Last updated: July 27, 2026
If the home is dangerous now
Leave the area and call 911 for fire, a gas smell, sparking wires, carbon monoxide symptoms, sewage inside living space, or a possible collapse. Call the utility emergency line for a gas leak, downed line, or electrical danger. Do not wait for a repair program to approve the work.
For a failed furnace, water heater, or septic system that creates a health and safety risk, apply for Michigan State Emergency Relief and call Michigan 211 the same day.
Bottom line: Michigan has real repair help, but no single statewide grant covers every problem. Start with State Emergency Relief for an urgent essential-system failure, weatherization or MiHER for energy work, a local housing office for larger rehabilitation, and USDA Section 504 for an eligible rural home.
Most programs have income, ownership, tax, inspection, and funding rules. Help may be a grant, service, rebate, deferred loan, forgivable loan, or regular loan.
Several old search results now lead to closed programs. MI-HOPE, Renew Detroit, the 2026 Revive round, Detroit’s March critical-repair intake, and Ingham County’s current intake are not accepting new applications as of July 27, 2026.
| Repair need | Best first path | Type of help |
|---|---|---|
| No heat, failed water heater, or failed septic | MDHHS State Emergency Relief | Emergency payment with strict caps |
| Insulation, air leaks, or inefficient heating | Weatherization operator | No-cost energy service |
| Heat pump, insulation, wiring, or other approved energy upgrade | Michigan Home Energy Rebates | Rebate paid to an approved contractor |
| Roof, electrical, plumbing, structure, or code work | City or county housing office | Grant, deferred loan, forgivable loan, or loan |
| Very-low-income rural homeowner | USDA Section 504 | 1% loan; grant for qualifying owners age 62+ |
| Ramp, safer bathroom, or access change | Aging, disability, local rehab, Medicaid, or VA route | Service, benefit, grant, or local loan |
Where Michigan homeowners should start
- Name the exact danger. Say “the furnace does not work,” “sewage is backing up,” or “the roof is actively leaking.” A clear health or safety need is easier to route than “I need home improvements.”
- Open more than one path. Apply for emergency help, call 211, and contact USDA if the address may be rural.
- Check locally. Call the city, township, county, tribal housing office, and Community Action agency.
- Ask about the funding type. Find out whether the offer is a grant, rebate, direct service, deferred loan, forgivable loan, or repayment loan.
- Do not start early. Many programs will not reimburse work started before written approval, inspection, and contractor selection.
Michigan 211 can search by ZIP code for repair, weatherization, accessibility, senior, disability, and nonprofit help. Dial 211, call 1-844-875-9211, or use Michigan 211 housing help. See also where to start.
Call script: “I own and live in a home in [ZIP code]. The urgent problem is [repair]. Please check for State Emergency Relief, weatherization, owner-occupied rehabilitation, senior or disability modifications, and nonprofit repair programs. Which office is taking applications now?”
Michigan programs worth checking
State Emergency Relief for urgent essential repairs
Type of help: Emergency relief payment. This is not a broad remodeling grant.
MDHHS may pay for work needed to remove a direct health or safety threat and restore a safe home. Its home repair rules name failed furnaces, water heaters, and septic systems.
The lifetime maximum is $4,000 for energy-related furnace repairs and $1,500 for other repairs, including water heaters and septic systems. Past approvals count. The applicant must own or be purchasing the usual residence, or hold a qualifying life estate or lease. The home cannot be for sale. Housing costs and mortgage or tax arrears also affect eligibility.
Eligibility is based on the household, income, and countable cash assets. The current SER eligibility table lists these monthly energy-related income limits:
| Household size | Monthly energy limit | Monthly non-energy limit |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | $1,956 | $445 |
| 2 | $2,644 | $500 |
| 3 | $3,331 | $625 |
| 4 | $4,019 | $755 |
For energy-related help, income above the limit is not eligible. For non-energy help, income above the listed amount may become a household copayment. MDHHS also publishes a $15,000 countable-cash-asset rule, while excluding the homestead, one vehicle, and personal household goods. A caseworker makes the final decision.
Apply through MI Bridges or contact the local MDHHS office. Keep the application confirmation, upload requested proof quickly, and ask whether MDHHS must authorize a vendor before work begins.
Call script: “I own and occupy my Michigan home. My [furnace, water heater, or septic system] failed and the home is unsafe. Can State Emergency Relief review this as an essential repair? What proof and vendor estimate do you need before any work starts?”
Weatherization Assistance Program
Type of help: No-cost direct energy service, not cash paid to the homeowner.
Michigan’s Weatherization Assistance Program serves eligible homeowners and renters through local operators. Household income generally must be at or below 200% of the federal poverty guidelines. A household receiving MDHHS cash assistance or Supplemental Security Income automatically meets the income test.
Possible work includes an energy audit, air sealing, insulation, thermostats, and some furnace, water-heater, or refrigerator work. No measure is guaranteed. Weatherization does not fund general roof, porch, or foundation repair. The occupied home must be ready for the work and generally cannot have received weatherization within the last 15 years.
Review the weatherization requirements, then use the operator map. Wayne County has several operators, so verify which one serves the exact community.
Michigan Home Energy Rebates
Type of help: Rebate for approved energy work. It is not a general home repair grant.
The Michigan Home Energy Rebates program, called MiHER, is accepting low- to moderate-income applications statewide. However, new income-qualified applications for properties in the EGLE Detroit District are temporarily suspended while the program reviews applications and regional funding capacity.
HOMES supports whole-home efficiency work and may provide up to $20,000. HEAR supports approved electric equipment and wiring and may provide up to $14,000 for households at or below 150% of area median income. Actual awards depend on income, assessment results, project cost, funding, and approved measures.
Households below 80% of area median income may receive up to 100% of qualified cost; those from 80% through 150% may receive up to 50%. An approved MiHER contractor must assess and perform the work, and the rebate is paid to that contractor.
Start with the MiHER resident steps. Call 1-855-510-7080 before hiring anyone, especially if the property may be in the Detroit District.
Do not confuse a rebate with emergency repair. MiHER requires eligibility review, an approved contractor, assessment, and project approval. Use State Emergency Relief or the utility emergency line when the home is unsafe now.
Local rehabilitation backed by MSHDA or HUD
Type of help: Varies by local program. It may be a grant, deferred loan, forgivable loan, zero-interest loan, or regular affordable loan.
MSHDA sends Community Development Block Grant and other housing money to local governments and nonprofit partners. Homeowners apply through the local project, not for one statewide MSHDA repair check.
Local rules often cover income, owner occupancy, title, taxes, insurance, and health or code needs. Help may carry a lien or second mortgage. The MSHDA CDBG page tracks local funding but is not a homeowner application.
For more background on how local funds reach homeowners, read the CDBG repair guide.
Closed statewide path: The official MI-HOPE page says its public portal is closed and all funds were to be expended before April 30, 2026. Do not pay anyone who claims they can place a new MI-HOPE application.
USDA Section 504 for rural homes
Type of help: A fixed 1% loan, a grant for a qualifying owner age 62 or older, or both.
USDA Section 504 serves some very-low-income rural homeowners who own and occupy the property and cannot obtain affordable credit elsewhere. Loans may repair or modernize the home; grants are limited to health and safety hazards and require the owner to be age 62 or older.
The standard maximum is a $40,000 loan and a $10,000 grant, or $50,000 combined. Loans run 20 years at 1%. A grant is repayable if the home is sold within three years. Applications are ongoing, subject to funding.
Call Michigan Single Family Housing at 1-517-324-5210, review the Section 504 program, or use the USDA contact page. Our Section 504 guide explains the paperwork.
Water assistance and limited plumbing repair
Type of help: Bill assistance and, in some counties, repair payment for metered plumbing.
Michigan’s Water Assistance Program may provide up to $3,000 per fiscal year for eligible bills and up to $9,000 total per address for metered plumbing repairs. Funding runs through September 30, 2027, unless depleted. Plumbing repair is not statewide and excludes wells and septic systems. Check county contacts and the 200% poverty or benefit-program rules on the water assistance page.
Current city and county examples
These programs show why the address matters. A nearby city may have different funding, terms, or application dates. Always confirm whether intake is open before gathering a full packet.
Detroit
- Critical Home Repair Program: Free repair service for selected owner-occupants with income limits, current taxes or a payment plan, and a child under 18, adult age 62+, or resident with a documented disability. It may address severe plumbing, active roof leaks, failed heat, electrical hazards, and accessibility. The March 2026 intake is closed; join the interest list on the critical repair page.
- 0% Home Repair Loan: Detroit lists loans from $5,000 to $25,000 for health and safety hazards, electrical work, furnace, roof, plumbing, doors, windows, porches, and structure. This is a loan, not a grant. Check current intake at the Detroit loan page before applying.
- Senior Accessibility Fund: Detroit directs older and disabled residents to accessibility help through the Detroit Housing Network. This is limited program assistance for safety and access, not a statewide entitlement. Call 1-313-224-6380 and ask whether funds and intake are active.
- Renew Detroit: The city reports that Phase 1 and Phase 2 have concluded and applications are closed. Do not treat old Renew Detroit advertisements as an open 2026 application.
Oakland County
Oakland County offers interest-free deferred loans up to $23,000, with no monthly payments; the balance is due when the owner stops living there. Eligible work may include roof, heat, plumbing, septic, wells, structure, and access. It is not emergency repair. The owner must meet income, equity, occupancy, and participating-community rules. Several communities, including Pontiac, are excluded. Check the Oakland program page or call 1-248-858-1000.
Washtenaw County
Washtenaw County lists rehabilitation, ramps, air-conditioner help, critical repair, roof replacement, weatherization, and furnace services. Rules and intake differ. Use the county’s home improvement menu and ask what serves the address now.
Grand Rapids
The Grand Rapids Housing Rehabilitation Program offers affordable loans from $1,000 to $24,000. Assistance is structured as a matching loan, and up to 50% may be forgiven when payments are made on time. The homeowner’s ability to repay affects the amount.
Applicants generally must be below 80% of area median income, hold clear title, be current on taxes and city fines, have occupied the home for 12 months, and carry insurance. Eligible work includes some roof, furnace, energy, safety, lead, and asbestos projects. Use the Grand Rapids program or call 1-616-456-3030.
Ingham County
Ingham County uses grants for critical health and safety repairs through Capital Area Community Services. Its prequalification portal is closed but may reopen. Watch the official Housing Trust Fund page for status and notices.
Other Michigan communities
Ask local offices for owner-occupied rehabilitation, emergency repair, accessibility, or CDBG help. USDA awarded 2026 rural repair funds to Crawford County, Bay Mills Indian Community, and the City of Lapeer, but each recipient controls its own intake and eligibility.
Call script: “I live in [city, township, or county] and own the home. Do you have an open owner-occupied repair program for [roof, electrical, plumbing, structure, or accessibility]? Is it a grant or loan, is there a lien, and when is the next intake if it is closed?”
Older adults, disability, veterans, lead, tribal, and nonprofit help
Older adults and people who need access changes
Area Agencies on Aging may offer repair, injury-control, or chore help, but local funding varies. Review Michigan aging services or call MI Options at 1-800-803-7174.
A person enrolled in the MI Choice Medicaid waiver may also ask the care coordinator about environmental accessibility adaptations. Work must be tied to the approved service plan and completed under waiver rules. The disability modification guide explains other routes.
Veterans with disability-related needs
Type of help: Federal VA grant or medical home-alteration benefit. These are not general veteran repair grants.
Veterans and service members with certain service-connected disabilities may qualify for VA adapted-housing grants. FY 2026 limits are $126,526 for SAH and $25,350 for SHA. Eligibility is narrow and limits change. HISA is a separate benefit for medically necessary alterations. Review VA housing grants and our VA grant guide before work starts.
Lead hazards
Michigan encourages applications for lead services, especially for pre-1978 homes. Inspection, paint, plumbing, filter, faucet, or abatement help depends on the household and location. Start at Mi Lead Safe services. Do not disturb suspected lead paint without safe practices.
Tribal housing programs
Tribal members should call their tribal housing authority or Tribally Designated Housing Entity for rehabilitation, weatherization, heating, accessibility, and USDA-funded repair. Rules may depend on enrollment, service area, land status, ownership, and funding.
Habitat and volunteer repair
Habitat affiliates may offer local critical repair, preservation, veteran, or aging-in-place work. A homeowner contribution may apply. Find an affiliate through Habitat Michigan and review our Habitat repair guide.
Closed 2026 bank round: FHLBank Indianapolis reports that the 2026 Revive Home Repair Grant round is closed. Homeowners applied through participating financial institutions, not directly to the bank. Watch the community programs page for a future round, but do not delay an urgent repair while waiting.
Documents and application steps
Gather one packet and reuse it. Programs may ask for:
- Photo identification for each owner
- Deed, land contract, manufactured-home title, life estate, trust, or other ownership proof
- Proof the home is the primary residence
- Income proof for every household member
- Mortgage statement and property-tax status or payment-plan proof
- Homeowners insurance or proof of insurability
- Utility bills and shutoff notices
- Clear photos and a short written description of the danger
- Code, health department, fire, utility, or mobile-home-park notices
- Contractor diagnosis or estimates only when the program requests them
- Disability, age, veteran, or medical proof when tied to eligibility
Use the document checklist. Report title, trust, land-contract, or manufactured-home-title problems at the first call. Early legal or title help may save the file.
After applying, expect eligibility and ownership checks, inspection, a work scope, contractor selection, permits, and final inspection. A verbal approval does not mean work can begin.
What causes delays or denials
- The repair does not fit the program. Weatherization cannot replace a roof simply because it leaks.
- The local round is closed. Ask for an interest list, email alerts, and the expected next intake.
- Income is over the limit. Ask whether another program uses area median income, allows a copayment, or serves moderate-income households.
- Taxes, mortgage, or lot rent are behind. Ask whether a formal payment plan can cure the problem.
- Ownership is unclear. Request legal-aid or title-clearing help before the next round.
- The house needs more work than the program can support. Ask whether urgent items can be separated or whether reconstruction is the only safe option.
- Work started before approval. Many programs cannot reimburse it.
- Documents were missing. Ask for the exact missing item and deadline in writing.
Ask whether the denial was about income, repair scope, funding, ownership, taxes, insurance, or missing proof. Then switch routes: structural work may fit local rehab, a rural denial may fit USDA, and an urgent furnace may still fit State Emergency Relief.
Keep a call log. Write the date, agency, staff name, phone number, documents requested, status, and next follow-up date. This matters when programs refer you to one another.
Contractor, lien, and financing warnings
Get written program approval before paying a contractor. Michigan consumer guidance recommends several estimates, license checks, a written contract, and no full payment up front. It advises that about one-third is generally enough for an initial payment. Avoid cash. Never sign a blank contract, deed, mortgage, or insurance check.
- Ask who selects and pays the contractor.
- Verify the contractor and complaint history.
- Ask who obtains permits and schedules inspections.
- Read every lien, mortgage, loan note, and occupancy rule.
- Ask what becomes due if you sell, refinance, transfer, rent the home, or move.
- Do not trust a person who promises a government grant for an upfront fee.
Use the state’s remodeling advice and our guide to verify a program.
A practical seven-day plan
- Today: Handle immediate danger, photograph the problem, and apply for SER if an essential system failed.
- Today: Call 211 and request every open repair, weatherization, accessibility, and nonprofit intake for the ZIP code.
- Within two days: Call the city, township, village, county, or tribal housing office. Ask about the next round even if intake is closed.
- Within three days: Contact USDA if the home may be rural and MiHER if the project is an energy upgrade.
- Within four days: Gather ownership, income, tax, insurance, utility, and repair proof.
- Within five days: Contact aging, disability, Medicaid, VA, lead, or Habitat routes that match the household.
- By day seven: Record every status and schedule follow-up dates. Do not wait for one program before contacting the next.
Frequently Asked Questions
Is there one Michigan home repair grant for every homeowner?
No. Michigan help is split among emergency relief, weatherization, energy rebates, rural USDA assistance, city and county rehabilitation, tribal programs, and nonprofits. Each has different rules and funding.
What should I do first if my furnace stopped working?
Apply for State Emergency Relief through MI Bridges and call the local MDHHS office. Then call 211 for the weatherization operator and any local furnace program. Do not wait for weatherization if the home is unsafe now.
Can Michigan pay for a new roof?
Sometimes, but there is no open statewide roof grant for everyone. Roof help is usually through a city or county rehabilitation program, USDA Section 504 in a rural area, a tribal housing program, or a local nonprofit.
Are MI-HOPE and Revive open in July 2026?
No. The MI-HOPE public portal is closed and its funds were to be fully expended before April 30, 2026. FHLBank Indianapolis says the 2026 Revive round is closed.
Can I apply if I am behind on property taxes?
Possibly, but arrears often block approval. Ask whether entering and staying current on a formal payment plan will satisfy the program. State Emergency Relief and many local programs review whether the home is in jeopardy of loss.
Will repair help put a lien on my home?
It may. Grants and direct services may have no repayment, but deferred and forgivable loans often use a lien or second mortgage. Ask what happens if you sell, refinance, transfer ownership, rent the home, or move out.
Can a renter get home repair help?
A renter usually cannot receive an owner-occupied rehabilitation loan, but may qualify for weatherization or an energy rebate with landlord participation. Renters can also contact code enforcement, legal aid, the utility, or 211 when a landlord will not correct unsafe conditions.
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