Last updated: July 27, 2026
Unsafe right now? Leave the home and call 911 or the utility if you smell gas, see sparks, have a carbon monoxide alarm, or believe part of the house may collapse. Repair funding comes after immediate safety.
Bottom Line: Nebraska has real home repair help, but there is no single statewide grant application. A failed furnace or air conditioner may fit Nebraska energy programs. Major health and safety repairs are usually handled by a city, community action agency, or regional housing sponsor. Rural homeowners should also check USDA Section 504. Older adults, tribal members, and people who need accessibility changes have extra paths.
The best program depends on four facts: the home address, the repair, total household income, and whether the owner lives in the home. Funding can also depend on whether a local application round is open.
Nebraska help may be a service, conditional grant, deferred loan, 0% loan, low-interest loan, utility benefit, or referral. Some programs require repayment if you sell, move, or rent the home.
For a broader first-step checklist, see where to start. The Nebraska-specific routes below show whom to call and what to ask.
Contents
Choose the Nebraska repair path that fits
| Main need | Best first contact | Type of help | Important limit |
|---|---|---|---|
| No heat, failed furnace, or unsafe central AC | Nebraska DHHS and your local weatherization provider | Benefit or direct repair assistance | DHHS and DWEE have separate repair paths with different limits |
| Drafts, insulation, high energy use, or combustion safety | Nebraska Weatherization Assistance Program | No-cost weatherization service | Normal weatherization does not replace a whole roof, siding, or all windows |
| Roof leak, wiring, plumbing, structure, or major health hazard | City housing office, community action agency, or regional housing sponsor | Grant, conditional grant, deferred loan, or loan | Service area, funding cycle, lien, and repayment rules vary locally |
| Very-low-income owner in an eligible rural area | USDA Rural Development Section 504 | 1% loan, age-62+ grant, or combination | Grant funds are only for eligible owners age 62 or older |
| Ramp, grab bars, safer bathroom, or wider doorway | Nebraska ADRC or Medicaid waiver coordinator | Referral or approved home modification | Disability programs do not pay for ordinary roof or general home repairs |
| Home in OPPD territory needing efficiency work | OPPD Energy Efficiency Assistance Program | Utility-funded improvements | Income, service territory, and approved-work rules apply |
Use more than one path. A homeowner with a broken furnace and a leaking roof may apply for energy repair help while also joining a local rehab waiting list. These programs do not share one application.
Heating, cooling, and weatherization help
Nebraska has three related but different energy-repair paths. Calling each one by the correct name matters because the dollar limit and intake office are not the same.
DHHS furnace and central AC assistance: up to $750
The Nebraska LIHEAP page says the Department of Health and Human Services may provide up to $750 toward furnace or central air conditioner repair or replacement. This is financial assistance, not a general whole-house grant.
The household must qualify for the related LIHEAP heating or cooling benefit. DHHS may require proof that repair or replacement is needed and contractor estimates. The household cannot have received this furnace or air-conditioner assistance during the prior 60 months.
Apply through iServe, a DHHS public assistance office, or ACCESSNebraska. Call 402-323-3900 in Lincoln, 402-595-1258 in Omaha, or 800-383-4278 elsewhere in Nebraska.
DWEE HCRRA: up to $5,000
The Nebraska Department of Water, Energy, and Environment (DWEE) also administers Heating and Cooling Repair and Replacement Assistance, often called HCRRA. The state says HCRRA may pay up to $5,000 to repair, purchase, or install an eligible heating or cooling system.
This is separate from the DHHS $750 assistance. Ask DWEE or the local provider to screen you for HCRRA even if you have already contacted DHHS. Call DWEE at 402-471-2186.
Phone script: “I own and live in my home in ___ County. My furnace or air conditioner has failed. Please tell me whether I should apply for the DHHS $750 repair benefit, HCRRA up to $5,000, weatherization, or more than one of them.”
No-cost weatherization
The Nebraska weatherization program provides approved energy improvements at no cost to eligible households. Owners and renters may qualify. A renter needs the property owner’s permission, and other restrictions may apply. Mobile homes can be eligible.
Possible work includes an energy audit, insulation, air sealing, weatherstripping, broken-glass repair, and testing of heating or water-heating equipment. The provider chooses work after inspecting the home.
Weatherization is not remodeling. It does not include roof replacement, siding repair, or replacement windows. Waiting lists are possible because funds are limited.
Households with income below 200% of the federal poverty guideline may qualify. The table below combines Nebraska’s current LIHEAP limits for October 1, 2025, through September 30, 2026, with a 2026 weatherization screening guide based on the 2026 HHS guidelines. The weatherization provider makes the final income decision and will explain what income period and deductions it uses.
| Household size | LIHEAP annual gross limit | 200% weatherization screening guide |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | $23,475 | $31,920 |
| 2 | $31,725 | $43,280 |
| 3 | $39,975 | $54,640 |
| 4 | $48,225 | $66,000 |
| 5 | $56,475 | $77,360 |
| 6 | $64,725 | $88,720 |
| 7 | $72,975 | $100,080 |
| 8 | $81,225 | $111,440 |
For each additional person, Nebraska’s current LIHEAP table adds $8,250. The 2026 HHS 200% screening figure adds $11,360.
Ask about pre-weatherization repairs.
A home may be deferred when a roof leak, electrical danger, structural problem, mold source, or another condition prevents safe weatherization. Nebraska’s pre-weatherization program is designed to address some critical repairs that would otherwise block weatherization.
Start with the local weatherization provider. Ask whether the home was deferred, what exact condition caused the deferral, and whether pre-weatherization funds can fix it. Funding is limited, and not every deferred repair will be approved.
Major repairs usually start with a local sponsor
The Nebraska Affordable Housing Trust Fund can support homeowner repair, rehabilitation, or reconstruction. However, the state housing fund generally finances local governments, housing authorities, community action agencies, and qualified nonprofits. It is not one direct statewide homeowner application.
A program may be open in one town and closed in the next. Local sponsors set the service area, repair priorities, application period, and legal terms. Income limits also vary by county and program.
Local help may be a grant, conditional grant, deferred loan, or monthly-payment loan. A deed of trust, promissory note, or recorded restriction may apply. Read how local rehab works before signing.
| Area | Current path | Type and key terms | Contact |
|---|---|---|---|
| Omaha | City repair programs | Exterior Repair is a loan with at least $50 monthly payments; applications are collected annually and selected by lottery. Emergency Repair serves very-low-income households and may repair a furnace, AC, or water heater. Separate older-adult programs offer modifications or minor repair. | 402-444-5150 |
| Lincoln | Home Rehabilitation | 0% direct or deferred loans for eligible owner-occupied homes in city limits. Direct payments start at no less than $50 monthly. Deferred payments may be delayed and, in some cases, remain due when the home is sold, transferred, or no longer the primary residence. | 402-441-5668 |
| Lincoln | Healthy Homes Grant | Grant for health and safety hazards in eligible census tracts. Work may address a mold source, radon, electrical danger, alarms, roof repair, exterior doors, HVAC, or broken windows. Funds are listed through fall 2028 or until exhausted. | 402-441-7808 |
| Norfolk | Owner Rehab Program | Loan or grant up to $25,000 for eligible low-income owners in city limits. Loans are repaid over five years, with payments based on income. Manufactured and mobile homes are excluded. The city is taking names for its waiting list. | 402-844-2080 |
| Fairbury | City rehabilitation | Eligible work may include structural, mechanical, electrical, weatherization, and plumbing repairs. Very-low-income households may receive a five-year conditional grant. The city lists typical help of $10,000 to $35,000 and a $40,000 maximum. | 402-729-2476 |
| Nine southeast counties | Blue Valley rehab | Conditional grants, deferred loans, or low-interest loans in Butler, Fillmore, Gage, Jefferson, Polk, Saline, Seward, Thayer, and York Counties. The home must be the primary residence; taxes and insurance must be current. Rentals and mobile homes are excluded. | 402-729-2278 |
Omaha opened its 2026 Exterior Repair period on June 1. Check the city page for the current deadline. Applications from prior years do not remain active.
Phone script: “I own and live at ___ in ___ County. The home needs ___ repaired. Is there an open owner-occupied rehab program for my address? Is the help a grant, conditional grant, deferred loan, or monthly-payment loan, and will a lien be recorded?”
If your town is not listed, ask city hall for housing or community development. Nebraska 211 can help find the local agency; dial 211 or use Nebraska 211.
USDA Section 504 for rural homeowners
USDA Section 504 is one of Nebraska’s strongest rural repair paths. The Nebraska program page lists its status as open and accepts applications throughout the federal fiscal year, subject to available funding.
- You must own and live in the home.
- The address must be in an eligible rural area.
- Household income must be below USDA’s county very-low-income limit.
- You must be unable to obtain affordable credit elsewhere.
- A grant is not available to every applicant; the owner must be age 62 or older and unable to repay a repair loan.
The maximum loan is $40,000. It has a fixed 1% interest rate and a 20-year term. The maximum grant is $10,000. An eligible borrower may combine them for up to $50,000. Grant funds must be repaid if the property is sold within three years.
Loans may repair, improve, or modernize a home. Grants remove health and safety hazards. Timing depends on local USDA funding. Use the Nebraska USDA offices page to find the right contact.
For more detail on the loan, grant, property rules, and application packet, read the Section 504 guide. Also see rural repair assistance for backup routes.
Phone script: “I own and live in a home near ___, Nebraska. Can you confirm whether my address is rural-eligible and whether I may fit the Section 504 loan, age-62 grant, or a combination?”
Tribal homeowners have additional programs
The Bureau of Indian Affairs Housing Improvement Program (HIP) is a grant for eligible members of federally recognized tribes with substandard housing and no other housing resource. It is not an entitlement, so funding is not guaranteed.
The Great Plains HIP office lists up to $7,500 for interim safety repairs and up to $60,000 for code-related repair or renovation. Apply through your tribal housing or BIA office. Call 605-226-7441.
Some tribes also operate their own repair programs. For example, Winnebago Tribal Housing lists Emergency Home Repair and Senior Home Repair for enrolled Winnebago members. The application may require proof of ownership, household income, tribal identification, and two repair bids. Call 402-878-2272 to ask whether applications and funds are currently available.
Do not assume one tribal program covers another tribe or reservation. Ask your own tribal housing department which tribal, HUD, BIA, weatherization, or USDA path serves your home.
Help for older adults and people with disabilities
The Nebraska Aging and Disability Resource Center (ADRC) helps older adults, people with disabilities, caregivers, and families find local services. It can connect a household to aging agencies, assistive technology, home modification, chore service, and benefits help.
Call the Nebraska ADRC at 844-843-6364. Describe the safety problem, the person’s age or disability, and whether Medicaid is active.
The Aged and Disabled Waiver may cover an approved home modification when it is directly needed for health, safety, or independence. Examples can include ramps, grab bars, wider doorways, or bathroom changes. The person must meet Medicaid, age or disability, and nursing-facility-level-of-care rules.
This waiver is not a general home repair grant. Nebraska excludes ordinary homeowner duties and repairs such as replacing a roof, landscaping, sidewalks, or routine upkeep. A family may need a local rehab program for the house and a waiver modification for access.
The Assistive Technology Partnership does not directly fund every project, but it can help identify possible home-modification resources and equipment solutions. For more ways to make a home safer, see aging-in-place repair help.
Nonprofit, utility, and loan backups
OPPD efficiency assistance.
Homeowners in Omaha Public Power District territory should check the OPPD EEAP program. OPPD says it may provide up to $3,000 in approved energy-efficiency upgrades at no cost. Household income must be below 200% of the federal poverty guideline, and the home must be in OPPD territory. Renters in properties with eight or fewer units may apply with written owner permission.
Habitat Omaha home repair.
Habitat Omaha repair serves Douglas, Sarpy, Washington, Cass, and Burt Counties. This is a 0% loan, not a grant. Approved owners can spread repair costs over one to ten years. Work may include a furnace, air conditioner, water heater, roof, windows, doors, plumbing, electrical work, siding, trees, or accessibility.
Applicants typically must have income no higher than 80% of area median income, clear title, current property taxes, an owner-occupied detached single-family home, and ability to repay. Call 402-457-5657, option 3.
State energy-saving loans.
Nebraska’s Dollar and Energy Saving Loans finance qualifying efficiency work through participating lenders. This is a credit-based loan, not free assistance. DWEE lists simple interest rates of 5%, 3.5%, or less, while the final annual percentage rate can vary with lender fees.
Qualified one- and two-family projects may be financed up to $125,000, with some building or HVAC terms up to 15 years. Do not start work before the lender and DWEE complete the commitment process.
Nebraska’s new federal home energy rebate programs are not open for household applications yet. DWEE currently lists both the High Efficiency Electric Home Rebate and whole-house performance rebate as “Preparing Application.” Check the state rebate status instead of paying anyone who claims to reserve a rebate for you.
How to apply without losing time
- Write down the main problem. Use one sentence, such as “The furnace will not run” or “Water enters through the roof.”
- Confirm the address rule. Ask whether the home must be inside city limits, in a named county, in a census tract, in a utility territory, or in a USDA rural area.
- Ask what kind of help it is. Get the grant, loan, service, lien, and repayment terms in writing.
- Gather the full household’s records. Programs usually count everyone living in the home, not just the owner.
- Do not start work early. Many programs will not reimburse repairs started before inspection, environmental review, bid approval, loan closing, or written authorization.
- Keep a contact log. Record the office, person, date, next step, missing document, and any waiting-list number.
Common documents include:
- Photo identification for adult household members
- Deed, property record, or other proof of ownership
- Proof that the home is the primary residence
- Recent pay stubs, benefit letters, pension records, or tax returns
- Bank or asset statements when required
- Homeowners insurance declarations page
- Mortgage, home-equity loan, lien, and property-tax information
- Current utility bills and shutoff notice, if applicable
- Photos, inspection reports, and contractor estimates
- Landlord permission for renter weatherization
- Medical or professional support for an accessibility request when required
Use the repair document checklist to prepare one folder before applying.
Ask before paying for bids. Some programs obtain their own estimates or require contractors from an approved list. A bid you buy on your own may not be accepted.
What causes delays or denials
- The home is outside the program’s city, county, census tract, utility territory, or rural boundary.
- The applicant owns the home but does not use it as the primary residence.
- Property taxes, insurance, title, probate, mortgage, or another lien is unresolved.
- The home is a manufactured home and the local rehab program excludes that housing type.
- The repair costs more than the program cap or the house cannot meet required standards within the allowed budget.
- Work started before written approval.
- The applicant calls the state funding agency instead of the local sponsor that accepts homeowner applications.
- A local funding round is closed, full, or using a waiting list.
If denied, ask for the reason in writing, whether it can be corrected, whether review is available, and what other office serves the address. One income denial does not decide every program.
If weatherization defers the home, request a written list of conditions that must be fixed and ask about pre-weatherization. If a local rehab round is out of money, ask when the next round may open and whether the office keeps an interest list.
Scam and unsafe financing warning: Do not pay an upfront fee to “release” a government grant. Do not sign over part of your deed. Do not let a contractor rush you into a home-equity loan, Property Assessed Clean Energy agreement, or lien you do not understand. Verify the office through its official government, tribal, utility, or nonprofit site. Read repair loan warnings and verify a real program before sharing bank records or signing papers.
Questions to ask before signing
- Is this assistance a grant, loan, conditional grant, deferred loan, or service?
- Will a lien, deed of trust, promissory note, or restrictive covenant be recorded?
- What happens if I sell, move, refinance, transfer the home, or die?
- Who chooses the contractor, and who handles permits and inspections?
- Must I pay any application, closing, appraisal, or contractor cost?
- What work is excluded, and who pays if the approved amount is not enough?
Frequently Asked Questions
Does Nebraska have one statewide home repair grant?
No. Nebraska has statewide energy and rural programs, but major owner-occupied repair funds are often delivered by cities, community action agencies, regional groups, tribes, utilities, or nonprofits. The terms and application periods vary by address.
Can Nebraska help replace a broken furnace?
Possibly. Nebraska DHHS lists furnace or central AC repair and replacement help up to $750. DWEE also lists HCRRA assistance up to $5,000. Weatherization, OPPD, a city emergency program, USDA, or a nonprofit may provide another path. Each has separate eligibility and funding rules.
Can weatherization pay for a new roof or all new windows?
Usually not. Nebraska’s regular weatherization program says roof replacement, siding repairs, and replacement windows are not included. It may repair broken glass and complete approved insulation, air sealing, and safety work. Ask whether a repair that blocks weatherization may fit pre-weatherization funding.
Are Nebraska local repair programs really grants?
Some are grants, but many are conditional grants, deferred loans, 0% loans, or low-interest loans. A lien or recorded agreement may apply. Ask for the legal terms before accepting assistance.
Can a mobile or manufactured home qualify?
Nebraska weatherization says mobile homes may qualify. Some local rehab programs, including Norfolk and Blue Valley’s owner-occupied rehab program, exclude manufactured or mobile homes. Eligibility depends on the program, land ownership, title, location, and home condition.
What should I do when a program says funding is gone?
Ask whether there is a waiting list, interest list, next application round, or another local sponsor. Apply to a different path at the same time when possible, such as USDA for a rural address, energy assistance for HVAC, ADRC for accessibility, or a nonprofit repair loan.
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