Last updated: July 27, 2026
In immediate danger? Leave an unsafe home and call 911. For shelter, food, medicine, or urgent disaster help, contact your local emergency management office or call 211. Do not enter a damaged building until local officials say it is safe.
Bottom line: Community Development Block Grant Disaster Recovery, usually called CDBG-DR, is federal money that HUD gives to state, local, territorial, or tribal governments after Congress approves disaster funding. A homeowner cannot apply directly to HUD. You must apply through a program created by the government that received the money.
CDBG-DR may pay for repair, rebuilding, elevation, buyouts, or reimbursement. The federal award is a grant to government, but household help can take several forms. Local rules control the form and terms.
These long-term programs may open months or years after a disaster. Do not wait for CDBG-DR before applying for FEMA, insurance, or other help with a deadline.
| Need | Best first contact | Type of help | Important limit |
|---|---|---|---|
| Emergency shelter or basic needs | Local emergency management, 211, Red Cross, or FEMA | Emergency service or short-term assistance | CDBG-DR is not emergency aid |
| Immediate disaster application | DisasterAssistance.gov or 1-800-621-3362 | FEMA grant or other federal benefit | Deadlines are disaster-specific |
| Long-term repair or rebuilding | State, county, city, territory, or tribal recovery program | Often a grant or direct repair program | Program may not be open yet |
| Low-interest recovery financing | U.S. Small Business Administration | Disaster loan that must be repaid | Approval depends on eligibility and ability to repay |
What CDBG-DR Is and Is Not
HUD describes CDBG-DR as flexible recovery funding for areas affected by presidentially declared disasters. Congress must first provide a special appropriation. HUD then allocates money to named grantees, such as a state, county, city, territory, or tribe.
CDBG-DR fills gaps left after insurance, FEMA, SBA, charities, and other sources. It can support housing, infrastructure, economic recovery, and future-risk reduction. The grantee chooses programs after studying unmet needs and public comments.
CDBG-DR is not a standing national homeowner grant. There is no single federal household application, universal award amount, national waiting list, or one income chart that applies everywhere. HUD states clearly that individuals must contact the government running the local program through its disaster resources page.
CDBG-DR is also different from regular CDBG. Regular CDBG is an annual community development program. CDBG-DR is supplemental money tied to specific disasters. Our guide to local CDBG repairs explains the regular program.
Why programs take time to open
After Congress approves funding, HUD publishes an allocation notice. The grantee prepares an Action Plan covering unmet needs, programs, eligibility, budgets, and expected results. The public may comment, HUD reviews the plan, and the grantee publishes program policies.
HUD’s Universal Notice page explains this cycle. A program may pause or close when applications exceed available funds.
Practical tip: Find the grantee’s Action Plan even if homeowner applications are not open. It can show whether repair, reconstruction, reimbursement, buyout, or rental programs are planned and which counties or neighborhoods may be served.
Where to Start
Use the following order. It helps protect deadlines and makes your later CDBG-DR application easier to document.
- Apply for immediate help. Apply to FEMA through federal disaster assistance, the FEMA app, a Disaster Recovery Center, or 1-800-621-3362. Keep the registration number and every decision letter.
- Notify your insurer. Ask for written claim decisions, estimates, settlement statements, and proof of payments. Save documents even if the claim is denied.
- Check SBA deadlines. An SBA homeowner disaster loan is a loan, not a grant. Applying or receiving an offer may affect how a later program calculates unmet need.
- Find the CDBG-DR grantee. Use HUD’s state contact list. Check the state, county, city, territorial, or tribal recovery website named for your disaster.
- Read the local policies. Look for the Action Plan, homeowner program manual, application guide, required document list, appeal policy, and notices about opening or closing.
- Join official alerts. Sign up for email or text notices from the grantee. Do not rely only on social media or a contractor.
- Submit a complete application. Save a copy, confirmation number, upload receipts, and the name of anyone who helps you.
For a broader search process, use our guide to finding local programs.
Phone script for a recovery office
“My home was damaged by [disaster name] at [address]. Is there a CDBG-DR homeowner repair, reconstruction, reimbursement, elevation, or buyout program for this location? Is it open now? Please tell me the official application page, deadline, income rule, and documents I should gather.”
What CDBG-DR Homeowner Programs May Offer
The program name does not tell you how the help works. Read the written award agreement before accepting assistance. Ask whether there is a lien, deed restriction, occupancy period, repayment rule, or recapture requirement.
| Program type | What it may cover | How the help is usually structured | Reality check |
|---|---|---|---|
| Rehabilitation | Repairs needed to make a damaged home safe, sanitary, accessible, code-compliant, and more resilient | Grant or direct repair service; sometimes a forgivable or deferred loan | The program may choose contractors and approve the scope |
| Reconstruction | Demolition and rebuilding when repair is not reasonable | Grant-funded construction or replacement assistance | Size, design, materials, and eligible costs may be limited |
| Replacement | A replacement manufactured home or another replacement housing option | Grant or direct purchase and installation | Site, title, foundation, zoning, and utility rules apply |
| Reimbursement | Eligible repair or rebuilding costs already paid by the owner | Reimbursement grant after review | Only offered by some grantees; receipts and pre-approval rules matter |
| Elevation or mitigation | Raising a home, floodproofing, wind hardening, drainage, defensible space, or code upgrades | Grant-funded construction or added project work | The work must match local policy and environmental rules |
| Buyout or acquisition | Purchase of a high-risk property so the household can relocate | Voluntary property purchase, not a repair grant | Valuation, liens, mortgage payoff, relocation, and future land-use rules apply |
| Temporary housing | Short-term rent or relocation support during reconstruction | Time-limited assistance or reimbursement | Not every housing program includes it |
Some programs pay the contractor instead of giving cash to the homeowner. Others reimburse the owner only after approved work is complete. Never assume you may hire a contractor or start construction before written approval.
Who May Qualify
Every grantee writes its own policies. Most homeowner programs examine the points below.
- Disaster connection: The damage must be tied to a disaster covered by the grant.
- Eligible location: The property must be inside the program’s service area, often a HUD-identified or grantee-identified most impacted and distressed area.
- Ownership: The applicant usually must own the property or resolve title, heirship, probate, or manufactured-home ownership issues.
- Primary residence: Homeowner repair programs normally serve the home occupied as the primary residence when the disaster happened.
- Household income: Income must fit the local program rule unless the activity uses another approved national objective or exception.
- Unmet need: Eligible costs must remain after insurance and other disaster benefits are counted.
- Property status: Taxes, mortgage, insurance, flood coverage, permits, or code issues may need to be resolved.
- Program compliance: The owner may need to agree to inspections, environmental review, contractor access, occupancy rules, and future insurance requirements.
- Usually excluded: Second homes, vacation homes, damage outside the covered disaster, and improvements that are not eligible recovery costs.
Limited programs may prioritize low-income households, seniors, people with disabilities, families with children, severe damage, or displaced residents. Priority does not guarantee approval.
Title and ownership problems
Do not give up because the deed is in a deceased relative’s name or several heirs share ownership. Some programs accept alternative ownership documents or provide legal referrals. Ask the program what it accepts before paying a private company. Our document guide lists common records to start gathering.
How Income Limits Work
There is no single national CDBG-DR household income amount. Many programs use Area Median Income, or AMI, based on household size and location. HUD generally requires a large share of CDBG-DR funding to benefit low- and moderate-income people, commonly households at or below 80% of AMI. A specific grant or program may use another approved limit or a HUD waiver.
Use the program’s own income chart, not a chart from another county or disaster. HUD publishes official CDBG income limits, but the local program decides which effective limits, household members, and income-calculation rules apply to your application.
Ask which income method, household members, and income sources the program counts. Disclose income and let the program apply its written policy.
Phone script about income
“What income limit applies to a household of [number] at my damaged property? Which income year and calculation method do you use? Please send me the current chart and the written list of income documents.”
Insurance, FEMA, SBA, and Duplication of Benefits
Federal law generally prevents two sources from paying for the same eligible recovery cost. This is called duplication of benefits. The program compares eligible costs with assistance for the same purpose.
If eligible repairs cost $80,000 and insurance paid $30,000 for them, the starting unmet need may be $50,000. Ineligible costs, later payments, SBA assistance, caps, and local policy can change the result.
Report all disaster assistance, including insurance, FEMA, SBA loans, charities, legal settlements, and other government funds. A payment does not always become a duplicate merely because it came from the same disaster. HUD’s policy resources explain that the purpose of the assistance matters.
For many newer disasters, an approved subsidized SBA disaster loan may be considered when the program completes its duplication review. Do not reject, cancel, or spend a loan based only on an online rumor. Ask the CDBG-DR program how its written policy treats accepted, declined, canceled, or undisbursed loan amounts.
Keep proof of how money was used. Save settlement letters, bank records, paid invoices, canceled checks, receipts, photographs, permits, and contractor statements. If disaster money had to be used for an eligible emergency need other than the repair, ask whether the program allows that amount to be excluded and what proof is required.
Documents to Gather
A complete file can prevent weeks of back-and-forth. The exact list varies, but many programs request:
- Government-issued identification for adult household members
- Social Security or other eligibility documents required by the program
- Deed, title, tax record, will, probate record, heirship document, or manufactured-home title
- Proof the home was your primary residence when the disaster happened
- Current household income documents, tax returns, benefit letters, and bank records
- FEMA registration, inspection, decision, and appeal letters
- Insurance policies, claims, estimates, denials, settlements, and payment records
- SBA application, decision, loan, cancellation, and disbursement records
- Photos and videos showing the damage
- Repair estimates, engineering reports, permits, invoices, receipts, and proof of payment
- Mortgage statement, property-tax status, and required flood-insurance records
- Reasonable accommodation or communication request, when needed
Upload clear copies, keep the originals, and save each confirmation screen or email.
What Happens After You Apply
CDBG-DR homeowner assistance usually has several reviews. The order differs by program.
- Intake and completeness review: Staff checks whether the application and documents are complete.
- Eligibility review: The program verifies location, disaster tie, ownership, occupancy, income, and household information.
- Damage inspection: An inspector documents eligible damage and determines whether repair or reconstruction is reasonable.
- Duplication review: Staff compares eligible costs with insurance and other assistance.
- Environmental review: Federal environmental rules must be completed before certain work or commitments.
- Scope and award: The program prepares an eligible scope, cost estimate, award calculation, and agreement.
- Construction: Contractors, permits, progress inspections, change orders, and final inspection follow program rules.
- Closeout: The household may sign completion papers and receive information about liens, insurance, occupancy, or recordkeeping.
Do not confuse an intake confirmation with final approval. Do not move out, demolish the home, transfer the property, or sign a construction loan because a worker said you “should qualify.” Get the program’s written approval and instructions first.
Do not start too soon. Starting repair, demolition, or reconstruction before the required environmental review can make costs ineligible. Emergency measures needed to stop immediate danger may be treated differently, but document the condition and ask the program in writing as soon as possible.
Current Program Examples
The examples below show why a national list cannot tell you whether applications are open. Status was checked on July 27, 2026. Always use the official local page before acting.
| Location and program | Status checked | Type of help | Key details |
|---|---|---|---|
| Georgia HRRP | Portal open | Home rehabilitation and reconstruction assistance funded by a federal grant | For homeowners affected by covered 2023 and 2024 disasters. Georgia says funding is limited and complete applications are handled first-come, first-served. |
| Renew NC housing | Application period closed | Rehabilitation, reconstruction, replacement, or reimbursement program | Served eligible Hurricane Helene households in named areas and prioritized low- to moderate-income families with certain vulnerable household members. The official page now says the application period is closed. |
| Maui reconstruction | Open through August 2026 | CDBG-DR reconstruction assistance, not an SBA loan | Up to $1.2 million for eligible owners whose primary home was destroyed by the 2023 Maui wildfires. The current county information states a household limit of up to 140% of AMI. Local award, construction, and compliance rules apply. |
| Maui reimbursement | Open through August 2026 | Reimbursement assistance | The county’s July 2026 fact sheet states up to $400,000 for eligible homeowners who completed reconstruction. Applicants should use the official Maui program page and verify all documentation rules. |
A closed program may still process existing files or appeals. An open portal may close after funds are committed. Submit early and completely.
Delays, Denials, and Appeals
Common problems include missing documents, unclear ownership, income above the local limit, property outside the service area, lack of proof that the home was a primary residence, damage not tied to the covered disaster, an unresolved insurance claim, or a duplication-of-benefits calculation.
If the program asks for more information, answer by the stated date. If you need more time, an interpreter, a large-print notice, a different communication method, or help because of a disability, request it in writing and keep a copy.
Avoid these mistakes:
- Assuming FEMA denial means CDBG-DR denial
- Using a nonofficial application link
- Submitting an application but not the required documents
- Failing to report insurance, FEMA, SBA, or charity help
- Starting nonemergency work before written clearance
- Ignoring requests because the portal still says “under review”
- Signing away insurance proceeds or property rights to a contractor
A denial notice should explain the reason and appeal process. Request the policy, calculation, inspection, or record used. Appeal by the local deadline and answer each reason with documents. Our guide for people denied repair assistance provides a step-by-step response.
Phone script after a denial
“I received a denial dated [date]. Please send me the written appeal policy, deadline, complete reason for denial, and the records or calculations used. I also need to know where and how to submit supporting documents.”
If you believe the program discriminated against you because of race, color, national origin, religion, sex, familial status, or disability, contact HUD’s Office of Fair Housing and Equal Opportunity. You may report discrimination online or call 1-800-669-9777. Act quickly because filing periods apply.
What to Try While You Wait
Keep other recovery applications moving and tell each program about the others.
FEMA assistance
FEMA Individuals and Households Program assistance is a federal benefit or grant, not a loan. It may help with limited essential home repair, temporary housing, and other disaster needs. It is not designed to restore every part of a home. Read our FEMA repair guide and use the deadline in your disaster notice.
You can also visit a Disaster Recovery Center for application help and case questions.
SBA disaster loans
The SBA homeowner loan can provide up to $500,000 to repair or replace a primary residence and up to $100,000 for personal property for eligible applicants. These are loans that must be repaid. Current general terms include up to 30 years, with the first payment deferred for 12 months and no interest accruing during those first 12 months. Actual rates and deadlines are tied to the disaster and applicant.
Call SBA at 1-800-659-2955, use 711 for relay service, or read our SBA loan guide.
Rural and local repair programs
USDA Section 504 may offer a repair loan to eligible very-low-income rural homeowners and a grant to eligible owners age 62 or older who cannot repay a loan. Location, income, and funding rules apply. See our USDA Section 504 guide.
Counties and cities may also use regular CDBG, HOME, state housing trust funds, weatherization money, or nonprofit repair programs. Start with our repair help checklist.
Housing counseling
A HUD-participating counselor may help with recovery choices, mortgage issues, and referrals. Use the counselor search or call 1-800-569-4287. Ask for disaster counseling. Foreclosure, eviction, and homeless counseling are free; other services may have a reasonable fee.
Contractor and Application Scams
Government applications are not sold door to door. Be cautious if someone promises guaranteed approval, asks for payment to “release” a grant, wants your FEMA login, pressures you to sign over insurance money, or offers financing secured by your home before explaining the full cost.
- Use the application link published by the government grantee.
- Confirm a caller through a phone number on the official program website.
- Do not pay by cash, gift card, wire transfer, or cryptocurrency.
- Check contractor licensing and insurance.
- Get a written contract and do not sign blank documents.
- Ask the program before hiring a contractor; it may use its own contractor pool.
The Federal Trade Commission explains common home repair scams. Our guide to repair loan scams covers risky financing and liens.
A Simple Action Plan
- Make the home safe and document damage with photos and video.
- Apply to FEMA, insurance, and SBA before their disaster-specific deadlines.
- Find the official CDBG-DR grantee through HUD.
- Read the Action Plan and homeowner program policies.
- Gather ownership, occupancy, income, damage, and assistance records.
- Submit a complete application and save proof.
- Follow every written request, inspection, appeal, and environmental-review instruction.
Frequently Asked Questions
Can I apply directly to HUD for CDBG-DR?
No. HUD awards CDBG-DR funds to state, local, territorial, or tribal grantees. A household applies to the program created by the grantee serving the disaster area.
Is CDBG-DR always a grant?
The federal award to the government is a grant. Household help may be a grant, direct repair service, reimbursement, forgivable loan, deferred loan, buyout payment, or another form. Read the local award agreement for liens, occupancy terms, repayment, and recapture rules.
Do I have to apply to FEMA first?
It depends on the local CDBG-DR policy, but disaster programs often use FEMA records to verify damage and other assistance. Apply to FEMA before its deadline when your area and loss are eligible. A FEMA denial does not automatically mean a CDBG-DR denial.
What is the CDBG-DR income limit?
There is no single national household limit. Many programs prioritize households at or below 80% of Area Median Income, but local rules, household size, disaster allocation, and HUD-approved exceptions can change the limit. Use the current chart published by the program taking your application.
Can CDBG-DR reimburse repairs I already paid for?
Only if the local grantee offers a reimbursement program and your costs meet its rules. Receipts, proof of payment, permits, inspections, eligible-work limits, environmental requirements, and dates can matter. Do not assume past work will qualify.
How long does CDBG-DR assistance take?
There is no national household processing time. Congress, HUD allocation, Action Plan approval, local policies, application volume, environmental review, inspections, title issues, and construction can all affect timing. Keep immediate and backup assistance moving while you wait.
About This Guide
How we researched this page: We checked official federal, state, local, tribal, utility, and trusted nonprofit sources linked in this article. We reviewed program names, service areas, eligibility rules, application routes, contact details, and whether each option is a grant, loan, rebate, service, or referral.
Our role: HomeRepairGrants.org is an independent information website. We do not run these programs, accept applications, choose recipients, or guarantee funding or approval.
Local changes: Funding, waitlists, service areas, income limits, and application periods can change. Confirm current details with the organization that runs the program before you apply, sign papers, pay money, or start repair work.
Corrections: See something outdated or incorrect? Email info@homerepairgrants.org and include the page URL and a reliable source when possible.
Disclaimer: This guide provides general information. It is not legal, financial, tax, insurance, medical, disability-rights, contractor, or government-agency advice.
Last verified: July 27, 2026 | Next review: October 27, 2026