Whole-Home Repairs Act: Is There a New Federal Home Repair Grant to Apply For?

Last updated: October 21, 2026

What Did Congress Actually Approve?

The Whole-Home Repairs Act was included in Public Law 119-101. It is Section 202 of a larger housing law.

Earlier bills with similar names were introduced in 2024 and 2025. Those older bill pages are not the final rules. Use the 2026 law when checking a claim.

The law authorizes a pilot run by the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD). HUD would give awards to groups that run repair programs. These could be states or local governments. Those groups could work with tribes and approved nonprofit partners.

These groups would offer grants to eligible owners. The work must not be covered by other federal repair programs. It also sets up loans, which may be forgiven, for certain small landlords. A landlord loan is not a homeowner grant.

The law speaks of agencies that receive grants from funds appropriated for the pilot. Section 1202 says the Act does not allow added funds for these tasks. The law itself does not give owners money. It does not set up an intake office.

These checks do not mean that all other repair programs are closed. Other home repair programs exist. They have their own money and rules. For a wider view, see how repair assistance works.

How much would the federal pilot pay?

The enacted law does not set one dollar amount for each homeowner. The limit should reflect local repair costs. It should also fit the work the home needs. HUD would need to calculate and approve that limit.

The law does not promise each owner a $50,000 grant. That claim is not in the final law.

The law allows two to ten pilot agency awards in a funding year. The number would depend on funds and applications.

It also limits each state to one such organization. This is a small pilot. It does not promise an open program in each county.

Who Might Qualify if the Pilot Receives Funds?

The income rule has two paths. One is income at or below 80% of area median income. The other is income eligibility under certain benefit programs.

The list includes Medicaid, CHIP, SSI, SNAP, and TANF. These are health, food, income, and family aid programs.

Area median income means a local income figure used for housing programs. It varies by place and household size. Being on a listed benefit may help show income eligibility under the law. It does not make anyone approved for a repair grant.

• You may fit if you own and live in the home. It must be your main home.
• It also includes some owners of mobile or factory-built homes. Some co-op owners may fit too.
• People with an inherited share of a home may also fit. So may some owners on trust land.
• A vacation home is not a main home. Nor is a unit you rent to others.
• Meeting the income or ownership rules is not enough. You are not assured a grant or a waitlist spot.

The law has a path for some small landlords. They must have fewer than ten eligible properties and no more than 25 units. A landlord loan would be secured by a property lien.

The law allows forgiveness within three years if the landlord meets the terms. These include rent and tenant protections. Forgiveness is not automatic.

What repairs does the law describe?

Its repair list is broad. It covers safety needs and easier home access. It also covers work that saves energy or water.

This may include ramps, rails, and safer bathrooms. The goal is to make a home safe to live in.

But a listed repair is not yet an approved claim. The pilot would pay for work other U.S. repair programs do not cover. The local office would check for other aid. The same job should not be paid for twice.

There may be an inspection and a written work plan before any job begins. The pilot text also has rules for unfinished work and unused funds. Ask for written rules before you hire a worker or spend money.

Where Would Homeowners Apply?

We found no open national form for homeowners under this new pilot. If HUD awards pilot funds later, a local group would need to set up its own intake. That would come next. Homeowners would follow that group’s rules, not a form sent by an ad.

Do not file an agency grant request on behalf of your household. The pilot law describes applications that implementing organizations would send to HUD. That is not the same as asking a local office for home repairs.

HUD already has a community development program office that covers many housing funds. Its 2026 formula funding list covers CDBG and HOME. Neither page is a homeowner application for the new pilot.

Is This the Same as Pennsylvania Whole-Home Repairs?

No. Pennsylvania has a Whole-Home Repairs Program that began before the new federal law. Pennsylvania used federal COVID-19 relief funds.

Its state leaders approved the program. The state sends money to approved county agencies.

People ask the agency for their county about local intake.

Under Pennsylvania’s program rules, a homeowner grant may reach $50,000 per unit. Some small landlords may get loans up to that amount. That $50,000 figure belongs to Pennsylvania’s program. It is not the amount promised by the new federal pilot.

Pennsylvania has a county agency contact list. It lists the groups to ask.

A county on this list may have no funds left. It may have closed intake. Call and check today’s status.

For more help paths in that state, use our Pennsylvania repair program guide. If you live outside Pennsylvania, do not apply through its county offices. The new federal pilot is a separate plan.

Where Can You Seek Real Repair Help Now?

Do not hold an unsafe repair while a new federal pilot is still unverified. Start with programs that already have a named agency and an application route. Ask about the type of aid and whether your local office is taking requests.

City or county home repair programs

Some local governments use HUD Community Development Block Grant (CDBG) or HOME Investment Partnerships funds to repair owner-occupied housing. HUD’s CDBG program overview and HOME program details show how money goes to state and local groups.

Local aid may be a grant or a direct repair service. It may also be a deferred or forgivable loan. Funding can be closed even when the federal program exists. Our local CDBG and HOME guide gives the longer application steps.

USDA Section 504 for an eligible rural home

USDA has its own rural repair program. It serves eligible owners with very low income who cannot get fair-priced credit. Its Section 504 program page lists loans up to $40,000. It also lists grants up to $10,000 for eligible owners age 62 or older.

The loan has repayment terms. The grant is for health and safety risks and has a three-year sale rule.

USDA lists the program as open nationally. Check local funds, income rules, and wait times before you apply. Read our USDA Section 504 guide before you apply.

Weatherization for energy and heating needs

The Department of Energy’s Weatherization Assistance Program is not a cash home repair grant. A local provider checks the home. It then picks work that saves energy or makes related systems safer. Both renters and owners may be eligible.

Use the official weatherization application guide to find the state office and local provider. The work may include air sealing, insulation, or certain heating system tasks. It is not a promise to replace an old roof. Our state weatherization application guide explains the steps.

211 and housing counselors

United Way 211 is a referral service. It does not award this new federal pilot grant. Ask about open city repair programs and emergency work. Also ask about senior, Community Action, and nonprofit help.

A HUD-approved housing counselor can help sort out some repair loans, housing debt, and foreclosure risks. You can call 1-800-569-4287 to seek a counseling agency. Counseling is advice and support, not a grant award.

For a full starting path, see where to start for repairs. Need your local housing office? Use our local home repair finder guide.

Check the Type of Help Before You Agree

Never sign a loan because someone calls it a grant. Ask for the total debt and interest rate. Check when you must pay.

Ask what happens if you move. A home used as security can be at risk if payments fail.

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