qualify for credit or repay a USDA Section 504 loan. Homeowners who are able to repay a smaller loan may apply for a loan-grant combination of as much as $27,500. Applicants must contact their local rural development office for applications. The USDA Rural Development program provides a local office locator on its website.


USDA Rural Development, Room 5014-S


Mail Stop 0701


1400 Independence Avenue SW


Washington, DC 20250


202-690-1533


800-877-8339 TTY


usda.gov


Detroit Senior Emergency Home Repair


The Senior Emergency Home Repair in Detroit, Michigan, provides home repair grants to low-income seniors who are homeowners and age 65 and older or disabled and age 55 or older. The grants pay for emergency repairs that remove health and safety hazards and correct serious housing code violations. Applicants must live in the property to be repaired. The maximum grant amount is $12,000, and eligible repairs include electrical systems, furnaces, plumbing, roofs and structural repairs. The city of Detroit holds an annual drawing to select applicants for the grants. The Housing Services Division provides grant applications.


Senior Emergency Home Repair Program


Housing Services Division


65 Cadillac Square, Suite 1700


Detroit, MI 48226


313-224-3461


detroitmi.gov

Tags: Repair Program, repair grants, Applicants must, Emergency Home, Emergency Home Repair, Emergency Repair, Emergency Repair Program