Last updated: July 27, 2026
Unsafe home right now?
Call 911 for fire, smoke, collapse, serious electrical danger, or an immediate threat to life. For a suspected gas leak, leave the home and call your gas utility from a safe place. Do not wait for a repair grant application.
For a shutoff notice, broken heating or cooling during dangerous weather, or another energy crisis, contact California’s local Low Income Home Energy Assistance Program provider. The state says its Energy Crisis Intervention Program may help with urgent energy-related situations, including a combustible appliance or a 24- to 48-hour shutoff notice.
Bottom line: California does not have one statewide cash grant that pays for every homeowner’s repairs. The best path usually depends on the address and repair. Start with your city or county housing office for owner-occupied rehabilitation, California weatherization for energy and safety work, USDA for eligible rural homes, and disaster programs when damage came from a declared event. Read the repayment terms before signing because many local programs are deferred loans secured by the home, not grants.
Real home repair help exists in California, but it is spread across state agencies, counties, cities, federal programs, utilities, and nonprofit partners. A program may pay a contractor directly, reimburse approved work, provide a no-cost service, or place a loan against the property.
This guide explains the strongest current routes, who they serve, how to apply, and what can slow an application. For a broader explanation of how repair funding works, see our repair assistance guide.
Quick California home repair options
| Program or path | Type of help | Best fit | Main limit |
|---|---|---|---|
| City or county rehabilitation | Grant, deferred loan, low-interest loan, or managed repair | Lower-income owner-occupants with health, safety, code, roof, plumbing, electrical, or access needs | Rules and funding change by address |
| California weatherization | No-cost energy and safety service | Income-qualified homeowners and renters | Not a general remodeling program |
| USDA Section 504 | 1% loan; grant for some homeowners age 62 or older | Very-low-income rural owner-occupants | Standard program requires an eligible rural address |
| ReCoverCA | Disaster recovery grant and managed construction or reimbursement | Homes damaged by specified 2023 or 2024 storms | Only named counties and disasters qualify |
| USDA disaster fund | Disaster grant and possible loan | Low- or very-low-income owners with qualifying declared-disaster damage | Current processing window ends September 30, 2026 |
| VA adapted housing | Federal disability housing grant | Veterans or service members with qualifying service-connected disabilities | Disability and ownership rules are strict |
| Earthquake Brace + Bolt | Reimbursement grant | Qualifying pre-1980 raised-foundation homes in selected ZIP codes | Registration opens only during limited periods |
Do not search only for the word “grant.” California programs often use names such as homeowner rehabilitation, housing preservation, emergency repair, minor home repair, accessibility improvement, weatherization, or deferred-payment loan. Our local rehab guide explains why city and county programs often use federal funds without putting “HUD” in the program name.
Main California programs to check
City and county repair programs using CalHome, CDBG, or HOME funds
Type of help: Usually a deferred loan, low-interest loan, grant, or contractor-managed repair program. The exact structure is local.
The California Department of Housing and Community Development gives CalHome funds to local public agencies and nonprofit organizations. CalHome does not lend directly to homeowners. Its current state application window is closed because that window is for local agencies, not individual households.
A local agency may still have CalHome, Community Development Block Grant, or HOME funds. CalHome help to an individual homeowner is a deferred-payment loan that can become due after sale, transfer, loss of owner occupancy, or loan maturity. It may be secured by the home.
Call the housing or community development office serving the exact address. Ask for owner-occupied rehabilitation, emergency repair, and minor home repair. If the city has no program, ask whether the county or a nonprofit serves the area.
California weatherization and energy safety work
Type of help: No-cost weatherization service and, in some areas, energy crisis help. It is not cash paid to the homeowner.
The California Department of Community Services and Development works through local agencies to provide home energy services. An audit may approve air sealing, insulation, windows, heating or cooling work, water-heater work, and related safety measures.
Homeowners and renters may apply, though renters normally need owner approval. Call 1-866-675-6623 to find the local provider. Funding is limited, and vulnerable households may receive priority. Weatherization is not a full-roof, addition, or cosmetic remodeling program. See our weatherization overview.
USDA Section 504 for rural homeowners
Type of help: A 1% repair loan, a limited grant for some homeowners age 62 or older, or a combination.
USDA’s Single Family Housing Repair Loans and Grants program serves very-low-income homeowners in eligible rural areas. You must own and occupy the home, be unable to obtain affordable credit elsewhere, and meet the county’s very-low-income limit. The grant portion is only for homeowners age 62 or older who cannot repay a loan and must be used to remove health and safety hazards.
- Loan: Up to $40,000, fixed at 1% for 20 years.
- Standard grant: Up to $10,000 lifetime.
- Disaster-area Section 504 grant: Up to $15,000 lifetime in a presidentially declared disaster area under the standard Section 504 rules.
- Not automatic: Age 62 alone does not qualify a homeowner for a grant.
A standard grant must be repaid if the home is sold within three years. Full title service is required when outstanding Section 504 loan debt exceeds $25,000. Apply through a local Rural Development office while funds remain.
Use USDA’s California office finder or call 1-530-792-5800. Our rural repair guide covers common property and title issues.
ReCoverCA for specified 2023 and 2024 storm damage
Type of help: A disaster recovery grant that may provide managed repair or reconstruction, replacement of certain manufactured homes, or reimbursement based on program-approved costs.
ReCoverCA is open as of July 27, 2026. It serves homes damaged by the February through July 2023 severe storms in Monterey, San Benito, Santa Cruz, Tulare, and Tuolumne counties and the Hoopa Valley Indian Reservation, plus January 2024 storm damage in San Diego County.
Applicants generally must have owned and lived in the home when the eligible disaster happened and keep it as their primary residence. HCD says priority may be given to owner-occupants at or below 80% of area median income, older adults, and people with disabilities. Funding is limited, so apply early.
The program may repair, rebuild, elevate, replace some manufactured homes, or reimburse eligible completed work. Reimbursement uses standard costs and may be less than what you paid. Report insurance, FEMA, SBA, and other aid because the same loss cannot be paid twice.
Apply online or call 1-877-424-4405. Submit a started application within 30 days, answer the case manager, and stop new work if HCD requires an environmental review first.
USDA Disaster Assistance Fund through September 30, 2026
Type of help: Disaster repair grant and possible loan.
The USDA disaster program is accepting applications for processing through September 30, 2026. It can help low- and very-low-income owner-occupants repair damage from a qualifying presidential, USDA secretary, or governor-declared disaster. In California, the program’s usual rural-location requirement is waived, but the disaster, income, ownership, occupancy, and damage rules still apply.
The maximum grant is $32,420 for disaster repairs, site preparation, or moving a manufactured home. Awards cannot duplicate insurance or other benefits and are processed in order while funds remain.
USDA also set aside $3 million for eligible Eaton Fire homeowners in Los Angeles County, including Altadena. Contact a USDA home loan specialist; the older California Rural Disaster Home Repair Grant page is closed.
VA disability housing grants
Type of help: Federal grant for disability-related housing changes.
Veterans and service members with certain service-connected disabilities may qualify for a Department of Veterans Affairs Specially Adapted Housing (SAH), Special Home Adaptation (SHA), or Temporary Residence Adaptation (TRA) grant. These are not general veteran repair grants.
For federal fiscal year 2026, the VA maximums are $126,526 for SAH and $25,350 for SHA. TRA limits are $50,961 under SAH or $9,100 under SHA. Apply online or use VA Form 26-4555.
Earthquake Brace + Bolt
Type of help: Reimbursement grant after approved seismic work.
Earthquake Brace + Bolt offers up to $3,000 for a code-compliant retrofit of a qualifying wood-framed, pre-1980 home with a raised foundation. It is available only in selected ZIP codes and only when registration is open. The current registration page directs homeowners to sign up for program updates rather than listing an active EBB window.
Households with income of $94,480 or less may also qualify for up to $7,000 in supplemental help, depending on the retrofit, region, and available funds.
Check the EBB eligibility page and call 1-877-232-4300 with questions. Do not get a permit or begin construction before acceptance; doing so can make the project ineligible.
Current local programs worth checking
These examples are not a complete list. A neighboring city can have different rules, and intake can stop when funds are committed.
| Area and program | Help and current terms | Who to contact |
|---|---|---|
| Los Angeles County Handyworker | Non-repayable grant up to $9,000 for minor health and safety repairs in eligible unincorporated areas of Supervisorial Districts 1, 4, and 5. Owner must have held an interest for at least one year, occupy the home, carry homeowner insurance, and meet the 80% AMI limit. | LACDA Handyworker 1-626-586-1801 |
| Los Angeles County Senior Grant | Grant up to $20,000 for qualifying homeowners age 62 or older in eligible unincorporated areas of Districts 1, 2, 4, and 5. May cover ramps, bathroom access, roofing, plumbing, electrical, or heating work. | Senior Grant Program 1-626-262-4511 |
| Oakland HMIP | Deferred loan for owner-occupied one- to four-unit properties. A 0% loan may be available at or below 50% of Alameda County AMI; a 3% deferred loan may be available at or below 80% AMI. | Oakland HMIP 1-510-238-3909 |
| San Diego County Home Repair | Mobile homeowners may receive a non-repayable grant up to $20,000. Eligible owners of other covered homes may receive a deferred loan up to $25,000 at 3% simple interest, due at sale, transfer, 30 years, or loss of primary occupancy. The county warns the waitlist can reach three to four years. | County repair program 1-858-694-4847 |
| Sacramento County and participating cities | SHRA-managed repair assistance up to $10,000 for immediate health and safety hazards. SHRA hires and pays contractors. Intake is limited to June through August 31 and November through February 28. | SHRA homeowner help 1-916-440-1317 |
Manufactured-home owners should ask whether the program accepts a mobile home on rented land, what title document is required, and whether park approval is needed. Our manufactured-home guide explains these common barriers.
How California income rules work in 2026
There is no single income limit. Weatherization uses a statewide table, local programs often use county area median income, and USDA uses county very-low-income limits.
California’s Weatherization Assistance Program posted the following limits effective July 1, 2026. Meeting the limit does not guarantee service because local agencies may apply other rules and priorities.
| Household size | Maximum monthly income |
|---|---|
| 1 | $2,660.00 |
| 2 | $3,606.67 |
| 3 | $4,553.33 |
| 4 | $5,500.00 |
| 5 | $6,446.67 |
| 6 | $7,393.33 |
| 7 | $8,340.00 |
| 8 | $9,286.67 |
For nine people, the limit is $10,233.33; for ten, it is $11,180.00. Add $946.67 for each additional person. Verify the current table on the state’s WAP income page.
Local AMI limits can be much higher in expensive counties. For example, Los Angeles County’s listed 80% AMI limits effective June 1, 2026 range from $93,300 for one person to $175,900 for eight people. Do not compare that table with the weatherization table or assume one program’s limit applies to another.
Ask how income is counted. Programs may use gross income, adjusted income, a recent pay period, annual tax records, or benefit letters. They may count every adult in the home even if that person is not on the deed. Ask whether medical deductions, temporary income, or a live-in aide affects the calculation.
How to apply without losing time
- Describe the danger in one sentence. Use plain facts: “The roof leaks into the electrical panel,” “The only heater is unsafe,” or “The bathroom cannot be used with a wheelchair.”
- Find the office for the property address. Search the city and county housing or community development pages. Call both when the service area is unclear.
- Ask what kind of help it is. Say: “Is this a grant, deferred loan, forgivable loan, regular loan, reimbursement, or contractor service?”
- Confirm intake before gathering everything. Ask whether applications are open, whether a waitlist exists, and whether your repair and property type are covered.
- Do not start work too early. Many programs need an inspection, environmental review, approved bid, or written authorization before work begins.
- Submit and follow up. Keep copies, record names and dates, and ask for written confirmation that the file is complete.
City or county script: “I own and live at [address]. The urgent repair is [problem]. Do you have an owner-occupied rehabilitation, emergency repair, accessibility, or minor home repair program for this address? Is the help a grant or a loan, and is intake open?”
Weatherization script: “I need an energy and safety assessment for [heater, cooling, insulation, windows, or water heater]. Which local provider serves my ZIP code, and what income period and documents do you use?”
USDA script: “I own and occupy a home in [town and county]. Can you check whether the address is rural-eligible for Section 504 and tell me the current very-low-income limit, documents, and available funding?”
Documents to gather
- Government photo identification for adult applicants
- Deed, title, mobile-home registration, property tax bill, or other ownership proof
- Utility bill or other proof that the home is your primary residence
- Income proof for every household member the program counts
- Social Security, pension, disability, unemployment, or other benefit letters
- Mortgage statement, homeowner insurance, and property tax status
- Photos of damage and a short repair timeline
- Code notice, fire report, medical accessibility note, or disaster record when relevant
- Insurance decisions and FEMA or SBA letters for disaster cases
- Contractor estimates only when the program asks for them
Title problems, inherited homes, reverse mortgages, tax liens, shared ownership, and mobile-home registration issues can delay approval. Review our repair document checklist before requesting costly records.
What happens after you apply
A complete application may lead to income and ownership review, inspection, a scope of work, cost review, bids, lead or environmental checks, permits, and contractor selection. The agency may choose and pay the contractor directly. Do not promise a contractor that funding is guaranteed.
For a deferred loan, ask for the promissory note and deed-of-trust terms before signing. Find out what happens if you sell, transfer the home to a trust or family member, refinance, rent it out, move into care, or die. Ask whether the loan has interest, a maturity date, shared appreciation, forgiveness, or subordination rules.
Roof and sewer projects can exceed local caps. A program may fund only the health and safety portion or require another source for the balance. See our roof repair guide and sewer repair guide for repair-specific questions.
If the program is delayed, closed, or says no
Common reasons: The address is outside the service area, household income is too high, the home is not owner-occupied, title is unclear, taxes or insurance are not current, the repair is cosmetic, the project is too large, work started before approval, or the annual budget is already committed.
Ask for the reason in writing. If information is missing, ask for a deadline to provide it. If the decision is final, ask about an appeal, reconsideration, next funding cycle, cancellation list, emergency set-aside, or another agency.
Call 211 and ask for home repair, weatherization, aging-in-place, disability modification, legal aid, and nonprofit repair programs in your ZIP code. Older adults can also contact their Area Agency on Aging; the California aging office says local aging agencies may know volunteer modification programs.
A HUD-approved housing counselor can help explain a repair loan, lien, reverse mortgage issue, or risk to the home. Use the HUD counselor search or call 1-800-569-4287. For a step-by-step referral plan, see where to start.
Avoid repair scams and unsafe financing
A government or nonprofit program should not require gift cards, cryptocurrency, wire transfers, or a “release fee” to unlock grant money. Do not give a caller your Social Security number or bank password just because the person says funds are reserved.
Before hiring a contractor, use the CSLB license check. California’s Contractors State License Board recommends at least three written bids. For most home improvement contracts, the down payment cannot be more than 10% of the contract price or $1,000, whichever is less. Do not sign blank forms, a deed, or financing you do not understand.
Ask whether a contractor plans to use a mechanics lien and how lien releases will be handled. Pay according to completed work, not promises. If a program controls contractor selection and payment, follow its process rather than paying separately.
Your next three actions
- Write down the repair, danger, address, household size, monthly income, owner age, disability or veteran status, rural location, and disaster connection.
- Call the city or county housing office and the California weatherization provider on the same day. Add USDA, ReCoverCA, VA, or earthquake help when the facts fit.
- Do not sign a loan, contractor agreement, or deed-of-trust document until you know the total cost, repayment trigger, lien terms, and whether work must wait for written approval.
Frequently Asked Questions
Does California give homeowners a statewide home repair grant?
No. California does not offer one broad statewide cash grant for every repair. Most help comes through local city or county programs, weatherization, USDA rural assistance, disaster programs, VA disability grants, or limited-purpose programs.
Can I apply directly to California HCD for a CalHome repair grant?
No. HCD awards CalHome money to local public agencies and nonprofit organizations. Homeowners apply through a participating local program, and CalHome assistance to an individual homeowner is generally a deferred-payment loan, not a direct state grant.
Can weatherization replace my roof or remodel my house?
Usually not. Weatherization focuses on approved energy-saving and related health and safety work. An energy audit may support insulation, air sealing, heating or cooling work, windows, or water-heater measures, but it is not a general remodeling or full-roof program.
Do I have to be a senior to get California repair help?
No. Many local rehabilitation and weatherization programs serve income-qualified households of different ages. Age 62 matters for the grant portion of USDA Section 504 and for certain senior-only local programs.
Will a deferred home repair loan require monthly payments?
Not always. Many deferred loans require no monthly payment, but the balance can become due when you sell, transfer, refinance, stop living in the home, or reach the loan maturity date. Read the note and deed-of-trust terms before signing.
Should I hire a contractor before I am approved?
Usually no. Many programs require an inspection, environmental review, approved scope, bids, permits, or written authorization before work begins. Starting early can make the repair ineligible, so ask the program first.
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