Last updated: July 27, 2026
If the home is dangerous now
Call 911, the fire department, or the utility emergency line first if you smell gas, see live wires, have sewage inside the home, see a ceiling or wall starting to collapse, or have flooding near electricity. A repair program cannot replace emergency help.
If storm damage makes the home unsafe to occupy, call Florida 211 by dialing 211 for local shelter, crisis, and disaster referrals. Take photos before cleanup when it is safe. Keep insurance letters, code notices, estimates, receipts, and permit records.
Bottom Line
Florida has no single repair grant for every homeowner. Start with the city or county office that runs SHIP or housing rehabilitation. Other strong paths are weatherization for cooling and energy problems, USDA Section 504 for eligible rural homes, My Safe Florida Home for hurricane hardening, and disaster recovery for named-storm damage.
Ask what kind of help is being offered. A local program may be a grant, a deferred loan, a forgivable loan secured by a lien, a direct repair service, or a reimbursement. Do not sign until you know what happens if you sell, move, refinance, transfer the home, or die before the affordability period ends.
The right program depends on the repair, city or county, income, home type, rural location, and whether the damage came from a declared storm.
This guide explains the strongest current paths and the limits that often surprise applicants. For more help finding the correct local office, use our local repair guide.
Choose the right starting point
| Repair need | Best first call | Type of help to expect |
|---|---|---|
| Roof, wiring, plumbing, septic, structural, or code problem | City or county SHIP or housing rehabilitation office | Grant, deferred loan, forgivable loan, low-interest loan, or direct repair service under local rules |
| Failed AC, high cooling bills, ducts, insulation, or air leaks | Local weatherization and LIHEAP provider | Direct weatherization service, utility crisis payment, or limited energy-related repair |
| Very-low-income rural homeowner | USDA Rural Development | 1% repair loan; grant only for qualifying owners age 62 or older |
| Hurricane hardening | My Safe Florida Home | Free wind inspection and, if approved, matching or low-income mitigation grant |
| Damage from 2023 or 2024 storms | Rebuild Florida or a local CDBG-DR recovery program | Repair, reconstruction, replacement, or approved reimbursement assistance |
| Ramp, grab bars, safer bathroom, or disability access | Local rehab office, Elder Helpline, Medicaid care manager, or veteran program | Modification grant, waiver service, forgivable loan, direct service, or referral |
Phone script for a local housing office: “I own and live in my home in [city or county]. I need help with [repair]. Is owner-occupied rehabilitation, emergency repair, SHIP assistance, or another repair program accepting applications? Is the help a grant or a loan, and will there be a lien?”
Main Florida home repair programs
Local SHIP and housing rehabilitation
Type of help: Local grant, deferred loan, forgivable loan, low-interest loan, or program-managed repair. The finance form is set locally.
SHIP is Florida’s main funding stream for local housing help. All 67 counties and participating cities may use it for emergency repair, owner-occupied rehabilitation, accessibility work, reconstruction, or disaster assistance. Homeowners apply locally, and each government sets its own repair cap, priorities, and repayment terms.
Use the official SHIP contact finder. Check the city list first. If your city is not listed, use the county contact. You can also read the current local housing plans to see whether your area lists owner-occupied rehabilitation, emergency repair, special-needs repair, or disaster assistance.
Income limits vary by area and household size. Many local repair programs use 80% of area median income, but some are stricter and some disaster programs go higher. Ask for the current 2026 chart.
Common requirements include owner occupancy, homestead status, acceptable title, current taxes and mortgage, insurance records, and permission for inspections and permitted work. Read our CDBG and HOME guide for local program details.
Do not assume SHIP means free money. A county may record a mortgage and note even when no monthly payment is due. The balance may be forgiven over five, ten, or fifteen years, or become due if the home is sold, rented, transferred, refinanced, or no longer used as the primary residence.
Florida weatherization, LIHEAP, and EHEAP
Type of help: Direct weatherization service, utility crisis benefit, vendor payment, or limited energy-related repair. It is not a general remodeling grant.
Florida weatherization may provide an energy audit, air sealing, insulation, duct measures, minor repairs needed for weatherization, and some cooling work. The current income ceiling is 200% of the federal poverty level. Priority goes to older adults, people with disabilities, families with young children, and households with high energy burdens.
| Household size | 2026 maximum annual WAP income |
|---|---|
| 1 | $30,120 |
| 2 | $40,880 |
| 3 | $51,640 |
| 4 | $62,400 |
Applications are not filed with the state online. Use the WAP office list for the provider serving your county and the larger-household limits.
Florida’s Low-Income Home Energy Assistance Program (LIHEAP) can help with heating and cooling costs and energy emergencies. Benefits and application methods depend on the local provider and available funds. Use the LIHEAP provider list.
If someone in the home is age 60 or older, the Emergency Home Energy Assistance for the Elderly Program (EHEAP) may help with a documented cooling or heating emergency. The household must meet the current income rule, generally 60% of state median income for households of one to eight people. Payments go to the vendor or through a two-party check, not as unrestricted cash. Call the Elder Helpline at 1-800-963-5337 or review EHEAP eligibility.
Phone script for cooling help: “I live in [county]. My air conditioner is [not working/unsafe], and my household income is about [amount]. Do you have weatherization, LIHEAP crisis help, EHEAP, or HVAC repair or replacement assistance? What proof should I bring?”
USDA Section 504 for rural homes
Type of help: A fixed 1% loan, a limited grant for qualifying owners age 62 or older, or a loan-and-grant combination.
USDA Section 504 is open year-round. The applicant must own and occupy an eligible rural home, meet the county’s very-low-income limit, and be unable to obtain affordable credit elsewhere.
- Loans may be up to $40,000, carry 1% fixed interest, and run for 20 years.
- Regular grants may be up to $10,000 and are limited to owners age 62 or older who need to remove health and safety hazards.
- For qualifying homes damaged in a presidentially declared disaster area, the grant lifetime limit may be up to $15,000.
- Loans and grants may be combined up to $50,000, or up to $55,000 in a qualifying declared disaster area.
- A grant must be repaid if the property is sold within three years.
Check the address and find the Florida area office for your county on the official Section 504 page. Our USDA guide explains the paperwork and repayment rules.
Phone script for USDA: “I own and live in a home in [county]. Can you check whether my address is rural-eligible for Section 504? I need [repair], and my household income is about [amount]. Should I begin with the intake and release forms?”
My Safe Florida Home
Type of help: Free wind-mitigation inspection plus a matching or low-income hurricane mitigation grant. It is not a general roof replacement program.
As of July 27, 2026, My Safe Florida Home is accepting applications through its portal. Homeowners first create an account and complete a prioritization questionnaire. Access to an inspection or grant application depends on group placement, eligibility, legislative appropriations, and available funds.
Inspection eligibility generally requires a site-built, owner-occupied single-family home or townhouse with a Florida homestead exemption. Condos, cooperatives, mobile or manufactured homes, multifamily buildings, rentals, and second homes are excluded.
Grant eligibility also requires an inspection, insured value of $700,000 or less, a home built before January 1, 2008, approved work, a licensed contractor, and a final inspection. Covered mitigation may include roof connections, secondary water resistance, impact openings, and garage-door protection.
- Matching grant: The state reimburses $2 for every $1 paid by the homeowner, up to a $10,000 state contribution. This means the homeowner normally pays the contractor first and submits a paid invoice.
- Low-income grant: Up to $10,000 with no required homeowner match and no required upfront payment, subject to approval and available funds.
A free inspection does not guarantee grant funding. Do not hire a contractor or begin work until the portal shows the correct approval and you understand the draw rules. The program call center is 1-561-640-6734.
Florida Energy Saver rebates
Type of help: Future point-of-sale rebates for approved efficiency and electrification work. These are not open general repair grants.
The official Florida Energy Saver portal still says applications are expected to open later. Planned HEAR rebates cover certain electric equipment and efficiency work; planned HOMES rebates depend on modeled whole-home savings.
Registering for updates is not an application or approval. Do not delay an unsafe electrical, roof, sewer, or cooling repair while waiting for these rebates.
Utility rebates and energy checks
Type of help: Utility rebate, instant discount, energy audit, free efficiency work in selected neighborhoods, or bill credit.
Utility programs depend on the company serving the address. Florida Power & Light currently lists an online energy survey and a $200 instant rebate for eligible air-conditioning systems installed by participating contractors. Review FPL savings programs before work starts.
Duke Energy Florida requires a Home Energy Check before many rebates and may help with eligible HVAC, windows, insulation, ducts, and heat-pump water heaters. Municipal utilities have separate rules. Check your utility account before work starts.
Current local examples across Florida
These are examples, not a complete list. Verify status before sending documents or paying for work.
| Area | Current path | Important terms or status |
|---|---|---|
| Hillsborough County | Owner-Occupied Rehabilitation | Interest-free deferred loan secured by a mortgage and note; forgiven over 5 to 15 years. Current page uses an 80% AMI limit and requires two years of homestead status. |
| Orange County | Housing Rehabilitation | Online Neighborly application for very-low-income owners who have owned and lived in the home at least one year. Ask the county for written finance and lien terms. |
| Jacksonville/Duval | Emergency Repair Program | Listed for immediate life-and-safety repairs, up to $12,000, subject to funding. The larger Limited Repair and Utility Tap-In programs are currently closed. |
| Broward County | Barrier-Free Rehabilitation | Countywide special-needs/barrier-free pre-applications are being accepted for accessibility, health and safety, and hurricane hardening. Household income may not exceed 80% AMI. |
| Pinellas County | General Home Repair | The general program, which offered a fully forgivable loan up to $75,000, closed to new applications on May 4, 2026. Do not rely on older “open” notices. |
| Miami-Dade County | Older Adult Modifications | The 2026–2027 waitlist is open for free minor, non-structural safety and accessibility work for qualifying people age 62 or older. Selection is by lottery. |
Condo owners in Miami-Dade have another special path. The county reopened its Condominium Special Assessment Loan Program on June 1, 2026. The county describes a 0% loan of up to $50,000 for eligible owner-occupants facing qualifying building repair assessments. Review the current Miami-Dade loan terms before applying.
Repair help after Florida storms
Type of help: Disaster repair, reconstruction, replacement, temporary relocation, mitigation, or approved reimbursement. It is not automatic compensation for every loss.
The state’s Rebuild Florida program is accepting applications for eligible homes damaged by Hurricanes Idalia, Debby, Helene, or Milton, or the 2024 North Florida tornadoes. It serves designated areas in 47 eligible counties and may include mobile homes. Some large counties and cities receive federal disaster funds directly and operate separate programs.
Current local recovery examples include:
- Hillsborough County: The Rebuilding for Tomorrow homeowner program is open for Helene and Milton damage. The county lists up to $150,000 for unrepaired damage, $10,000 to $50,000 for eligible completed-repair reimbursement, and up to $350,000 for replacement or rebuilding. It serves households up to 120% AMI, with priority at or below 80% AMI.
- Pinellas County: The People First program remains open for eligible Idalia, Helene, or Milton damage and lists up to $375,000 for rehabilitation, rebuilding, or relocation. The current county program does not cover properties in the City of St. Petersburg, which has its own recovery structure.
- Orange County: The county’s Milton housing program directs eligible homeowners to Orange County Recovers for rehabilitation, reconstruction, code work, elevation, and mitigation.
Disaster applications may require primary-residence proof, photos, insurance and FEMA records, permits, receipts, invoices, and ownership documents. Keep denial letters; they may prove an unmet need.
Older adults, disabled owners, veterans, and manufactured homes
Older adults and caregivers
Call the statewide Elder Helpline at 1-800-963-5337. Ask for the Aging and Disability Resource Center serving the county and request screening for EHEAP, Home Care for the Elderly, Community Care for the Elderly, minor home repair, fall prevention, ramps, accessibility modifications, or local volunteer programs.
Home Care for the Elderly may provide a limited special subsidy for ramps, assistive devices, or accessibility changes. It is a screened care-support program, not an open repair grant.
Disabled homeowners
Ask the local housing office about special-needs or barrier-free repair. Florida Medicaid long-term care or iBudget participants should ask their care manager about accessibility adaptations before hiring anyone. Medicaid may cover grab bars or bathroom access, not a roof or whole plumbing system.
See our disability modification guide and Medicaid modifications.
Veterans
Veterans with certain service-connected disabilities may qualify for VA adapted housing grants or HISA. Others may find Habitat for Humanity or Rebuilding Together help. Read our veteran repair guide.
Mobile and manufactured homes
Rebuild Florida and some local disaster programs include mobile or manufactured homes. USDA may consider eligible rural homes. My Safe Florida Home excludes them. SHIP may require ownership of both home and land and may set title, foundation, code, or insurability rules.
Ask this early: “Do you accept my exact home type, and must I own the land under it?” This can prevent weeks of paperwork for a program that excludes the property.
How to apply without losing your place
- Name the urgent repair. Use plain words such as active roof leak, exposed wiring, no working AC, failed septic, unsafe entry, or storm damage.
- Confirm the service area. A city program may exclude unincorporated county addresses, and a county program may exclude cities with their own funding.
- Ask whether intake is open. Find out whether the office is accepting applications, keeping a waitlist, or only taking emergency cases.
- Ask what the help is. Get the grant, loan, lien, forgiveness, reimbursement, and owner-occupancy terms in writing.
- Submit a complete file. Keep copies and ask for a confirmation number, date stamp, portal screenshot, or receipt.
- Do not start early. Most programs will not pay for work completed before written approval, inspection, environmental review, bids, and permits.
- Track every contact. Write down the date, office, worker’s name, missing item, and next deadline.
Documents to gather
| Document | Why it matters | Common Florida problem |
|---|---|---|
| Deed, title, tax bill, and homestead proof | Shows ownership and primary residence | Inherited property, life estate, trust, mobile-home title, or missing probate |
| Photo ID for adult household members | Shows identity and occupancy | Address does not match the repair property |
| Income proof for all adults | Used for SHIP, WAP, USDA, and disaster rules | Missing zero-income statement, benefit letter, or self-employment record |
| Mortgage, tax, and insurance records | Shows account status and other repair coverage | Delinquency, lapsed insurance, force-placed insurance, or unresolved claim |
| Photos, estimates, code notices, and permits | Documents the repair and legal work needed | Open permits, unpermitted work, or estimate signed before approval |
| Storm benefit and receipt records | Supports disaster review and reimbursement | Missing FEMA, SBA, insurance, charity, or contractor payment proof |
What happens after intake
After intake, expect income and ownership review, inspection, repair scope, bids, legal documents, permits, construction, and final approval. Large rehabilitation can take months; disaster reconstruction may take a year or longer.
The program controls the scope and may use basic materials. If bids exceed the cap, it may reduce work, combine funds, require an owner contribution, pause the file, or consider reconstruction.
Use our application guide for a fuller step-by-step checklist.
What causes delays or denials
- The program is closed, out of money, or serving an older waitlist.
- The address is outside the city, county, utility, rural, or disaster service area.
- Household income is over the local limit or income proof is incomplete.
- The applicant does not own and occupy the home as required.
- Title, probate, trust, life-estate, tax, mortgage, lien, or insurance issues are unresolved.
- The repair is cosmetic, already completed, not permitted, or outside the program scope.
- The home type, value, age, floodplain status, or condition makes the project ineligible.
- The applicant missed a portal message, inspection, document deadline, or request for information.
Ask for the reason in writing and whether the file was denied, marked incomplete, closed, or waitlisted. Ask about corrections, reconsideration, appeal, or the next funding round.
If title or probate blocks the application, contact a Florida legal-aid office or HUD-approved housing counselor. If the repair is energy-related, move to weatherization and LIHEAP. If the home is rural, try USDA. If the need is disability access, try the aging, Medicaid, or veteran route. Our denial next steps guide can help organize the second attempt.
Florida contractor and financing warnings
- Verify the contractor and business through the official Florida license check. Call the Department of Business and Professional Regulation at 850-487-1395 if the record is unclear.
- Do not trust “free roof,” “guaranteed grant,” or door-to-door claims. Real programs do not guarantee approval through a salesperson.
- Do not sign an assignment, financing agreement, power of attorney, or blank document under pressure.
- Ask who pulls the permit, who pays subcontractors, and when you will receive lien releases.
- Property Assessed Clean Energy financing is a tax assessment, not a grant. It can raise the property-tax bill and affect sale, refinancing, escrow, and foreclosure risk.
- For insurance claim trouble, contact the Florida insurance helpline at 1-877-693-5236.
Florida home repair FAQ
Is there one statewide home repair grant in Florida?
No. Florida’s strongest repair funding is delivered through local SHIP and housing rehabilitation offices, local weatherization providers, USDA Rural Development, hurricane mitigation programs, utilities, and disaster recovery programs. Each has its own service area and rules.
Can Florida programs help replace a roof?
Sometimes. Local rehabilitation, USDA, and disaster programs may cover a roof when it is tied to health, safety, code, or storm damage. My Safe Florida Home may fund only inspection-recommended hurricane mitigation work, not any roof replacement a homeowner chooses.
Is SHIP assistance always a grant?
No. Local SHIP help may be a grant, deferred loan, forgivable loan, low-interest loan, or direct repair service. Ask whether a mortgage or lien will be recorded and what triggers repayment.
Can a mobile or manufactured home qualify?
Sometimes. Rebuild Florida and some local disaster or rehabilitation programs include mobile or manufactured homes. Other programs exclude them or require the applicant to own the land. My Safe Florida Home excludes them from its regular inspection program.
Does My Safe Florida Home give everyone a free roof?
No. It provides a free wind-mitigation inspection to eligible homes and may provide an approved matching or low-income grant for specific recommended mitigation work. Inspection approval does not guarantee grant funding.
What should I do when a local program is closed?
Ask whether there is a waitlist or reopening date, then try the county or city SHIP contact, weatherization and LIHEAP, USDA for a rural address, aging or disability services, current disaster programs, the utility, and local nonprofit repair groups.
About This Guide
How we researched this page: We checked official federal, state, local, utility, and trusted nonprofit sources linked in this article. We reviewed program names, service areas, eligibility rules, application routes, contact details, open or closed status, 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