7 Home Repair Grants for Households With Disabilities

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By Jamie Ayers Updated February 2, 2023

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Most homes don’t usually come equipped with features for those living with disabilities. And more often than not, you’ll have to make pricey modifications yourself. However, there are numerous loan and grant options that can help with these costly expenses and make your home safe and accessible.

7 Home Repair Grants for Households With Disabilities

Finding the right home can be difficult if you or one of your family members is living with disabilities. Unfortunately, many homes don’t come equipped with features that make life easier and more comfortable for those who are in a wheelchair or have mobility issues.

More often than not, you’ll have to remodel and make some renovations yourself in order to accommodate your exact needs and make the home more accessible, safe, and enjoyable. And those costs can add up quickly.

Home repairs can include installing ramps and lifts into the home’s entryways, creating wheelchair accessible outdoor paths in the yard, widening doorways, changing out flooring for smooth, non-porous surfaces, moving light switches lower, and installing smart technology.

Need a contractor for your home improvement project? HomeAdvisor can help by connecting you with top local professionals for all your home repair needs free of charge.


Expenses continue with larger renovations in the kitchen and bathroom where you may have to install grab bars and change out the sinks, toilets, and cabinets for easier access.

In total, disability home remodeling costs can on average add up to $6,292, though depending on what your specific needs are, expenses can run up to $20,252.

Luckily, however, you won’t have to cover every expense out of pocket. There are numerous grants and programs available to help transform and remodel your house so your home can be safe and comfortable.

Here are seven home repair grants to help you remodel your home for those living with disabilities.

1. Specially Adapted Housing — Department of Veterans Affairs

The VA offers amazing support for Veterans with disabilities including several grants to assist in making needed modifications for your home. One grant is called the Specially Adapted Housing Grant (SAH).

SAH helps veterans with service-related disabilities, including loss of extremities and blindness, who want to build a specially adapted home on land they will buy as well as help with funds for constructing an adapted home on land they already own.

Additionally, the SAH grant will help provide funding for veterans to remodel an existing home for disabilities or veterans can apply the grant against the unpaid principal mortgage of an already existing adapted home.

To apply you simply need to fill out a special VA form and unfortunately there is a 30 person cap on the number of veterans who can receive a grant.

2. Special Housing Adaptation — Department of Veterans Affairs

Another grant provided by the VA is the Special Housing Adaptation Grant (SHA). And while this grant has a similar name to the first VA grant, the SHA helps cover different specialty housing assistance.

The SHA grant allows veterans to adapt their existing home or the home of a family member in which the veteran resides. The grant also provides funds to modify a home that the veteran or family member will purchase in which the veteran will live.

Additionally, the grant also contributes financial support for veterans to purchase a home that has already been remodeled and modified for disabilities.

You can apply by filling out the same VA form and while the grant cap is 30 people, you can utilize both the SHA and the SAH grant — you’re not limited to only one.

3. 203K Loans — Federal Housing Administration (FHA)

The FHA 203K Loan program will help you buy or remodel an existing home. This mortgage loan insures a single, long term, fixed or adjustable rate loan that will cover both the purchase of the home as well as any modifications needed.

To be eligible, your renovation expenses must cost at least $5,000 and can range from simple improvements like installing grab bars to entire home demolishment and building up from scratch as long as the foundation remains in place.

To apply for a 203K Loan, you will have to submit an application through an FHA approved lender in which HUD can assist in helping you find.

4. The Think Alive Achievement Grant

The Think Alive Achievement Grant program helps youths under the age of 21, who are living with disabilities, achieve specific goals. The grant can be used for classes, lessons, equipment, travel expenses, and other extraneous expenses that will help them achieve their goal.

For instance, if they’re interested in cooking, you can use grant funds to adapt the kitchen to their needs, or if they want to garden, you can fund an outdoor ramp or new easily accessible pathways in the yard.

Funds range from $50 to $500 and you can apply by filling out this form and mailing it in on the specified address.

5. Self-Sufficiency Grant

The non-profit organization ModestNeeds.org, offers the Self-Sufficiency Grant for those who are struggling financially but are limited in their financial and funding options because they don’t technically qualify as low-income.

The Self-Sufficiency Grant provides short-term financial assistance which you can use to help fund disability home repairs. In order to be eligible you will have to meet certain income and employment requirements.

You can apply by simply heading to their application page where they will give you instructions on how to fill out their online application form.

6. Rural Housing Repair Loans and Grants

Funded by the US Department of Agriculture (USDA), the rural housing repair grant program helps older, low-income residents who are at least 62 years of age, by providing financial assistance to repair or improve their homes in order to remove health and safety hazards.

This includes renovations for adaptive home remodels for those with disabilities. You’re eligible if you own the residence, are unable to secure credit elsewhere, are low-income, and reside in a rural area. Loan amounts max out at $20,000 and the maximum grant fund is $7,500.

To verify if you live in a qualified rural area and to fill out an application, go to their online application page for forms and directions on where to send in your information.

7. Rebuilding Together

The Rebuilding Together organization works with Americorps to build and modify homes making critical repairs to ensure the homes are safe, accessible, and comfortable for those who live there.

Rebuilding Together works frequently with families and individuals living with disabilities improving over 10,000 homes in the space of year, spanning over 39 states. Head to their website to find your local Rebuilding Together affiliate program to submit an application.

Partner with Clever

Buying a home is challenging enough and even more so when you need to take into account the cost of necessary modifications and improvements for a disability. By working with a Clever Partner Agent, you will have expert guidance and support through the entire home buying process.

A Partner Agent will help you close on a home that meets all your needs and still allows you to afford any needed renovations.

Clever may also send you cash back after closing. Get in touch with Clever to learn more!

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