Find agencies, local grants, housing offices, nonprofits, and referrals.
Last updated: July 28, 2026 Bottom Line A HUD-approved housing counselor can give independent help with mortgage trouble, foreclosure, home repair financing, reverse mortgages, budgeting, rental problems, disaster recovery, and local housing referrals. A counselor usually does not award a home repair grant or hire a contractor for you. Foreclosure, eviction, and homeless counseling are … Read more
Last updated: July 28, 2026 Is the home dangerous right now? Habitat repair programs are usually not emergency services. Leave the unsafe area and call 911, the gas or electric utility, the fire department, or local emergency management if there is a gas smell, sparking electrical equipment, active fire risk, sewage in the home, a … Read more
Last updated: July 27, 2026 Leave first if the home is dangerous Call 911 or the utility emergency line before calling 211 if there is a fire, gas smell, carbon monoxide alarm, sparking wire, flooding near electricity, serious medical danger, violence, or possible collapse. Do not stay inside an unsafe home while you wait for … Read more
Last updated: July 28, 2026 If the home is dangerous right now: Do not wait for a grant search if there is fire, smoke, a gas odor, sparking wires, a carbon monoxide alarm, sewage inside the home, major flooding near electricity, or a ceiling, wall, floor, or porch that may collapse. Leave the unsafe area … Read more
Last updated: July 27, 2026 Do not wait for an application if the home is unsafe now. Call 911 for fire, collapse, severe electrical danger, or a suspected gas emergency. Leave the home if a carbon monoxide alarm sounds, you smell gas, or the structure may fail. Call the utility for a shutoff, gas leak, … Read more
Last updated: July 28, 2026 If the home is dangerous right now Do not wait for a repair program if there is fire, smoke, a gas smell, carbon monoxide danger, sparking wires, sewage inside the home, flooding near electricity, a possible collapse, or no safe way to leave. Get everyone to a safe place and … Read more
Last updated: July 27, 2026 If the home is unsafe now: Leave the area and call 911 for fire, gas odor, sparking wires, a possible collapse, or another immediate threat. Call the utility emergency line for a suspected gas or electrical problem. A local repair application is not emergency response and may take weeks or … Read more
Last updated: July 28, 2026 If the home is dangerous now: Leave the area and call 911 for fire, smoke, a gas smell, sparking wires, carbon monoxide alarms, collapse risk, or a person who is trapped or injured. Call the utility emergency number for gas, electric, or downed-line hazards. Volunteer groups are not emergency responders. … Read more
Last updated: July 28, 2026 Is the home dangerous right now? Leave the area and call 911 for fire, gas odor, collapse, exposed live wiring, carbon monoxide, or another immediate threat. For a shutoff, no heat in dangerous weather, sewage backup, or urgent local housing problem, call 211 and your city or county emergency management, … Read more
Last updated: July 28, 2026 Bottom line: Some nonprofits repair homes at no cost, but most do not hand homeowners a cash grant. Help is usually delivered through a local affiliate, volunteer crew, approved contractor, affordable loan, weatherization service, or locally funded repair program. Start with organizations that serve your ZIP code, ask what type … Read more