Table of Content
Grants are available to help with the cost of repairing or installing new windows if your current windows are cracked, broken, leaking, old, or inefficient. Window repair and replacement are considered an emergency repair and it is usually covered by all home improvement grant and loan programs. The government or other available grants can give cash to help pay for housing, rent, utilities, medical supplies, or even transportation costs. There are resources for low-income families, single mothers, the disabled, the unemployed, and others in need.
While the government does not typically provide debt grants, it does offer a variety of programs that can assist consumers who are struggling with their finances or overwhelmed with credit card debts. Many credit counselors offer debt consolidation programs that can lower the interest rate on your outstanding debts, like high-interest credit card debts. Another option at your disposal is the debt consolidation loans where a debt consolidation lender pays off your debts and all you are left with is one single payment for this new loan. The third option is debt settlement in which a debt negotiator works out a settlement with your creditors. In general everyone is eligible to home improvement and repairs grants and assistance in PA. In reality, because the needs are so big, some groups like seniors, veterans, disable and low-income households are given priority.
Dauphin County (1 program)
The ACCESS Home Modification Program provides mortgage loans to assist persons with disabilities or who have a family member living in the household with disabilities who are purchasing a home that needs accessibility modifications. This program provides a deferred payment loan, with no interest, and no monthly payment. The loan becomes due and payable upon sale, transfer, or non-owner occupancy of the property. If you are living in a rural area, getting help for rewiring your house is possible by the Single Family Housing Repair Loans and Grants or Section 504. The HAPI program offers grants to assist homeowners with permanent disabilities, and landlords, to make accessibility modifications to their homes.
Our assistance extends far beyond financing, as URA staff will help you identify contractors, develop project specifications and assure that all tasks are completed in a workmanlike fashion. PHFA's Purchase Improvement loans allow buyers who qualify to make needed repairs right away, without having to take out another loan at a higher rate and with a shorter repayment period. The purchase price plus the cost of the repairs cannot exceed PHFA's applicable purchase price. If you meet the conditions above, contact a PHFA participating lender to start your mortgage application. PHFA also offers homebuyers the opportunity to receive homebuyer counseling and education free of charge through one of its approved counseling agencies. We strongly encourage you to seek the assistance of a counselor before you sign a sales agreement, especially if you are a first-time buyer.
Bucks County (2 programs)
The best way to get a grant to repair your home is to meet all the required criteria, have all the necessary documents, and submit your application within the given deadline. Another financial strategy to pay off your debts is through a Debt Consolidation Loan. This means getting a loan to pay off all of your debts and then make single monthly payments to your lender. The advantages are that debt consolidation loans usually carry a lower interest rate, and these loans usually take 2 to 5 years to repay, depending on the amount. If you’re facing unmanageable debt, a Debt Management Program might be the answer. This program helps you pay off your debt to multiple creditors with a single, comfortable monthly payment.
Also known as the Section 504 Home Repair program, this provides loans to very-low-income homeowners to repair, improve or modernize their homes or grants to elderly very-low-income homeowners to remove health and safety hazards. If you are living in a rural area, getting help for repairing or replacing your home is possible by the Single Family Housing Repair Loans and Grants or Section 504. For the Keystone Flex Purchase and Improvement with K-FIT, eligible buyers may include up to $30,000 for repairs and/or improvements. This program includes downpayment and closing cost assistance through the Keystone Forgivable in Ten Years Loan Program (K-FIT). This conventional loan will be based on the lesser of the total acquisition cost or the as completed appraised value.
Go Solar
Then, you can search their site for their available grants and submit an application. The PA Accessible Housing Program provides grants that will enable low and moderate-income persons with permanent disabilities and older adults to make their current homes more accessible. The program assists people with permanent disabilities and older adults whose annual gross household incomes fall at or below 80% of the median income or 235% of the poverty level, whichever is higher, as set by HUD. Although getting a grant that will cover your debt is not available, there are still several other options in Pennsylvania to consolidate your debts.
The Homeowners Energy Efficiency Loan Program offers loans between $1,000.00 and $10,000.00 for specific energy efficiency repairs at a fixed rate of 1%. These funds may be used for energy-efficient windows and doors, energy-efficient heating or cooling system repairs or replacements, roof replacements, caulking, sealing & insulation, etc. The Home Maintenance Program is administered by HPCC on behalf of the Chester County Department of Community Development to help seniors live better. This program provides basic home maintenance, repairs, and access modifications for residents of Chester County, 65 years of age and older. The total household income must fall at or below 50% of the Median Income Limits. Work includes any type of home maintenance and repairs including but is not limited to, roof repair, heater installation, windows, decks, bathrooms, siding, etc.
The eligibility requirements on these funds vary on income, age, type of property, as well as the location of the property. Reaching out to federal, state and county agencies that administer grant and loan programs is your first step. There is a variety of financial assistance available when it comes to home improvement grants and loans in Pennsylvania.
Many Pennsylvania utility companies have programs to assist low-income customers. These programs may help you pay your utility bills or lower the amount of energy you use. One very important factor when applying is being informed on time since most of them operate on a first-comes first-served basis.
It is up to the buyer to provide the lender with a written request detailing the required improvements/repairs to be completed, along with the estimates, specs, contracts, etc., from a qualified and licensed contractor. The buyer must sign the Purchase/Improvement Program Acknowledgment at the time of application. The borrower must fund any amount in excess of the maximum amount per program guidelines and/or any amount that exceeds the as complete appraised value. If this amount is financed, it must not impact the buyer's ability to pay the mortgage .
This allows buyers to make needed repairs right away, without having to take out another loan at a higher rate and with a shorter repayment period. For Manufactured homes, repairs are limited to the lesser of 50% of the "as completed" appraised value, or $50,000. Every county in Pennsylvania uses federal and state fundings to provide aid to eligible homeowners and each of these programs includes the repairing of electrical systems.
Your mortgage servicer is required to offer you a mortgage payment forbearance, which allows you to reduce or pause making payments for a period of six months, with the option to extend for an additional six months if needed. You must request a COVID-19 Forbearance from your mortgage servicer by June 30, 2021, and no extra fees, penalties or interest will be added to your account. If you are able to resume making your payments, FHA’s COVID-19 Standalone Partial Claim takes your past due amounts and puts them in a subordinate lien to be repaid later.
Grant programs are primarily directed at low-income families who might not be approved by a bank for funding. For the most part, grants will have requirements depending on the homeowner’s income, their location, and the projects the money can be used on. To search or apply for grants, use the free, official website, Grants.gov. Determining your eligibility for federal grants is an important first step in the federal grant application process.
Mortgage Amounts
Start by researching online on the available federal and state programs, then move to your county and city. Non-profit organizations, charities, and local churches also provide financial aid, volunteer labor, or discounted material you may use. Every county in Pennsylvania uses federal and state fundings to provide aid to eligible homeowners and each of these programs includes roof repairing and replacing. Allegheny County administers the Allegheny Home Improvement Loan Program, Chester County offers the Housing Rehabilitation Program, and Montgomery County has the Owner Occupied Housing Rehabilitation Program.
HUD is the federal agency providing help and funding to Pennsylvania’s Housing agencies, Counties and Cities. HUD have many programs from homebuyer help, renter help, homeowners funding for home repairs and improvements, among many programs. At closing, the lender will escrow the repair funds and will thereafter monitor the completion of the repairs and issue draws, if applicable, using 49 Request for Payments and Completion Certification.
