Aging in Place Grants

CDBG Home Repair and Accessibility Programs (Community Development Block Grants)

Updated October 18, 2026 · By the Aging in Place Grants research desk · How we research

Your city or county may use federal Community Development Block Grant money for home repair grants or loans, including ramps and barrier removal.

At a glance

Key amounts (check the source for the current figure)
Share of CDBG funds that must benefit low- and moderate-income peopleAt least 70% (over 1-3 years)

What it can pay for

  • Ramps and other changes that remove barriers for elderly or severely disabled residents
  • Bathroom accessibility changes
  • Roof, heating, plumbing and electrical repairs
  • Fixing code violations and safety hazards
  • Repairs paid as grants, low-interest loans, deferred loans or other forms, depending on the local program

Who qualifies

  • Homeowners (and in some programs, renters) whose household income is at or below HUD's low- and moderate-income limit for their area
  • For a single-family home, the household living in it must be low- or moderate-income; age or disability alone is not enough
  • You must live in the area served by the city, county or state program
  • Each local program sets its own priorities, caps and waitlists

How to apply

  1. Search your city or county website for 'housing rehabilitation,' 'home repair program' or 'community development.'
  2. If you live in a small town or rural county, ask your county office whether it gets State CDBG money for home repair.
  3. Call the program and ask if applications are open, whether there is a waitlist, and what the income limit is for your household size.
  4. Gather proof of income for everyone in the home, proof of ownership, and homeowner's insurance and tax records.
  5. Expect an inspection of the home and a scope of work written by the program.
  6. Sign the grant or loan papers before work starts. Read any repayment or lien terms closely.

Watch out for

  • HUD does not give CDBG help to individuals directly. You must go through your local government or its partners.
  • Many programs open for a short window each year and then close when funds are committed.
  • Some 'grants' are actually deferred or forgivable loans that must be repaid if you sell or move within a set time.
  • Programs may require fixing serious code problems first, which can use up part of the budget.
  • If HUD's local office is your last resort, ask it which local agency runs CDBG where you live.

What CDBG is

The Community Development Block Grant program, or CDBG, is federal money that HUD sends to cities, counties and states each year. Local governments decide how to spend it within federal rules.

Many communities use part of their CDBG money for home repair programs. Some of those programs focus on older homeowners and people with disabilities. That makes CDBG one of the most common sources of local home repair grants in the country.

Who gets the money

Larger cities and counties

Cities that are the main city of a metro area, other cities with at least 50,000 people, and urban counties with at least 200,000 people get CDBG money straight from HUD. These are called "entitlement" communities 2.

Smaller towns and rural areas

Cities under 50,000 and counties under 200,000 usually get CDBG money through their state. 49 states and Puerto Rico run a State CDBG program. Hawaii does not, so HUD runs it there for the smaller counties 3. Each state sets its own priorities and decides how to share out the money 3.

You cannot apply to HUD

HUD does not give CDBG help directly to people. Residents need to contact their city or county officials, who run the program and choose projects 1. If local officials cannot help, the HUD field office for your area can point you in the right direction 1.

What CDBG can pay for

CDBG can fund rehabilitation of homes 1. Federal rules also make "improvements designed to remove material and architectural barriers" that limit access for elderly or severely disabled people an eligible rehab cost 4.

In practice, local CDBG home programs often cover:

  • Ramps and entry changes
  • Bathroom accessibility changes
  • Roofs, furnaces, water heaters and plumbing
  • Electrical safety repairs
  • Code violations and health hazards

Rules allow the help to come as grants, loans, loan guarantees, interest supplements or other means 4. Your local program chooses which.

Who qualifies

The income rule

At least 70 percent of each community's CDBG money must benefit low- and moderate-income people over a one- to three-year period 2.

For a single-family home, the household living in it must be low- or moderate-income 6. HUD has made clear that for barrier removal in a private single-unit home, the household's income must qualify. Age or disability alone does not count 5. HUD measures this against its lower-income limits for your area and household size 5. Your local program will tell you the dollar amount.

Other common local rules

Local programs often add their own rules, such as:

  • You must own and live in the home
  • Property taxes and mortgage must be current
  • The home must be insured
  • Priority for older adults, people with disabilities or emergency repairs

How to find your local program

  1. Search your city or county website. Try "housing rehabilitation," "home repair grant," "minor home repair" or "community development."
  2. Call the housing or community development office. Ask, "Do you have a home repair or accessibility program for homeowners?"
  3. In a small town, call your county. Ask whether the county or a regional council has a State CDBG housing grant.
  4. Ask your Area Agency on Aging. In a national survey, 62 percent of agencies that refer people to funding sent them to local city or county housing and community development offices 7.

What the process looks like

Most programs follow a similar path:

  1. Application and income check
  2. Home inspection
  3. A written list of work, often prepared by program staff
  4. Contractor bids, usually managed by the program
  5. Signing grant or loan papers
  6. Work, inspections and sign-off

From application to finished work can take months. Emergency repair programs may move faster.

Documents to gather now

Local CDBG programs ask for proof before they can spend federal money. Having these ready can move you up the line:

  • Recent income proof for everyone in the household, such as Social Security award letters, pension statements and bank statements
  • The deed or another proof that you own the home
  • Your latest property tax bill and homeowner's insurance page
  • A photo ID
  • Any letter from a doctor or therapist about mobility or fall risk
  • Photos of the problem areas

Read the fine print

Is it really a grant? Many programs use deferred or forgivable loans. You may owe money back if you sell, refinance or move out within a set number of years.

Is there a lien? Some programs record a lien on the home until the terms are met.

What is the cap? Ask how much the program can spend per home. If the cap is low, plan the most important safety fix first.

What happens if you pass away? Ask how heirs are treated under the loan terms.

How CDBG fits with other help

CDBG programs are often the backbone of city and county home repair efforts. They pair well with weatherization for energy work, Area Agency on Aging funds for small safety items, and nonprofit volunteer repairs. If you live in a rural area, also check USDA Section 504 repair grants.

Common questions

Can I apply to HUD for a CDBG home repair grant?

No. HUD gives CDBG funds to cities, counties and states, not to individuals. Contact your city or county housing or community development office to find the local program.

Can CDBG pay for a wheelchair ramp?

Yes, if the local program offers it. Federal rules allow CDBG rehabilitation money to pay for improvements that remove barriers limiting access for elderly or severely disabled people.

Do I qualify because I am over 65?

Not by age alone. For repairs to a single-family home, HUD requires the household living there to have low or moderate income.

I live in a small town. Is there CDBG money for me?

Possibly. Cities under 50,000 and counties under 200,000 usually get CDBG money through their state. Ask your county or town whether it has a State CDBG housing grant.

Will I have to pay the money back?

It depends on the program. CDBG rehab can be provided as grants, loans, loan guarantees and other forms. Read the terms before you sign.

Sources

  1. Community Development Block Grant Program — U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development. Checked October 18, 2026.
  2. CDBG Entitlement Program Eligibility Requirements — HUD Exchange. Checked October 18, 2026.
  3. State CDBG Program Eligibility Requirements — HUD Exchange. Checked October 18, 2026.
  4. 24 CFR 570.202 - Eligible rehabilitation and preservation activities — Legal Information Institute, Cornell Law School. Checked October 18, 2026.
  5. Using CDBG Funds for Removal of Architectural Barriers (HUD memorandum, Aug. 15, 1990) — U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development. Checked October 18, 2026.
  6. Basically CDBG, Chapter 3: National Objectives — HUD Office of Block Grant Assistance. Checked October 18, 2026.
  7. Building Community Capacity to Serve Older Adults: The Role of Area Agencies on Aging in Home Modifications and Repairs (data brief) — National Association of Area Agencies on Aging and Scripps Gerontology Center. Checked October 18, 2026.