Aging in Place Grants

State Housing Finance Agency Repair and Accessibility Programs

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

Your state's housing finance agency may offer low- or no-interest accessibility loans, repair loans, or barrier-removal grants through local partners.

At a glance

Key amounts (check the source for the current figure)
PHFA ACCESS Home Modification loan (Pennsylvania, homebuyers)$1,000-$10,000 at 0% interest, no monthly payments
PHFA HEELP energy repair loan (Pennsylvania)$1,000-$10,000 at 1% fixed for 10 years
Texas Amy Young Barrier Removal grantUp to $22,500 one-time

What it can pay for

  • Ramps and sidewalk access
  • Grab bars, handrails and bathroom changes
  • Widened doorways and hallways
  • Lifting devices and main-level bedroom or bath additions (some programs)
  • Energy repairs like insulation, windows and heating systems (some loan programs)
  • Barrier removal for owners and renters with disabilities (some grant programs)

Who qualifies

  • Rules vary by state and by program
  • Many programs set income limits based on area median income, often 80%
  • Some accessibility programs require a household member with a disability
  • Some loans are only for buyers using the agency's first mortgage; others serve current owners or renters

How to apply

  1. Find your state housing finance agency in NCSHA's state directory.
  2. Look on the agency's site for pages named 'home repair,' 'accessibility,' 'home improvement' or 'homeowners.'
  3. Note whether each program is for buyers, current owners, renters or all three.
  4. Check the income limit and whether a disability is required.
  5. Many state programs are delivered by local partners. Ask the agency for the partner that serves your county.
  6. Do not let work begin until the loan or grant is approved and closed.

Watch out for

  • Some accessibility loans only work with the agency's own first mortgage, so they help buyers, not current owners.
  • Deferred loans may come due when you sell, transfer or stop living in the home.
  • Grant programs that run through local partners may only open when the partner has funds.
  • Program names, amounts and income limits change. Confirm details on the agency's site before applying.

What housing finance agencies are

Every state has a housing finance agency, often called an HFA. HFAs are state-chartered authorities that help meet affordable housing needs. Most are independent agencies with boards appointed by the governor 1.

HFAs are best known for first-time homebuyer mortgages and affordable rental housing. They have helped more than 3.4 million first-time buyer families and financed about 4.6 million low- and moderate-income rental homes 1. Many also run smaller programs for repairs and accessibility. These are easy to miss, so it pays to look.

Three kinds of help to look for

1. Accessibility loans for buyers

Some HFAs pair a home purchase with money for accessibility changes. This can help if an older parent is moving into a new home, or if a family is buying a home for multigenerational living.

Example: Pennsylvania's ACCESS Home Modification loan 3

  • $1,000 to $10,000, first come, first served
  • 0 percent interest, no fees and no monthly payments
  • Repaid when the home is sold, transferred or no longer lived in by the owner
  • For buyers who have a permanent disability, or have a household member who does
  • Must be used with a Pennsylvania Housing Finance Agency first mortgage
  • Can pay for bathroom and kitchen changes, grab bars and handrails, lifting devices, a main-level bath or bedroom addition, ramps and sidewalks, and wider doorways or hallways

The agency also notes the work must be done within 90 days of closing 4.

2. Repair loans for current owners

Some HFAs offer low-rate loans to people who already own their homes.

Example: Pennsylvania's Homeowners Energy Efficiency Loan Program (HEELP) 4

  • $1,000 to $10,000
  • 1 percent fixed rate for ten years, no prepayment penalty
  • For air sealing, insulation, windows and doors, heating and cooling repairs, and roof replacement
  • Income limits based on 80 percent of area median income
  • The agency warns: do not let work begin until the loan is closed

Energy repairs like these can make a home safer and cheaper to live in, which matters on a fixed income.

3. Barrier-removal grants

A few states run grants specifically for accessibility, often through local partners.

Example: Texas's Amy Young Barrier Removal Program 5

  • One-time grants of up to $22,500
  • For changes that increase accessibility and remove hazards in the home
  • The household must include a person with a disability
  • Household income must be at or below 80 percent of area median family income
  • Both homeowners and renters may qualify
  • Applications go through local nonprofits and local governments that act as program administrators

Why it is worth checking even if you are not buying

It is easy to assume a housing finance agency only matters to first-time buyers. But as the Pennsylvania and Texas examples show, some agencies also serve current owners and even renters. And because many state programs are delivered through local nonprofits and governments, the money may reach you under a local program name. Asking the state agency directly is often the quickest way to learn what exists in your county.

How to find your state's programs

  1. Find your agency. The National Council of State Housing Agencies keeps an A-to-Z directory of state housing finance agencies, with links to each one 2.
  2. Search the site. Look for "home repair," "home improvement," "accessibility," "modification" or "homeowners."
  3. Check who it serves. Many HFA programs are for buyers only. Look for programs for current owners, and for renters if that applies.
  4. Ask about local partners. Many state programs are delivered by local governments or nonprofits. Ask the HFA which partner covers your county.
  5. Ask your Area Agency on Aging or Center for Independent Living. They often know which state programs are open right now.

Paperwork most programs ask for

Programs vary, but these items come up again and again:

  • Proof of income for everyone in the household, such as benefit letters, pension statements and tax returns
  • Proof of ownership and that the home is your main residence, or a lease if you rent
  • Homeowner's insurance and property tax records
  • For disability-based programs, a doctor's statement or proof of disability benefits
  • Photos of the areas that need work
  • Contractor estimates, if the program lets you choose the contractor

Keep copies of everything you send, and write down the name of each person you speak with.

Questions to ask an HFA program

  • Is this a grant, a deferred loan or a monthly-payment loan?
  • What are the income limits for my household size?
  • Does someone in the home need a disability?
  • Do I need to use your mortgage?
  • Who does the work, and who picks the contractor?
  • What happens if I sell or move into assisted living?

How this fits with other help

State HFA programs often fill a gap between free grants and regular bank loans. Combine them with federal options like USDA Section 504 in rural areas, VA grants for Veterans, local CDBG and HOME programs, and nonprofit repair groups. For buyers, also compare FHA 203(k) renovation loans.

Common questions

What is a state housing finance agency?

It is a state-chartered authority, usually governed by a board appointed by the governor, that helps meet affordable housing needs through mortgages, rental housing and other programs.

Do housing finance agencies help current homeowners with repairs?

Some do. Pennsylvania's agency offers a 1% energy repair loan to homeowners, for example. Others run programs only for buyers. Check your state's agency.

Is there a state grant for wheelchair ramps?

Some states have one. Texas's Amy Young Barrier Removal Program offers one-time grants of up to $22,500 for households with a person with a disability and income at or below 80% of area median family income.

Can renters get help?

Some programs serve renters. The Texas barrier removal program, for example, can help both homeowners and tenants.

How do I find my state's agency?

The National Council of State Housing Agencies keeps an A-to-Z directory with links to each state agency.

Sources

  1. About HFAs — National Council of State Housing Agencies. Checked October 18, 2026.
  2. Find a State Housing Finance Agency — National Council of State Housing Agencies. Checked October 18, 2026.
  3. ACCESS Home Modification Program — Pennsylvania Housing Finance Agency. Checked October 18, 2026.
  4. Home Improvement and Repair Loan Programs — Pennsylvania Housing Finance Agency. Checked October 18, 2026.
  5. Amy Young Barrier Removal Program — Texas Department of Housing and Community Affairs. Checked October 18, 2026.