Last updated: July 28, 2026
Leave first when there is immediate danger.
- If a carbon monoxide alarm sounds, several people feel dizzy or sick, you see fire or heavy smoke, or you smell gas, get everyone outside. Call 911 from fresh air. Do not stay inside to find the source.
- If floodwater is near outlets, wiring, a breaker panel, or appliances, stay out of the water. Call the fire department or electric utility for emergency guidance.
- If a child may have swallowed paint chips or had a major lead exposure, call the child’s health care provider or Poison Help at 1-800-222-1222.
Bottom Line: There is no single nationwide grant that pays for every lead, mold, smoke alarm, or carbon monoxide problem. Start with the danger itself. Then contact the local health, housing, fire, weatherization, rural housing, insurance, or disaster program that matches the cause. Some help is a grant or free service. Other help is a loan, insurance benefit, or referral. Get approval before hiring a contractor unless emergency work cannot wait.
Lead dust, mold, fire, and carbon monoxide can make a home unsafe. They also require different repairs. A free smoke alarm program may install alarms but will not replace a cracked furnace. A lead program may control lead paint but not repair an unrelated roof leak.
This guide shows what to do first, what type of help may be available, and where to apply. It is for homeowners and renters across the United States. Local funding, landlord duties, alarm laws, and income rules vary.
Contents
Match the Problem to the Right Help
| Problem | First action | Likely help | Type |
|---|---|---|---|
| Lead paint or dust | Keep children away. Do not sand or scrape. | Local lead or health program | Grant, inspection, or repair service |
| Mold after a leak | Stop the water source and dry wet areas. | Insurance, housing repair, or weatherization | Benefit, grant, loan, or service |
| No working alarms | Install alarms now if you can. | Fire department or Red Cross | Free service where available |
| Unsafe furnace, vent, chimney, or wiring | Stop using equipment if told it is unsafe. | Weatherization, LIHEAP, housing repair, or USDA | Service, grant, or loan |
| Declared-disaster damage | Document damage and contact insurance. | FEMA, USDA, or local recovery help | Grant, service, loan, or insurance |
Use this order:
- Protect people. Leave during a fire, CO event, gas leak, electrical danger, or serious health emergency.
- Stop the source. Shut off water when safe. Stop using unsafe fuel-burning equipment. Do not disturb suspected lead paint.
- Document the problem. Take photos and note dates, leaks, odors, symptoms, alarms, and inspection findings.
- Call the right office. Start with health for lead, fire for alarms, and housing or weatherization for repairs.
- Confirm the terms. Ask whether help is a grant, loan, deferred loan, free service, insurance benefit, or referral.
- Wait for approval. Nonemergency work completed before inspection may not be covered.
Lead Paint and Lead Dust Help
Homes built before 1978 may contain lead-based paint. Risk rises when paint peels, cracks, rubs, or is disturbed during repairs. Dust often collects around windows, doors, floors, stairs, and porches.
Do not dry-sand, burn, or aggressively scrape suspected lead paint. Most paid renovation work that disturbs paint in pre-1978 homes must follow the EPA’s lead-safe renovation rules. Check contractors with the EPA certified firm locator.
Protect children and pregnant people
Lead exposure may have no clear symptoms. A blood test is the best way to check a child. Ask a pediatrician or health department about testing, or review CDC blood lead testing guidance.
- Keep children away from paint chips, dust, and work areas.
- Use damp cleaning methods. Do not sweep lead dust dry.
- Wash hands and toys often, especially before meals and sleep.
- Ask how the contractor will contain dust and clean the area.
Local lead programs
HUD funds states, tribes, local governments, and nonprofits to control lead and other home hazards. Households apply to a local grantee, not directly to HUD. The Healthy Homes page describes these awards.
Local help may include an inspection, paint stabilization, window work, cleaning, or temporary relocation. It may be a grant, repair service, loan, or owner-assisted project. Rules vary, but many programs target low-income households in pre-1978 homes, especially where a young child or pregnant person lives or visits.
See our lead paint help guide for more detail.
Call script: “My home was built around [year]. Paint is damaged in [area], and [a young child/pregnant person] lives here or visits. Do you have lead hazard help? Is it a grant, loan, or service, and must I wait for an inspection?”
Lead information: Call 1-800-424-LEAD (5323), Monday through Friday, 8:00 a.m. to 6:00 p.m. Eastern Time, except federal holidays.
Renters
Report the hazard to the landlord in writing and save photos and messages. Ask the health or housing code office about an inspection. Do not withhold rent or pay for major work and deduct it without local legal advice.
Mold and Water Damage Help
Mold returns when moisture remains. The real repair may be a roof, pipe, drain, foundation, bathroom fan, or heating and cooling problem. Cleaning the wall without stopping the water is not a lasting fix.
CDC guidance says to dry wet materials within 24 to 48 hours when possible. Routine testing is usually not the first expense. EPA says visible mold normally does not need sampling and there are no federal indoor mold limits. See EPA mold testing guidance.
EPA does not certify mold companies. Some states regulate this work. Check state rules, insurance, training, references, and complaint history. EPA explains how to check mold professionals.
When not to clean it yourself
Get trained help for sewage, large or hidden areas, major flood damage, structural damage, or mold in heating and cooling systems. People with asthma, COPD, immune suppression, serious allergies, or lung disease should not clean mold or stay in the work area.
For smaller safe cleanup, CDC recommends at least an approved N95 respirator, gloves, and sealed goggles. Never mix bleach with ammonia or another cleaner. Read the CDC cleanup guidance.
Who may pay
- Insurance: Coverage depends on the cause and policy. Report damage promptly and ask for the decision in writing.
- Local repair programs: A city, county, tribe, or nonprofit may fund the roof, plumbing, drainage, or ventilation source. Help may be a grant or loan.
- Weatherization: Limited safety work may be allowed when needed for energy work. Major moisture or structural damage can cause a deferral.
- Disaster aid: FEMA or recovery funds may help with disaster-caused damage, not ordinary maintenance.
- Landlord repair: Renters should report leaks in writing and ask code, health, or legal aid for help if the owner does not act.
Local CDBG repair programs may use grants, loans, or deferred-payment help.
Call script: “I have mold or water damage from [cause]. Does your program pay for the source repair or cleanup? What type of help is it, and must an inspector see the damage before I remove anything?”
Insurance tip: Take photos first when safe. Save receipts for drying, tarps, or temporary housing. Do not delay emergency work needed to prevent injury or greater damage.
Smoke Alarm and Carbon Monoxide Alarm Help
Do not wait for a grant if you can install approved alarms now. Follow the maker’s directions and local fire code.
Smoke alarms
USFA recommends alarms inside every bedroom, outside each sleeping area, and on every level, including the basement. Interconnected alarms are best. Test monthly and replace smoke alarms 10 years after manufacture. See federal smoke alarm guidance.
Some fire departments install battery alarms for free. Call the nonemergency number. The Red Cross alarm program also offers free visits and installation in participating areas.
Carbon monoxide alarms
CPSC recommends CO alarms with battery backup on every level and outside sleeping areas. If one sounds or people have headache, dizziness, weakness, nausea, sleepiness, or confusion, go outside and call 911.
Use generators outside only, at least 20 feet from the home, with exhaust facing away. Review CPSC CO safety. Replace CO alarms by the date or schedule in their instructions.
People who cannot hear alarms
Strobe lights, bed shakers, and other alert devices may help. Ask the fire department, disability agency, aging office, or nonprofit. USFA offers accessible alarm guidance.
Call script: “I need help with the cost or installation of [smoke/CO] alarms. Do you offer free alarms or a safety visit? Do you have equipment for someone who is deaf or hard of hearing?”
Programs That May Pay for the Repair
Apply to options that match the hazard, location, ownership, income, and cause. Ask whether applications are open and whether help creates a lien or repayment duty.
| Source | May cover | Type | Main limit |
|---|---|---|---|
| Local lead or Healthy Homes program | Lead control and related safety work | Grant, service, inspection, or loan | Funded areas and target households only |
| Local housing repair | Roof, plumbing, electrical, heating, ventilation, or code work | Grant, deferred loan, forgivable loan, or loan | Ownership, title, taxes, insurance, bids, or lien rules |
| Weatherization | Energy work and limited related safety measures | No-cost service | Major roof, mold, or structural problems may cause deferral |
| LIHEAP crisis help | Heating or cooling crisis and minor energy-related repair where offered | Benefit, vendor payment, or service | State and tribal rules vary |
| USDA Section 504 | Rural repairs and safety hazards | 1% loan; grant for eligible owners age 62+ | Very-low income and other USDA rules |
| FEMA | Limited disaster repair to make a primary home safe and functional | Disaster grant or direct help | Declared disaster, insurance, and duplication rules |
| USDA disaster fund | Qualifying disaster repair | Grant up to $32,420 | Eligible disaster, income, home, and location |
| Fire department or Red Cross | Alarms, installation, and safety education | Free service | Usually not source repair |
| Insurance | Covered damage, cleanup, belongings, or lodging | Insurance benefit | Deductibles, exclusions, and deadlines |
Weatherization and LIHEAP
Weatherization is run by states, tribes, and local providers. Federal guidelines treat households at or below 200% of poverty or receiving Supplemental Security Income as income-eligible. A state may use a LIHEAP standard up to 60% of state median income. Local rules decide final eligibility.
Owners and renters may apply; renters usually need owner permission. Priority may go to older adults, people with disabilities, families with children, and high-energy-burden households. Use the official weatherization application page. Weatherization is a service, not cash. Ask whether unsafe combustion equipment, ventilation, wiring, or venting fits the approved energy work. See our LIHEAP repair guide for energy emergencies.
USDA Section 504
Very-low-income rural homeowners who occupy the home and cannot obtain affordable credit may qualify. Loans can repair or modernize a home or remove hazards. Grants are for eligible owners age 62 or older and must remove health and safety hazards.
- Loan maximum: $40,000, up to 20 years at fixed 1% interest.
- Regular grant maximum: $10,000.
- Qualifying presidential-disaster grant maximum: $15,000.
- Grants generally must be repaid if the home is sold within three years.
Applications go through local USDA offices year-round, subject to funds. See the official Section 504 page and our Section 504 guide.
Current USDA disaster fund
USDA lists its Single Family Housing Disaster Assistance Fund as open through September 30, 2026. It may provide up to $32,420 to eligible very-low- or low-income owner-occupants with damage from a qualifying declared disaster. Location and no-duplication rules apply. Verify the disaster and address on the USDA disaster page.
FEMA after a declared disaster
FEMA is not a general mold or alarm grant. After an eligible federal disaster, it may help make an owner-occupied primary home safe, sanitary, and functional when insurance does not cover the need. Apply at DisasterAssistance.gov. Our FEMA repair guide explains inspections and duplication rules.
Where and How to Apply
No list contains every local fund. Try several routes.
- Call 211. Dial 211 or use local 211. Ask for repair, lead, mold, weatherization, fire safety, shelter, and legal aid.
- Call local government. Ask housing, community development, health, code, or aging offices about owner and renter programs.
- Call the fire department. Use the nonemergency number for alarm programs, safety visits, disability devices, and code rules.
- Call weatherization. Ask whether applications are open and whether roof, mold, wiring, or structural problems could cause deferral.
- Call USDA for a rural home. Ask staff to check the address, county income limit, and repair.
- Ask for aging help. Call Eldercare Locator at 1-800-677-1116 or use its local search.
Use our local program search and application checklist.
Documents to gather
- Identification and proof of ownership or a lease
- Income and benefit records for household members
- Property tax, insurance, and mortgage information if required
- Photos, videos, inspection reports, and repair estimates
- Home age for lead help and disaster or insurance records when relevant
- Do not send identity or bank records to an unverified person.
What Happens After You Apply
Staff may check income, ownership, service area, taxes, insurance, and program fit before an inspector, energy auditor, lead assessor, or contractor visits. The agency may write the scope and seek bids. Lead, electrical, plumbing, heating, and structural work may require certified or licensed contractors and permits.
Wait for written approval. Except for urgent work needed to protect life or stop greater damage, do not sign or start until the program confirms the cost is eligible.
Read every document. Deferred or forgivable loans may place a lien on the home and become due after a sale, refinance, transfer, rental, or move. Keep a call log and follow up as directed because waitlists and funding limits are common.
If You Are Denied, Delayed, or Cannot Stay Safely
Ask for the decision and exact rule in writing. Common issues include income, location, title, taxes, insurance, missing documents, repair scope, prior aid, or no funds. Ask whether you may appeal, correct the file, join a waitlist, or request a smaller emergency repair.
- Provide proof to correct errors before the review deadline.
- Ask whether another program can fix the problem causing a deferral.
- Try housing, Community Action, USDA, insurance, nonprofits, and 211.
- For an unsafe home tonight, call 211 for shelter. After a fire or disaster, contact the Red Cross.
Renters can ask legal aid about repair duties, code complaints, retaliation, and relocation. Use the Legal Services locator.
Avoid Scams and Unsafe Financing
The federal government does not offer a general “free money” repair grant. USAGov repair guidance warns that these claims are often scams. Real programs have written rules, applications, and inspections.
Stop when someone:
- guarantees a grant or charges a fee to release government money;
- pressures you after a storm or wants full payment in cash;
- asks you to sign a blank contract, deed, power of attorney, insurance check, or loan form;
- says its own mold test proves you must hire it immediately;
- hides the interest rate, total cost, lien, fees, or default risk.
Get written estimates, verify licenses and insurance, and use a contract that lists work, materials, permits, payments, and cleanup. Follow FTC advice to avoid contractor scams.
Home equity, reverse mortgage, property-assessed, credit card, and contractor financing are debts. Before pledging the home, call a HUD-approved counselor at 1-800-569-4287 or use HUD’s counselor search. See our guide to senior repair scams.
A Simple 48-Hour Action Plan
- Today: make the home safer. Leave during an active fire or CO danger. Keep children away from damaged lead paint. Stop the water source when safe. Install working alarms if you can.
- Today: document the hazard. Take photos, save alarm or inspection information, write down symptoms and dates, and notify the landlord or insurer in writing when relevant.
- Today: make three calls. Call the local health or housing office, the fire department’s nonemergency line, and 211. Rural homeowners should also contact USDA.
- Tomorrow: submit applications. Send complete documents to every program that fits. Ask whether an inspection must happen before cleanup or repair.
- Tomorrow: build a backup. Ask about a smaller emergency repair, nonprofit labor, legal aid, insurance review, temporary housing, and the next funding cycle.
Frequently Asked Questions
Is there one grant for lead, mold, smoke alarms, and carbon monoxide repairs?
No. These hazards usually use different local programs. Lead help may come from a local HUD-funded program. Mold help often depends on fixing the water source through insurance or a housing repair program. Fire departments and the Red Cross may install alarms. Weatherization, USDA, or local repair funds may help with unsafe heating, venting, wiring, or structural conditions.
Should I pay for mold testing before asking for help?
Usually not when mold is already visible. EPA and CDC guidance says routine testing is generally unnecessary because there are no federal indoor mold limits. First document the damage, stop the moisture source, and ask the program or insurer whether it requires a specific inspection. Hidden mold, a legal dispute, or a complex health concern may require professional assessment.
Can renters use these programs?
Sometimes. Renters may qualify for weatherization, free alarm programs, health department services, or disaster help, but the landlord may need to approve repair work. Local law may require the landlord to correct hazards. Report the problem in writing and ask the health, housing code, fire, or legal aid office about the next step.
Will a free alarm program also repair my furnace or wiring?
Usually not. A fire department or Red Cross visit may provide alarms, installation, and safety education. A furnace, chimney, vent, water heater, or wiring problem normally requires a separate weatherization, energy crisis, housing repair, insurance, or landlord repair process.
Can USDA Section 504 pay for these safety hazards?
It may. Eligible very-low-income rural homeowners can use Section 504 loans for repairs and health or safety hazards. Eligible homeowners age 62 or older may receive a grant for hazard removal. The home, income, ownership, credit, age, funding, and repair must meet USDA rules.
What can I do when no local program is open?
Ask to join a waitlist or notification list and request referrals. Try 211, the local housing and health departments, Community Action, USDA Rural Development, weatherization, the fire department, insurance, legal aid, aging or disability agencies, and nonprofit repair groups. Ask whether a smaller emergency repair can make the home safe while you wait.
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 28, 2026 | Next review: October 28, 2026