Home Repair Grants in New York (2026 Guide)

Where to Start in New York

Start with the address, not the program name. A repair program may cover one city, several ZIP codes, one county, or only a targeted neighborhood. Two homeowners with the same income and repair need may have different options because they live on opposite sides of a city or county line.

Open the state active-grants page and look under your county and area served. Call the listed local administrator and ask whether homeowner applications are open now. If the list has no program for your address, call your municipal housing or community-development office and 211 New York. Ask about Community Development Block Grant, HOME, Affordable Housing Corporation, RESTORE, Access to Home, Targeted Home Improvement Program, well and septic, and manufactured-home funds.

Examples of Current Regional Contacts

The contacts below appeared on the state’s active-grant list reviewed in May 2026. They are examples, not a complete list. Funding can close after money is committed, and some awards cover only selected neighborhoods.

When no award appears for your area, check again later. Local governments and nonprofits apply for new state and federal rounds. A deadline shown on a state funding page may be for the local agency, not for homeowners. For example, the 2026 HOME Local funding round is for eligible organizations. It is not a statewide homeowner application.

Main Statewide Programs

Local CDBG, HOME, AHC and T-HIP Repair Programs

Local programs may cover roofs, wiring, plumbing, heating, structural hazards, code violations, wells, septic systems, and accessibility work. Funds may come from Community Development Block Grant (CDBG), HOME, the Affordable Housing Corporation (AHC), or the Targeted Home Improvement Program (T-HIP).

Type of help: Local rules control. Assistance may be a grant, zero-interest deferred loan, forgivable loan, or regular loan. The state confirms that CDBG can fund repairs. The HOME program generally serves households at or below 80% of area median income and can require an affordability period.

How to apply: Apply to the local administrator, not HCR. The T-HIP page lists targeted communities, and the AHC grantee list identifies organizations doing home improvement work.

Limit: Funds may be restricted by neighborhood, repair type, or priority group. A local program may require bids, choose the contractor, and record a mortgage, declaration, or lien. Ask for written terms.

RESTORE Emergency Repairs for Homeowners Age 60+

RESTORE helps senior homeowners correct an emergency or code violation that threatens health, safety, or livability, such as failed heat, dangerous wiring, serious plumbing failure, or unsafe steps. Cosmetic work does not qualify.

• Homeowner is age 60 or older.
• Home is the owner-occupied primary residence.
• Household income is no more than 100% of area median income.

Type of help: Grant-funded repair assistance through a local administrator. The state project cap is up to $20,000, but a local award may be lower.

How to apply: Find an administrator on the RESTORE page. Do not start work before approval. A property declaration or other recorded document may be required.

Access to Home Disability Modifications

Access to Home pays for disability-related changes such as ramps, lifts, handrails, widened doors, roll-in showers, and accessible kitchens.

Who may qualify: The resident must have a documented substantial limitation. Income is generally at or below 80% of area median income. A qualifying wartime-disabled veteran may be allowed up to 120%. The home may be owned or rented, but it must be the person’s primary residence.

Type and application: This is a locally administered accessibility grant, not general rehabilitation. Use the Access to Home page to find an administrator and ask about disability proof, landlord approval, assessment, bids, and ownership papers.

Weatherization Assistance Program

New York’s Weatherization Assistance Program serves all 62 counties. An approved provider may perform an energy audit, insulation, air sealing, heating-system work, ventilation, and related health and safety measures. Homeowners and renters may qualify.

Eligibility and type: Income is generally limited to 60% of state median income. Seniors, families with children, and people with disabilities receive priority. HEAP or certain benefits may establish income eligibility. This is a no-cost service paid to an approved provider, not cash to the household.

How to apply: Find the county provider on the state weatherization page. Major roof, mold, wiring, pest, or structural problems can cause deferral. Ask whether Weatherization Readiness Funds or a local repair program can clear the problem.

EmPower+ Energy Improvements

EmPower+ offers a no-cost energy assessment, direct-install measures, and incentives for approved insulation, air sealing, heat pumps, heat-pump water heaters, and electrical upgrades tied to the energy project.

Type and amount: This is an energy service and incentive, not a general repair grant. Eligible low-income single-family projects may receive up to 100% of approved cost, capped at $12,000 upstate or $14,000 downstate. Moderate-income projects may receive 50%, capped at $6,000 upstate or $7,000 downstate.

Eligibility: Owners and renters of one- to four-family homes may apply. Low-income generally means no more than 60% of state or area median income, whichever is higher; moderate-income extends to 80%. Limits vary by county and household size.

How to apply: Use the EmPower+ page or call 1-866-NYSERDA. The program will not reimburse completed work, and the assessment controls what is approved.

HEAP Heating Equipment Repair or Replacement

The seasonal HEAP Heating Equipment Repair and Replacement benefit may repair or replace the furnace, boiler, or other equipment needed for the primary heat source.

Type and amount: It pays an approved vendor; it is not cash or reimbursement. Published 2025-2026 limits were $4,000 for repair and $8,000 for replacement.

Eligibility: The applicant must own and live in the home, be age 60 or older, complete an interview, and meet HEAP income and resource rules.

Status and application: Regular HEAP closed April 10, 2026, and cooling assistance closed June 5. HERR is seasonal, so ask the local district whether it is open and funded. Use the HERR page or call 1-800-342-3009. Approval is required before work starts.

USDA Section 504 for Rural Homeowners

USDA Section 504 accepts New York applications year-round for eligible rural homes. The applicant must own and occupy the home, meet the county very-low-income limit, be unable to get affordable credit elsewhere, and live at an eligible rural address. A grant applicant must be age 62 or older and unable to repay a loan.

Type and amount: Loans are up to $40,000 at 1% fixed interest for 20 years. Grants are up to $10,000 for health-and-safety hazards. Combined help may reach $50,000. In a presidentially declared disaster area, the grant can reach $15,000 and combined help $55,000.

Repayment: Loans are repaid. A grant has a lifetime limit and must be repaid if the property is sold within three years. Full title service is required when outstanding Section 504 loans exceed $25,000.

How to apply: Check the address, income limit, forms, and office on the official New York Section 504 page. Our Section 504 guide explains the process.

Manufactured Home Replacement

The Mobile and Manufactured Home Replacement Program may cover removal of a dilapidated unit, purchase and site preparation for a replacement, permits, testing, and temporary relocation.

Eligibility and type: The home must be the owner’s primary residence, the owner must own the land, and income must not exceed 80% of area median income. Help is grant reimbursement through a local administrator, not a statewide direct application. A note, mortgage, or declaration may apply.

How to apply: Check the MMHR page and active-grant list.

New York City Home Repair Programs

HomeFix: HomeFix is accepting applications from eligible owners of one- to four-family homes. Condos and co-ops are excluded. The owner must occupy the home at least 270 days per year, have no second property within 100 miles, have no reverse mortgage, and meet the 165% area-median-income limit.

HomeFix offers up to $60,000 for one unit, $90,000 for two, $120,000 for three, or $150,000 for four. Terms may be 0% to 5% interest, amortizing, deferred, or potentially forgivable. This is a loan program, not an automatic grant. Apply on the HomeFix page or call 646-513-3470.

Project HELP: NYC describes a potentially forgivable emergency repair loan up to $20,000 for qualifying owners, generally up to 120% of area median income, with an approved housing deficiency. Neighborhood Housing Services offices administer it, and funds are limited.

Lead Hazard Reduction: Eligible owners of pre-1960 buildings may receive a grant for lead-paint hazards. Grants average about $20,000 per apartment. Income, child or pregnancy, inspection, and five-year occupancy or regulatory rules apply. See the lead grant page or call 212-863-8860.

For help choosing a program, call the NYC Homeowner Hub at 646-786-0888. Counseling is a service, not repair money.

Help for Seniors, Disabled People, Veterans and Tribal Households

Older adults: RESTORE is the main state emergency-repair program limited to homeowners age 60 or older. A local Office for the Aging may also screen for EISEP. EISEP is not a repair grant, but limited repairs or assistive devices may be available when they support safe independent living. Call NY Connects at 1-800-342-9871 or review the EISEP rules. See our senior repair guide.

Disabled residents: Use Access to Home for disability-related modifications. Gather a statement describing the functional need. Our disability modification guide lists other paths.

Veterans: Ask a local HCR partner about Access to Home for Heroes. Also check VA Specially Adapted Housing, Special Home Adaptation, and HISA benefits in our VA modification guide.

Tribal households: The Bureau of Indian Affairs Housing Improvement Program is a grant safety net for eligible members of federally recognized tribes in approved service areas. The home must be substandard, no other resource can be available, and income generally cannot exceed 150% of the federal poverty guideline. It is not an entitlement. Start with the tribal housing office and the BIA application.

Storm and Disaster Repair Help

File an insurance claim first when damage may be covered. Take photos before cleanup, keep receipts, and do only the emergency work needed to prevent more damage. Do not sign over an insurance check or agree to a large repair loan at the door.

New York’s Rapid Response Home Repair program can provide grants of up to $50,000 after selected storms, but only for named events, qualifying counties, income-eligible primary residences, and costs not covered by insurance or other recovery money. The current state page said its listed application periods were closed when this guide was checked.

A separate federal option is open for damage from the May 20, 2026 severe storms and flooding. The Small Business Administration made low-interest physical-damage loans available in Bronx, Kings, Nassau, New York, Queens and Richmond counties. The physical-property application deadline is August 31, 2026. This is a loan, not a grant. Apply through the official SBA disaster notice or call 1-800-659-2955.

For insurance questions after a disaster, call the New York Department of Financial Services disaster hotline at 1-800-339-1759. If a new storm occurs, check local emergency management, FEMA, HCR, and 211 rather than relying on an older disaster program page.

Documents and Application Steps

Most programs ask for photo ID; primary-residence proof; deed, title, life-estate, or trust papers; mortgage, tax, and insurance records; income for every household member; benefit letters; utility bills; repair photos or violations; and age, disability, veteran, insurance, or disaster papers when relevant. Use our repair document checklist.

Delays, Denials and Backup Options

Common barriers include no active award, exhausted funds, income outside the limit, unclear ownership, tax or insurance problems, unapproved work, repair cost above the cap, or a home too deteriorated for the program. Weatherization may defer a home for roof leaks, mold, unsafe wiring, pests, or structural failure.

Ask for a denial reason in writing, whether the file can be corrected, and whether reconsideration, appeal, or a waiting list exists. For free help with title, deed theft, mortgage trouble, foreclosure, or a repair lien, call Homeowner Protection at 1-855-466-3456 or visit Homeowner Help NY. It provides counseling and legal services, not repair funding.

When no grant is open, try no-cost energy help, a local deferred or forgivable loan, USDA’s 1% rural loan, a nonprofit repair loan, or a volunteer referral through 211 before private financing. See our where-to-start guide.

Contractor and Financing Warnings

New York requires a written contract for home-improvement work over $500. It should name the contractor, work, materials, price, payment schedule, and dates. Consumers generally have three business days to cancel in writing. Never pay the full price up front.

Contractors must be licensed in New York City, Nassau, Suffolk, Westchester, Putnam and Rockland counties, and Buffalo. Verify the license, insurance, and references. Read the Attorney General’s contractor guidance and our repair scam guide.