| Especially in these challenging economic times, it is | | | | grants are available everywhere. You will have to look |
| common to see home repair grants advertised | | | | for the specific grant that may work for you. You can |
| everywhere. These 'free money' ads for home repairs | | | | find opportunities offered through the U.S. Department |
| are usually posted by companies that charge a fee to | | | | of Agriculture, or USDA, so you can contact your local |
| apply for the grant on your behalf. However, there is | | | | area office to find out what you need to do to apply |
| no reason why you can't apply for the grant yourself | | | | for their grant. They can also tell you who is and is not |
| and save this fee. All of the information that you need | | | | eligible for the grant, and they can inform you of the |
| to have to successfully apply for a grant is available | | | | grant application process. |
| free of charge from local government and private | | | | Covered Repairs |
| agencies. | | | | While not all repairs are covered by grants, the |
| What is a grant? | | | | fundamental ones generally are. A simple cosmetic |
| First of all you should understand exactly what a grant | | | | improvement or recreational improvement will usually |
| is. A grant is money that is given to you for a specific | | | | not be considered. They types of repairs that are |
| purpose, and it never has to be paid back. The | | | | grant worthy include the fundamental structures and |
| difference between a grant and a loan is that you do | | | | functions of a home like the roof, the heating system, |
| have to pay a loan back, even if you get a really low | | | | plumbing, the electrical system and water and sewer |
| interest rate or many years to pay it back. There are | | | | systems just to name a few. Another area where a |
| government programs for both grants and low cost | | | | grant can be of immense value is if you need to |
| loans, and they are available for people who cannot | | | | retrofit your home to make it wheelchair accessible. |
| qualify for a regular loan. Grants go largely to people | | | | Application Process |
| who have credit difficulties, the elderly and the disabled. | | | | When you locate an appropriate grant, you can |
| Each grant has certain eligibility requirements, and | | | | always visit your local USDA office, and they can help |
| when you apply for the grant there is an application | | | | step you through the grant application process. Often |
| process that you have to go through. So if you fit the | | | | times you can find help online as you progress through |
| requirements for a specific grant, you have nothing to | | | | the application process. You will need to provide |
| lose by qualifying for it. When you are searching for | | | | financial information like tax returns and pay stubs, and |
| grants, look for opportunities offered by the | | | | you will need a professional estimate of the required |
| government, those offered through private funding, as | | | | home repairs. So be ready to take a little time and do |
| well as grants from state and local agencies and local | | | | a good job filling out your application, because it may |
| service organizations. | | | | make the difference between getting your 'free |
| Available Grants | | | | money' or not. |
| With such a variety of grants available, obviously not all | | | | |