Illinois Home Repair Grants: Updated

You can repair your home without draining your savings. Illinois offers substantial grants, up to $60,000, specifically designed for homeowners facing COVID-related financial hardship.

Whether you’re dealing with a leaky roof, faulty wiring, or accessibility challenges, these programs cover critical repairs that most homeowners can’t afford. But here’s what you need to know before applying.

Key Takeaways

• HAFHR grants up to $60,000 for critical home repairs like roofing and plumbing.
• Eligibility requires income ≤150% AMI, COVID hardship after January 21, 2020.
• Property must be owner-occupied primary residence, no reverse mortgages or trusts.
• 3-year forgivable recapture agreement applies to grants.
• Apply via local IHDA grantees or USDA offices on first-come basis.

Top Illinois Home Repair Grants in 2026

Eligible repairs cover a wide range of critical needs, including fixing health, safety, and code issues; roofing, gutters, and drainage problems; electrical and plumbing systems; foundations, decks, and porches; accessibility upgrades for elderly or disabled residents; and environmental improvements.

You’re eligible for top 2026 grants like HAFHR**—up to $60,000 forgivable aid if your income’s ≤150% AMI and you’ve faced COVID hardship** post-January 2020.

Apply via grantees for HRAP Round 2 health/safety fixes, Section 504’s $40,000 loans/$10,000 grants, or SCP community revitalization.

Boost community outreach through local partners; integrate financial planning to stay in your home.

Act now—funds are limited till 2026.

HAFHR Program Basics

You can receive grants up to $60,000 to address critical home repairs if you’ve experienced financial hardship due to COVID-19 and meet the program’s core eligibility requirements.

To qualify, your household income must fall at or below 150% of the area median income, you must own and occupy the property as your primary residence, and you need to certify a financial hardship that occurred after January 21, 2020, which may include qualifying for other healthcare aid and housing services.

Once you receive your grant, you’ll enter into a three-year forgivable recapture agreement, which guarantees the funds support necessary repairs that maintain your home’s habitability and prevent displacement.

Core Eligibility Rules

Secure up to $60,000 in home repair grants for program benefits like health/safety fixes.

Grant Amount Details

The Illinois Homeowner Assistance Fund Home Repair Program (HAFHR) delivers grants up to $60,000 per household, a vital resource for eligible ex-felons to cover essential repairs that safeguard your home’s health, safety, and habitability amid COVID-19 hardships.

Your grant application qualifies you for critical repairs addressing electrical, mechanical, plumbing, or structural deficiencies, costs that cannot be covered by other assistance, like education grants.

The funding timeline operates through a 3-year forgivable recapture agreement, meaning you won’t repay the grant if you maintain ownership during this period.

Minimum grant awards start at $5,000, ensuring accessible assistance across varying repair needs.

This substantial funding empowers Illinois homeowners to address long-delayed maintenance issues comprehensively.

Who Qualifies for HAFHR?

To qualify for the HAFHR program, you must certify financial hardship due to COVID-19 after January 21, 2020, and guarantee your household income stays at or below 150% of the area median income (AMI) based on family size.

Your property qualifies only if you own and occupy it as your primary residence, you’re current on mortgage payments (or have none required), and it needs critical repairs for health, safety, or code violations—while avoiding ineligible setups like reverse mortgages or trusts.

Check these property requirements precisely to confirm your eligibility and secure up to $60,000 in assistance.

Income Limits

Income limits determine who qualifies for HAFHR, with household income capped at 150% of the area median income (AMI) based on your family size.

For example, if your area’s AMI for four people is $100,000, you’d need to earn no more than $150,000 annually.

Income eligibility requirements consider your entire household’s earnings, making financial documentation essential during the application process.

You’ll need to provide proof of income to verify qualification.

This income threshold guarantees assistance reaches homeowners who genuinely need support.

Meeting this requirement is fundamental—exceeding the limit disqualifies you from the program entirely.

Financial Hardship

Financial hardship certification drives HAFHR eligibility****, so you’ll qualify if you certify experiencing one after January 21, 2020, tied directly to the COVID-19 pandemic—alongside keeping your household income at or below 150% of the area median income (AMI) for your family size.

You don’t need current mortgage payments; certify your hardship to access this financial assistance for critical health and safety repairs.

Own and occupy your Illinois property as your primary residence—reverse mortgages and trusts don’t qualify.

This homeowner support combats housing insecurity, delivering targeted grants without redundancy to past aid recipients.

Property Requirements

Your property qualifies for HAFHR**** if you own and occupy it as your primary residence in fee simple title—you can’t hold it in a reverse mortgage, trust, home equity line of credit, or contract for deed.

Verify property eligibility through ownership verification like a recorded deed, recent mortgage statement, or property tax bill. You must be current on mortgage payments or have no mortgage requirement.

Eligible types include single-family homes, accessory dwelling units, 2-to-4-unit buildings (owner-occupied), condos, co-ops, and manufactured homes on owned land taxed as real estate—never investment properties.

Secure repairs for health, safety, and code issues only.

HAFHR Income Limits and Hardship Rules

To qualify for the HAFHR program, your household income must sit at or below 150% of the Area Median Income (AMI) based on family size—you’ll find specific limits like $96,200 for one person or $120,450 for four in the guidelines.

You’ll also need to demonstrate income verification through tax returns or pay stubs to establish eligibility.

Beyond income requirements, you must provide hardship documentation proving financial difficulties stemming from COVID-19 after January 21, 2020. This certification guarantees funds reach homeowners genuinely impacted by the pandemic.

The program prioritizes those whose critical repairs were delayed due to economic hardship, making your documented hardship essential for approval and accessing up to $60,000 in grant assistance.

Eligible Properties for HAFHR Grants

HAFHR grants cover repairs on eligible properties that you own and occupy as your primary residence, including single-family homes, accessory dwelling units (ADUs), 2-to-4-unit buildings (owner-occupied units and common areas), condominiums, cooperatives, and manufactured homes on permanent foundations where you own the land and it’s taxed as real estate.

Your property must be held in fee simple title—not through reverse mortgages, trusts, or contracts for deed.

During the HAFHR application process, you’ll need to document critical health and safety issues requiring repair. Eligible repair types address mechanical, electrical, structural, and plumbing deficiencies that compromise your home’s integrity.

Properties must remain current on mortgage payments and maintain homeowners insurance throughout construction.

HAFHR Ownership Disqualifiers

If you have a reverse mortgage, you don’t qualify for the Illinois Homeowner Assistance Fund Home Repair Program (HAFHR), as these ownership models fall outside the program’s strict criteria.

Likewise, if your property is held in a trust, you’re excluded, since HAFHR requires you to own and occupy it as your primary residence in fee simple title.

Check your mortgage status and title now to confirm eligibility and avoid disappointment.

Reverse Mortgages Disqualified

Homeowners with reverse mortgages can’t apply for the Illinois Homeowner Assistance Fund Home Repair Program (HAFHR), as these properties face ineligibility due to ownership disqualifiers.

If you’ve secured a reverse mortgage, you’re automatically excluded from HAFHR assistance, regardless of your financial hardship or repair needs.

Properties held in trust likewise disqualify applicants, as the program requires fee simple title ownership.

This restriction means you’ll need to investigate reverse mortgage implications and homeowner assistance alternatives elsewhere.

Consider contacting local housing agencies or HUD-approved counselors who can identify programs specifically designed for reverse mortgage holders experiencing financial difficulties or home maintenance challenges.

Trust Ownership Excluded

Properties held in trust automatically disqualify you from HAFHR assistance. Understanding trust ownership eligibility criteria is essential for determining your program qualification. The Illinois Homeowner Assistance Fund Home Repair Program maintains strict ownership requirements to guarantee funds reach eligible households.

Ineligible ownership structures include:

• Properties held in trust or under trust arrangements
• Reverse mortgages on your primary residence
• Home equity lines of credit as ownership models
• Contracts for deed arrangements
• Investment properties or non-primary residences

You must own the property outright in fee simple title and occupy it as your primary residence to qualify.

These eligibility criteria guarantee program resources support homeowners with direct property ownership. If your property’s title structure includes any trust arrangement, you won’t meet HAFHR’s ownership requirements, regardless of financial hardship or income qualifications.

What Repairs Does HAFHR Cover?

Since the HAFHR addresses home maintenance needs delayed by COVID-19 financial hardships, you’ll find the program covers a comprehensive range of essential repairs important to keeping your home safe and habitable.

You can tackle repair types like roofing, soffit/fascia/gutters, drainage, electrical systems, plumbing systems, foundations, decks, porches, and accessibility modifications for elderly or disabled individuals.

It targets health, safety, code violations, and other crucial needs up to a $60,000 per-unit limit, ensuring habitability and preventing displacement if you meet eligibility criteria.

Act now—funds are limited.

HAFHR Grant Amounts and Recapture Rules

You can receive up to $60,000 in grants through HAFHR to cover critical home repairs, with the funds structured as a forgivable loan that you won’t need to repay if you maintain the property for three years.

The program covers essential health and safety repairs—including roofing, electrical and plumbing systems, code violations, and accessibility modifications—without charging interest on the awarded amount.

Your eligibility depends on household income not exceeding 150% of the area median income and your ability to document financial hardship from the COVID-19 pandemic after January 21, 2020.

Maximum Award Limits

• Certify COVID-19 financial hardship after January 21, 2020.
• Guarantee household income stays at or below 150% area median income.
• Target habitability repairs like roofing, electrical, plumbing, foundations.
• Note limited funds may exclude some eligible households.
• Act now—awards go to selected grantees first.

Forgivable Recapture Agreement Terms

When you receive an Illinois HAFHR grant of up to $60,000 for critical home repairs, you’re accepting a 3-year forgivable recapture agreement that protects the state’s investment in your property.

The grant forgives at a rate of 1/36th monthly, meaning your obligation decreases proportionally each month you remain compliant. You’ll owe nothing if you maintain primary residence status throughout the three-year term.

However, selling, transferring, or refinancing triggers repayment of the unforgiven balance from net proceeds. This property compliance requirement guarantees accountability while rewarding homeowners who keep their commitment to their homes.

Eligible Repair Coverage

• Roofing, soffit/fascia/gutters, and drainage management
• Electrical and plumbing systems
• Foundations, decks, and porches
• Accessibility modifications for aging in place
• Environmental and essential home-specific fixes

Act now—funds are first-come, first-served until September 30, 2026.

HRAP for Low-Income Repairs

The Home Repair and Accessibility Program (HRAP) assists low- and very low-income homeowners like you with critical health and safety repairs, accessibility modifications, and roof work to preserve affordable housing and improve your well-being.

You qualify if your household income is at or below 80% Area Median Income (AMI)—with priority for those at or below 50% AMI—and you own-occupy a single-family home meeting property value limits and lien requirements.

Check HRAP benefits: up to $50,000 grants for hazards, ramps, or roofs, forgivable over 3-5 years.

Apply through local grantees now, as waitlists form due to high demand and limited funding.

USDA Section 504 Loans and Grants

• Combine loans and grants for up to $50,000 ($55,000 in disaster areas).
• Access grants if you’re 62+ to eliminate health/safety hazards.
• Enjoy 1% fixed-rate, 20-year loans.
• Apply year-round via local Rural Development offices—Loan Application accepts prequalification.
• Target repairs like roofs, wiring, ramps—not cosmetics.

Act now for safe, modern living.

Steps to Apply for Illinois Repair Aid

Verify your eligibility for Illinois home repair aid first—you’ll need household income at or below 150% of the area median income (AMI), ownership of an eligible rural home, and, for grants, age 62 or older.

Contact your local Rural Development office with required documentation, including Form RD 3550-35 and Form RD 3550-1. Though prequalification isn’t mandatory, it’s advisable to determine program fit before formal application.

Submit your completed application tips through your local RD office year-round. Remember your eligibility checklist: proof of income, property ownership documentation, and citizenship status.

Given limited funding, applications operate first-come, first-served, so don’t delay.

Key Documents for HAFHR Applications

Since the HAFHR program requires extensive documentation to verify your financial situation and property eligibility, you’ll want to gather these materials before submitting your application.

The required documentation strengthens your application process and demonstrates your qualification for assistance.

• Proof of homeownership, such as a deed or mortgage statement
• Financial hardship certification form detailing COVID-19 impacts after January 21, 2020
• Income documentation showing earnings at or below 150% of area median income
• Evidence of primary residence occupancy, including utility bills or lease agreements
• Detailed repair list with estimated costs and current mortgage payment status

Organizing these documents beforehand streamlines your application and accelerates review timelines.

Common Reasons You’re Ineligible

Even if you meet most criteria, you’ll face ineligibility if your household income exceeds 150% of the area median income (AMI), your property involves a reverse mortgage or trust ownership, or you can’t certify financial hardship from COVID-19 after January 21, 2020.

Additional common disqualifying factors include mortgage delinquency—you must remain current on payments.

Rental properties and secondary residences also create eligibility challenges since you’re required to own and occupy the home as your primary residence.

Understanding these eligibility challenges prevents wasted application effort and helps you determine whether alternative repair programs better suit your circumstances.

Beyond HAFHR: Other Illinois Options

• Access Section 504 low-interest loans up to $40,000 and grants up to $10,000 for very-low-income safety repairs.
• Apply for HRAP Round 2 grants targeting low-income health and safety fixes via local grantees.
• Tap SCP grants for municipalities rehabilitating vacant properties into affordable homes.
• Utilize Illinois Affordable Housing Trust Fund for land bank capacity building.
• Use HUD’s Title 1 loans for remodeling, checking local eligibility.

Find Local Grantees Near You

How do you locate local grantees for Illinois home repair grants?

Visit the Illinois Housing Development Authority (IHDA) website to access their directory of program administrators, including those for HRAP and HAFHR. Then contact the grantee serving your area to apply directly.

You’ll tap into local grant resources via this network; grantees handle applications, but expect waitlists, so act fast through community outreach.

Verify income eligibility and property limits with them—they set criteria.

For rural aid, reach local USDA Rural Development offices to pinpoint options and start your process efficiently.

Frequently Asked Questions

What to Do if You Can’t Afford House Repairs?

You can investigate several financial assistance and repair resources if you can’t afford house repairs. Contact your state housing authority about homeowner assistance programs, reach out to local nonprofits, examine USDA Rural Development offices, and research community stabilization partnerships for available support options tailored to your income level.

What Is the Homeowner Relief Program in Illinois?

Illinois’s homeowner relief programs offer you grants up to $60,000 for critical repairs if you’ve faced COVID-19 hardship and earn under 150% area median income, helping you maintain safe, habitable housing through designated community assistance grantees.

What Is the Home Repair and Remodeling Act in Illinois?

The Home Repair and Remodeling Act in Illinois requires you to get written contracts detailing work, timelines, costs, and a 3-day cancellation right. Check your home repair eligibility for remodeling assistance; you’ll need licensed, bonded contractors to protect against fraud.

How to Get Money to Make Home Repairs?

Apply for government assistance like Illinois HAFHR grants up to $60,000 if you’re below 150% AMI with COVID hardship post-1/21/20. Fill contact forms via grantees, submit income proof, insurance. Investigate home improvement loans too—you’ll qualify fast!

Conclusion

You’ve got a golden opportunity to transform your home before funding runs dry in 2026. Illinois’s HAFHR program puts up to $60,000 in your hands—no strings attached after three years. Don’t let critical repairs slip through the cracks; contact your local grantee today and reclaim your home’s safety and value while you can.