Detroit Home Repair Programs: Free Repairs, Interest Lists and 0% Loans

Last updated: October 19, 2026

Bottom line: Detroit has free repair programs, but the city is not taking new Critical Home Repair pre-applications now. The fall round closed September 22, 2026. You can ask to join the interest list. Lead hazard help has separate rules, and local intake partners say 0% loan applications are not available at this time.

Start with the repair that makes your home unsafe. Then check who lives in the home, your address, and whether you own it. Those facts can change which program may help.

This guide covers homes inside Detroit city limits. If you live elsewhere in Wayne County, use our Michigan home repair guide to find other state and local routes.

Which Detroit repair path fits your home?

These are different programs. A pre-application does not put money in your bank account. An interest list is not a waitlist with a set place in line. A loan is debt even when the interest rate is zero.

Free repairs through Critical Home Repair

Detroit’s Critical Home Repair Program pays for selected urgent work, not a full home makeover. It uses federal Community Development Block Grant funds under city housing plans. Staff review how unsafe a home is and what work the budget can cover.

Repairs may include active roof leaks, severe plumbing issues, unsafe wiring, a failed furnace or boiler, and changes that make a bathroom or entrance safer. A home may need more work than the city can pay for. Even an eligible family may not be chosen.

Who may qualify?

• You own and live in a home within Detroit city limits.
• Your property taxes are paid, or you are on an approved payment plan.
• Your household income meets the current program limit.
• Someone in the home is under age 18, age 62 or older, or has a documented disability that meets city rules.

The city says households with the worst safety needs get priority. Do not use old income tables to decide that you qualify. Household size and current city rules matter. Ask staff about the current limits and any rule on past city repair aid.

Is the city accepting applications?

No new Critical Home Repair pre-applications are being accepted under the last announced round. The city’s September 2026 notice opened applications September 9 and closed them September 22 at 5 p.m. The city expects to open the shared home repair process twice a year, but it has not confirmed the next dates.

Use the interest-list link on the city program page to request news about future rounds. Save your sign-up record. You still must submit a new pre-application when a future round opens. Signing up alone does not reserve a repair.

If you applied in September, use the city’s application status portal to check your case. Keep any case number and messages. If you need help with an account, call Detroit Housing and Revitalization at 313-224-6380.

Detroit lead hazard help has a separate purpose

Detroit LeadSafe Housing focuses on lead-based paint in homes built before 1978. It is not a general roof or kitchen grant. The city uses federal and state funds to check and fix lead hazards in homes that meet its rules.

Its city page lists 16 target Detroit ZIP codes. A child under age 6 must live in or visit the home, or a pregnant person must live there. The page says a visiting child may count if visits total at least 10 hours a week. Income, ownership, home condition, and landlord consent for rental homes also matter.

A ZIP code by itself does not prove the house is inside city limits. Some state and older city notices show shorter ZIP lists. Call 313-224-6380 and have staff check the exact address before ruling yourself out.

During an open city round, one form can be used to seek both Critical Home Repair and LeadSafe help. The shared fall 2026 pre-application is now closed. Still, the lead page has a special priority contact form for families whose child already has an elevated blood lead level. Ask the lead team about that route right away.

Eligible work may include lead testing, lead paint hazard removal, and some other urgent repairs if funds allow. The city does not promise a roof or furnace to every lead applicant. Read our lead paint removal guide for steps to take without spreading lead dust.

If a child may have been exposed, call the child’s doctor about a blood lead test. Michigan’s state lead services office lists another application route and local programs. Do not sand or scrape old paint while you wait.

The 0% home repair loan is not a grant

Detroit’s 0% Home Repair Loan Program was built using federal block grants and private funds to help owners pay for repairs without interest. The published loan range is $5,000 to $25,000, with up to 10 years to repay. You owe the amount borrowed. It is not a free repair, a rebate, or a forgivable loan.

Current intake warning: The loan website still shows forms and old launch language. But local intake partner Jefferson East housing services says the program may return in 2026. It also says loan intake is not yet open.

Do not assume a live form means funds are available. Ask the city or a loan intake partner to confirm a new round before sending papers.

When operating, the loan may cover roofs, electrical work, plumbing, heating, windows, doors, porches, and other approved repairs. Health and safety risks come first. Work must follow city rules, with approved contractors and an inspection process.

How loan eligibility differs

Published loan eligibility rules require owners to have lived in the home for at least six months. Past rules used a 560 credit score floor. They also checked if the owner could pay each month. Insurance, taxes, income, and debt also count, but some Detroit areas have different income rules.

Those are past published rules, not proof of an open loan round or of the terms of any new loan. The operator must confirm them when intake resumes. A household that qualifies for a free repair program may fail the loan credit test, or the reverse.

The administrator’s loan questions page says approved loans have a lien on the home and missed payments can harm the borrower. It also describes a closing fee. Ask for a new written cost sheet, payment schedule, and lien terms before you agree.

For help checking a loan agreement, use our loan and lien guide. Never sign a deed transfer or give a contractor power over your home just to get an estimate.

Accessibility help and the old Renew Detroit program

Detroit’s Senior Accessibility Home Repair Fund supports safer access for older or disabled residents. Past city plans named ramps, grab bars, safer entries, and other home changes. The fund used federal pandemic recovery money. It is not a general-purpose cash grant.

The city points people to the Detroit Housing Network for help with home repair services and applications. Call 866-313-2520 and select the housing specialist option. Ask whether the accessibility program has room now, who can apply, and what proof of disability or age is needed. An old “applications open” notice does not prove current space.

The Renew Detroit program helped previously chosen residents with roofs or windows. Its two phases are closed, and the city says there will be no more rounds. Some repairs for past participants may still be underway. Do not join a fake “new Renew Detroit” list or pay anyone for access.

What to do while the city programs are closed

Do not leave a bad leak or failed heater untouched while you wait for a new city round. Pick a second route that fits the danger and the work. You can ask more than one office on the same day.

Failed furnace, hot water, or another safety risk

Michigan’s State Emergency Relief repair program may pay for certain essential repairs if a low-income household meets state rules. A failed furnace, water heater, or septic system can fit. The state has lifetime payment limits and will check ownership, income, housing costs, and safety need.

Apply through MI Bridges or ask a local Michigan Department of Health and Human Services office for help. The state program is not a general home remodel fund, and you should not expect a whole new roof from it. For immediate safety steps, see our emergency home repair guide.

High heating bills, drafts, and insulation

Wayne Metro weatherization offers no-cost energy-saving work for qualifying households. Services may include insulation, air sealing, and safety checks. It is not a roof, plumbing, or wiring repair grant, and a damaged roof or unsafe wiring may stop work until fixed.

Wayne Metro lists 313-388-9799 for its Connect Center. Ask if it serves your exact address and what the wait and home check involve. Our weatherization assistance guide explains the work and common delays.

Need a person to sort through options?

Call Michigan 211 referrals by dialing 211, or call 844-875-9211. Give your Detroit ZIP code and describe the exact repair. Ask which agencies are taking requests today, not just which ones exist.

The city’s Housing Resource HelpLine, at 866-313-2520, can also route homeowners to repair counseling and other housing help. It is a referral service, not a promise that someone will pay for work. For a broader referral plan, see where to start locally.

Get ready before the next application opens

Save time by making one folder for your papers. You may be asked for different items by the free program and the loan program. Never send all your private records to an unverified person.

• Photo ID and the address of the home.
• Deed, land contract, or other proof you own the home.
• Proof you live there, such as a utility bill.
• Recent income papers for adults in the home.
• Property tax records or proof of a payment plan.
• Photos of each repair problem and any safety notice.
• Information about a child, older adult, or disabled resident, if the program asks.
• For a loan, insurance papers, credit details, and mortgage records may also be needed.

For each repair, write when it began and how it affects daily life. State facts, such as “the roof leaks onto an outlet” or “the only heat source has stopped.” Do not make the damage sound worse than it is. Use our repair application document list for a more detailed check.

If taxes are behind, ask the city what payment plan counts. If you cannot find a deed, tell the intake worker before you apply. A title problem may need legal help first. Keep copies of every form and every message.

If you are delayed, turned down, or offered a loan

First, ask for the exact reason in writing. A closed enrollment round is not the same as a denial. A missing paper may be fixable. A family can meet income rules but lose priority because another home has a greater safety risk.

Ask if you can correct the file, request a review, or apply in the next round. The city has not set a wait time. It has not promised a repair. Do not pay an “expediter” who claims to move you ahead of other families.

Before accepting any loan, ask how much you must repay, when payments begin, what happens if you miss one, and whether a lien will be filed. A 0% rate does not remove those risks. Get the answers in writing before choosing a contractor.

Common Detroit home repair questions

A simple three-step plan