Last updated: July 27, 2026
Urgent Virginia help
If you smell gas, see sparks, have sewage backing into the home, or fear collapse, leave the unsafe area and call 911 or the utility. Repair programs are not emergency responders.
Cooling help is time-sensitive: As of July 27, 2026, Virginia Cooling Assistance is within its annual June 15 through August 15 application period. It can help eligible households that include a person age 60 or older, a person living with a disability, or a child under age 6. Apply through CommonHelp, call 855-635-4370, or contact your local Department of Social Services.
Bottom line
Virginia does not have one universal home repair grant for every homeowner. Help is divided among state programs, rural programs, local city and county rehabilitation offices, weatherization agencies, health departments, utilities, and nonprofits. Some options are true grants or free services. Others are loans, deferred-payment loans, forgivable loans secured by a deed of trust, tax credits, or referrals.
Match the repair to the right program and use parallel routes when eligible. A rural homeowner can contact USDA and the local housing office. A weatherization applicant deferred because of a roof or safety problem should ask about Weatherization Deferral Repair.
This guide explains the main Virginia programs, what each provides, and where to apply. See where to start and applying for repair help.
Quick reference: where to start
| Your main problem | Best first contact | What it is | Important limit |
|---|---|---|---|
| No safe heating or cooling | Virginia Energy Assistance | Seasonal benefit, equipment help, or bill help | Application windows and income rules apply |
| High bills, drafts, insulation, or inefficient HVAC | Virginia Weatherization | No-cost energy-efficiency service | Not general remodeling or rapid emergency repair |
| Roof, electrical, plumbing, structure, or ramp | Local housing office or EHARP provider | Grant-funded repair assistance | EHARP is capped at $4,000 and excluded in many entitlement localities |
| Major rural repair | USDA Section 504 | 1% loan; limited grant for homeowners age 62 or older | Home must be eligible rural property and household must be very low income |
| Failed septic system or unsafe well | Virginia SWAP | Limited grant-funded assistance and screening | The interest form is not an application or funding promise |
| Lead hazards in a pre-1978 home | Lead Hazard Reduction | No-cost inspection and lead-control work | Income, property, and child or pregnancy rules apply |
| Damage from Helene or February 2025 storms | Virginia Disaster Assistance Fund | Disaster recovery assistance through regional partners | Only designated disasters and service areas; first-come while funds remain |
Start with the right Virginia door
- Name the hazard. Say “active roof leak,” “unsafe wiring,” “failed septic system,” “no cooling,” or “wheelchair barrier,” not only “my house needs repairs.”
- Contact the local housing office. Search for housing rehabilitation, community development, owner-occupied repair, or healthy homes. The local program finder shows where to look.
- Check USDA separately. A property outside a major urban area may qualify. Review rural repair assistance and ask USDA to verify the address.
- Call before hiring. Programs usually will not pay for work started before approval, inspection, and contractor authorization.
- Keep a contact log. Record dates, names, missing documents, status, and the next follow-up date.
Phone script: “I own and live in a home in [city or county]. The urgent problem is [specific repair]. My household size is [number], and our approximate gross annual income is [amount]. Is there an open owner-occupied repair, accessibility, weatherization-deferral, or emergency program? Is it a grant, loan, deferred loan, or forgivable loan? May I join a waitlist if intake is closed?”
Dial 211 or use 2-1-1 Virginia for local referrals. Ask for home rehabilitation, emergency repair, community action, Area Agency on Aging, disability modification, and volunteer repair resources—not only “grants.”
Main Virginia home repair programs
Virginia Energy Assistance Program
Type of help: Seasonal public benefit, equipment repair or replacement, utility-bill help, and deposits. It is not a whole-house rehabilitation grant.
Households must have a heating or cooling expense and gross monthly income at or below 150% of the federal poverty guideline. Application periods differ:
- Cooling Assistance: June 15 through August 15. It may help with a window air conditioner, central air conditioner or heat-pump repair, electric bills, or deposits. The household must include a vulnerable person.
- Fuel Assistance: Opens on the second Tuesday in October and closes on the second Friday in November.
- Crisis Assistance: November 1 through March 15 for heating equipment and security deposits; January through March 15 for fuel or utility bills. The household must have a heating emergency such as no heat, unsafe equipment, or a cutoff notice.
Apply online, call 855-635-4370 weekdays from 7 a.m. to 6 p.m., or contact local Social Services. If denied, request a written notice and appeal instructions.
Weatherization Assistance and deferral repair
Type of help: No-cost energy-efficiency and health-and-safety service. Weatherization may include air sealing, insulation, ventilation, duct work, efficient lighting, carbon-monoxide and smoke alarms, and certain HVAC repairs or replacement after an energy audit.
Apply through the local nonprofit provider. Weatherization does not pay for cosmetic work, additions, or general remodeling. The provider chooses allowed measures after an energy audit.
If the agency says the home cannot be weatherized because a roof leak, moisture problem, electrical hazard, structural issue, or similar condition makes the work unsafe, ask about Weatherization Deferral Repair. WDR can fund the condition that caused the deferral, but the household must qualify for weatherization and agree to receive both the repair and the later weatherization work. It is not a separate stand-alone repair grant.
Useful question: “Was my home formally deferred from weatherization, and did you screen it for WDR?” Ask for the deferral reason in writing.
EHARP and IPR Flex
Essential Home and Accessibility Repair Program: EHARP funds local administrators to remove essential health and safety hazards and accessibility barriers. Eligible work can include plumbing, structural, electrical, roofing, wheelchair ramps, and related modifications. Household gross income cannot exceed 80% of area median income, adjusted for family size. Homeowners and tenants with written owner approval may apply. Assistance is first-come and capped at $4,000.
EHARP is not offered in federally designated entitlement jurisdictions. Excluded areas include Alexandria, Arlington, Chesapeake, Chesterfield, Fairfax, Henrico, Loudoun, Norfolk, Prince William, Richmond, Roanoke, and Virginia Beach. Residents should ask their city or county about local federal rehabilitation funds.
Indoor Plumbing Rehabilitation Flex: IPR Flex is for low- and moderate-income owner-occupants whose homes lack complete indoor plumbing or have one or more major failing systems, such as roofing, electrical, or HVAC. It can also address accessibility or overcrowding after the main eligibility conditions are met.
IPR Flex is a forgivable loan, not an immediate grant. A deed of trust is recorded, and assistance is forgiven monthly for up to 180 months. The applicant must own the house and land. Regional administrators handle intake, eligibility, inspections, and construction.
USDA Section 504 for rural homeowners
Type of help: Low-interest loan and, for qualifying homeowners age 62 or older, a limited grant. The Virginia program is listed as open and accepts applications year-round while funds are available.
Applicants must own and occupy the home, be unable to obtain affordable credit elsewhere, meet the county very-low-income limit, and live at an eligible rural address. Loans cover repairs and modernization; grants only remove health and safety hazards.
- Maximum loan: $40,000
- Loan terms: 1% fixed interest for 20 years
- Maximum regular grant: $10,000 lifetime
- Maximum grant in a presidentially declared disaster area: $15,000, when the special authority applies
- Possible combined assistance: up to $50,000, or up to $55,000 with the disaster grant authority
A grant must be repaid if the property is sold within three years. USDA may require full title service when the outstanding Section 504 loan balance exceeds $25,000. Use USDA’s eligibility site for an initial address check, but let the Rural Development office make the final determination.
USDA script: “I want to be screened for the Section 504 repair program in Virginia. Please confirm whether my address is rural, the current very-low-income limit for my household size, whether I qualify for the age-62 grant, and which forms you need before an inspection.”
Septic and well assistance through SWAP
Type of help: Limited grant-funded assistance, technical screening, or referral for failing onsite sewage systems and private wells. The Virginia Department of Health’s Septic and Well Assistance Program can support eligible repairs, replacements, connections, and related work under available funding streams.
SWAP generally targets households at or below 200% of the federal poverty guideline, although a funding source may use different geographic, income, or disadvantaged-community rules. Funding is limited and is not equally available in every health district.
SWAP no longer accepts direct applications. Submit the Homeowner Interest Form for screening. It is not an application or funding guarantee. Email VDH_SWAP_Grant@vdh.virginia.gov or contact the local health department, and ask about fee hardship relief.
Lead Hazard Reduction
Type of help: No-cost lead inspection, risk assessment, interim controls or abatement, and limited temporary relocation when required. It is a federally funded lead-safety service, not unrestricted cash.
The property must have been built before 1978 and the household generally must be at or below 80% of area median income. For an owner-occupied home, a child under age 6 must live in or regularly visit the home, or a pregnant person must live there. Rental-property rules differ and landlord participation is required.
Start with the state’s lead eligibility screener. If an online referral route says intake is over, do not assume the entire program has permanently ended. Contact the Lead Hazard Reduction office at 804-371-0671 or lhr@dhcd.virginia.gov and ask about the current referral process.
Virginia Disaster Assistance Fund
Type of help: Disaster recovery assistance distributed through local governments and regional planning district commissions. This is not a statewide repair fund for ordinary deterioration.
The current program targets qualifying losses from Tropical Storm Helene and the February 2025 storms. It may cover major home damage, private bridge work, slope stabilization, retaining walls, and structural reinforcement. Regional partners process applications first-come while funds remain.
Prepare ownership and residence proof, photo ID, insurance records, damage photos, and estimates. Report every insurance, FEMA, SBA, nonprofit, or other payment because duplicate benefits can reduce the award.
City and county programs can be the best option
Many localities run owner-occupied rehabilitation programs using federal funds. Help may be a grant, deferred loan, forgivable loan, or combination. Waitlists, property rules, and terms change locally.
| Locality and program | Type and current details | Reality check |
|---|---|---|
| Fairfax County elderly repair | Free minor repair and accessibility service for qualifying older or disabled residents; generally up to one week of labor and $1,000 in materials | Not emergency work, permitted work, major contracting, or work requiring ladders over six feet |
| Alexandria rehabilitation | No-interest deferred loan for eligible owner-occupants below the city’s current income limit; construction assistance can reach $135,000 plus approved related costs | Repayment is generally deferred for 99 years or until sale or move, whichever comes first |
| Richmond Healthy Homes | City repair assistance for eligible owner-occupied homes, focused on health, safety, accessibility, and energy needs | Current taxes, mortgage, insurance, documentation, inspection, and contractor availability can affect approval and timing |
| Renovate Norfolk | Grant-funded rehabilitation for eligible owner-occupied detached homes below 80% AMI | Waitlist selections are randomized quarterly, and the city anticipates capacity for only about 12 homes per year |
| Virginia Beach rehabilitation | Up to $30,000 as an unsecured grant; costs above that can become an unsecured five-year forgivable loan | Owner-occupancy, income, property condition, and program approval are required before work begins |
Do not copy another city’s terms. An Alexandria deferred loan, Norfolk grant, and Virginia Beach grant-plus-forgivable-loan are different programs. Apply only through the office serving the property address and read the agreement before accepting assistance.
If the local government has no open intake, ask whether it funds a nonprofit or community action agency, whether a waitlist exists, and when the next federal program year begins. Volunteer programs may help with smaller repairs; see the guide to nonprofit repair programs.
Extra routes for older adults, disability, and veterans
Older adults needing cooling
Senior Cool Care operates May 1 through October 31 for qualifying adults age 60 or older in Dominion Energy service territory. Local Area Agencies on Aging may provide a fan or window or portable air conditioner. This is an equipment service, not a bill-payment or installation program, and it does not repair an existing broken unit. Call the Virginia Department for Aging and Rehabilitative Services at 800-552-3402 for the local agency.
Accessibility modifications
The Virginia Livable Home Tax Credit is a tax credit, not an upfront grant. For an existing retrofit, it can equal 50% of eligible costs, capped at $6,500. Credits may be prorated, and unused credit can carry forward seven years. It cannot fund work before construction.
The Assistive Technology Loan Fund Authority offers home modification loans for disability-related equipment. These are repayable low-interest loans subject to credit review, not grants, and ordinary renovations may not qualify. See more disability modification help.
Veterans with qualifying disabilities
The U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs offers SAH and SHA grants for certain service-connected disabilities. Fiscal year 2026 maximums are $126,526 for SAH and $25,350 for SHA. Temporary Residence Adaptation limits are lower. Eligibility depends on disability and the housing plan.
VA’s HISA benefit is separate and can help pay for medically necessary access changes prescribed through VA health care. Compare the programs in the guide to VA housing grants before choosing an application route.
How Virginia income limits work
Income limits differ. Energy Assistance uses 150% of the federal poverty guideline. SWAP generally uses 200%, with possible added rules. EHARP, lead, and local programs often use area median income, which varies by locality and household size. USDA uses county-specific very-low-income limits.
The table below shows 2026 HHS poverty-guideline reference amounts for Virginia. A program can choose its own effective date and counting rules, so the administering office must make the final calculation.
| Household size | 150% guideline, annual | 150% guideline, monthly | 200% guideline, annual |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | $23,940 | $1,995 | $31,920 |
| 2 | $32,460 | $2,705 | $43,280 |
| 3 | $40,980 | $3,415 | $54,640 |
| 4 | $49,500 | $4,125 | $66,000 |
| 5 | $58,020 | $4,835 | $77,360 |
| 6 | $66,540 | $5,545 | $88,720 |
| 7 | $75,060 | $6,255 | $100,080 |
| 8 | $83,580 | $6,965 | $111,440 |
For each additional household member, add $8,520 at 150% or $11,360 at 200% annually. See the official HHS poverty guidelines.
Do not self-reject. Ask what counts as household income, which people belong in the household, whether the program uses gross or adjusted income, and which year’s income documentation it accepts. Area-median-income limits can be much higher than poverty-guideline limits in Northern Virginia.
Documents to prepare
- Photo identification for adult applicants
- Recorded deed, title, manufactured-home title, or other ownership proof
- Proof the home is the applicant’s primary residence
- Income records for every household member
- Current mortgage statement and property-tax status
- Homeowners insurance and flood insurance when required
- Utility bills for energy programs
- Clear photographs of the hazard and any notices from code, health, fire, or utility officials
- Repair estimates only when the program requests them
- Insurance, FEMA, SBA, and other disaster records
What happens after you apply
- Prescreening: Staff checks address, ownership, income, household, and repair type.
- Complete application: Missing signatures or records stop the file.
- Property review: An inspector identifies eligible hazards and other code or environmental issues.
- Agreement: Confirm whether help is a grant or loan and read occupancy, lien, and repayment terms.
- Contractor and permits: The agency may bid the work and approve the contractor.
- Completion: Payment usually goes to the contractor after inspection.
Before signing: “Please show me the total assistance amount, any lien or deed of trust, how and when it is forgiven, what triggers repayment, whether I must remain in the home, and who is responsible for permits, change orders, warranties, and unfinished work.”
Common reasons applications are delayed or denied
- Applying to the wrong jurisdiction: The program must serve the property address. EHARP exclusions are especially important.
- Incomplete ownership: Heirs’ property, unrecorded deeds, land contracts, title defects, and manufactured-home title issues can block funding.
- Taxes, mortgage, or insurance problems: Local programs often require these to be current or covered by an approved payment plan.
- Repair exceeds the program cap: A $4,000 EHARP award cannot cover major rehabilitation. Ask whether funds can be layered with another approved source.
- Work started too early: Programs generally cannot reimburse unapproved work.
- Property is too deteriorated: The budget may not be enough to make it safe. Ask for the written scope and another rehabilitation route.
- Waitlist or contractor shortage: Eligibility does not guarantee immediate service. Ask for your position, the next review date, and whether another provider covers the same area.
- Duplicate disaster benefits: Insurance or other assistance for the same repair must be disclosed.
If denied, request the written reason, rule used, appeal deadline, and chance to correct missing information. Ask whether the problem is eligibility, unavailable funding, waitlist placement, or property feasibility; each requires a different response.
Avoid home repair scams
- Government and nonprofit programs do not guarantee approval in exchange for an upfront “grant processing” fee.
- Do not sign over a deed, insurance check, or power of attorney to a door-to-door contractor.
- Verify that the program—not the contractor—authorized the work before construction begins.
- Read every lien, deed of trust, promissory note, and forgiveness schedule.
- Check contractor licensing and complaints through Virginia’s Department of Professional and Occupational Regulation.
- Never rely on a social-media message claiming everyone receives a fixed home repair payment.
A practical seven-day action plan
- Photograph the hazard and write a one-sentence description.
- Call the local housing or community development office.
- Call the local weatherization provider if energy or HVAC problems are involved.
- Check USDA if the property may be rural.
- Contact the health department for septic, well, or lead concerns.
- Gather income, ownership, tax, mortgage, and insurance records.
- Follow up in writing and ask for the next decision date.
Frequently asked questions
Is there one statewide home repair grant in Virginia?
No. Virginia uses several programs with different purposes, service areas, income rules, and forms of assistance. Most homeowners should contact the local housing office, weatherization provider, and USDA when the property is rural.
Can a Virginia program replace my roof?
Possibly. EHARP can cover roofing within its $4,000 cap, local rehabilitation programs may fund larger roof work, and USDA Section 504 can finance eligible rural repairs. Weatherization Deferral Repair may help only when the roof condition caused a weatherization deferral.
Is Weatherization Assistance an emergency HVAC program?
No. Weatherization is an energy-efficiency service with an audit, approved measures, and scheduling. Virginia Cooling or Crisis Assistance may be a better seasonal route for an immediate heating or cooling emergency.
Will I have to repay home repair assistance?
It depends. Weatherization, lead work, some local programs, and qualifying USDA grants do not normally require regular repayment. USDA loans must be repaid. Deferred or forgivable local loans can become repayable after a sale, move, transfer, refinance, or violation of occupancy terms.
Can a renter apply for repair help?
Some programs serve renters with owner participation, including weatherization, lead hazard reduction, and EHARP with written owner approval. Most owner-occupied rehabilitation and USDA Section 504 assistance require the applicant to own and occupy the home.
What should I do when intake is closed?
Ask whether there is a waitlist, cancellation list, partner agency, next funding round, or another program for the same repair. Call 2-1-1 Virginia and the local community action agency, and keep checking because funding periods and contractor capacity change.
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