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How can I get a home improvement grant in Oregon?
Home improvement or home repair grants and zero-interest loans in Oregon or any other state in the US are available to low and moderate-income homeowners, renters, and lenders. There are 49 home improvement and support programs in Oregon, most of which are in Portland. These funds may primarily be used by low-income families with children, low-income single parents, low-income senior citizens, veterans, and disabled people. The process until applicants are approved can be long and requires providing a large amount of 100% accurate information. 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 and getting informed of the documents and eligibility requirements is your first step if you need such funds.
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For convenience, search and apply for Oregon home repair grants online. You can also start by visiting or contacting your U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development or HUD’s official office, found in the city of Portland, https://www.hud.gov/states/oregon/offices, or get informed on the homeownership assistance and improvement programs on the following link: https://www.hud.gov/states/oregon/homeownership/homerepairs. HUD provides federal assistance to local administrations and organizations, such as the Community Development Block Grant Program (CDBG) or the HOME Investment Partnership Program.
As a state, Oregon offers support to its residents, including new homeowners and long-time property owners alike. Non-profit organizations, such as Habitat for Humanity, have over 20 offices in Oregon that can help your home improvement projects by providing volunteer labor and free or discounted materials from their Restores. You can visit their official sites, and contact a local office, and get informed on the programs they offer, as well as the documents and eligibility requirements: https://www.habitat.org/local/affiliate-by-state?state=OR.
Rebuilding Together is another volunteer, home improvement, non-profit organization that has affiliates all over the US, including three in the state of Oregon, in Portland, Washington County, and Rogue Valley. These organizations administer programs that help low income homeowners, senior citizens, people with disabilities, and veterans.
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Explore comprehensive home improvement programs available in your area. Whether you're looking to upgrade your windows, install a new roof, or completely remodel your home, find out how these programs can help you achieve your goals with financial assistance and expert advice.
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If you need to connect with available resources in your community, but don’t know where to look, Oregon 2-1-1 Info is also a great place to start. 2-1-1 Info is a free, confidential service available to anyone and it is responsible for the 211 helplines in Oregon. This live telephone service is available on a 24-hour basis to connect residents to a variety of human services or social services across the state. According to their official website, the 2-1-1 call specialists can be found in every state and they are available 24/7 to help callers find such services as mortgage, rent, and utility assistance, food, emergency shelter, health care, counseling, support groups, etc., that are available right in their communities:
How can I get a solar grant in Oregon?
Oregon has plenty of sunshine, and rebates that are favorable for solar power.. A lot of homes and businesses in this state started getting their power from solar panels. Oregon offers some renewable energy and energy efficiency incentive programs, which are available for residential customers, small and large businesses, and government agencies, to improve the environment and stimulate sustainable economic development and growth. Going solar in 2021 is essential for reducing carbon emissions by using renewable clean energy from the sun and lowering your monthly energy costs. Beyond the federal ITC, Oregon offers additional incentives for going solar, depending on where you live and who your utility company is.
The Federal Solar Investment Tax Credit or ITC is a federal policy that supports the use of solar energy in the USA. This policy represents a 26% tax credit claimed against the tax liability for solar systems on residential and commercial properties. Given a solar panel system size of 5 kilowatts (kW), an average solar installation in Oregon ranges in cost from $10,838.00 to $14,662.00, with the average gross price for solar coming in at $12,750.00. You can apply for this credit on your taxes when you purchase solar systems and install them on your roofs.
The percentage that you can get is the following:
- 26 percent for projects that begin construction in 2021 and 2022,
- 22 percent for projects that begin construction in 2023,
- After 2023, the residential credit drops to zero while the commercial credit drops to a permanent 10 percent.
To apply for this credit you must meet certain criteria, such as:
- The solar PV system is located at your primary or secondary residence in the United States, or for an off-site community solar project, if the electricity generated is credited against, and does not exceed, your home’s electricity consumption,
- You own the solar PV system (i.e., you purchased it with cash or through financing but you are neither leasing nor are in an arrangement to purchase electricity generated by a system you do not own),
- The solar PV system is new or being used for the first time. The credit can only be claimed on the “original installation” of the solar equipment.
The Energy Trust of Oregon provides solar rebates to customers of PGE and Pacific Power. The amount is $300.00 per kilowatt (kW), up to a maximum of $2,400.00. Energy Trust also offers cash incentives that reduce the upfront cost of commercial solar installations. The incentive amount depends on the size of your system and your electric utility. Incentives are subject to funding availability and may change at any time. Find more information on this program and apply at the following link: https://www.energytrust.org/solar-request-analysis-bid/
Oregon has other discounts and promotions available, too. Under the Oregon Solar + Storage Rebate Program guidelines, low and moderate income customers may receive up to 60% of the cost of the storage system and other customers may receive up to 40%, up to $2,500.00. Low-income service providers may receive up to 60% of the cost of the storage system, up to $15,000.00.
Net metering is also available in Oregon. This solar incentive allows you to store energy in the electric grid. When your solar panels produce excess power, that energy is sent to the grid and in exchange, you can pull from the grid when your system is under-producing like during nighttime.
The Eugene Water and Electric Board (EWEB) administers a Solar Electric Program and offers up to $2,500.00 for residential, and up to $12,500.00 on commercial solar installations. All of these installations must go through the EWEB Solar Electric Program.
How can I get a debt grant?
Dealing with various debts in the middle of the Covid-19 crisis is not easy. Whether you have become unemployed or underemployed as a result of the pandemics, there are federal and state resources you may use to lower your debt. Although getting a grant that will completely cover all of your debts is NOT available, there are still several other options in Oregon to consolidate and lower them. This state offers financial assistance for bills, rent, and mortgage to income-eligible residents.
While the government and government-approved agencies do not typically provide debt grants, they do 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.
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. When you sign for this kind of program at any of the available agencies, they negotiate better terms for you from each of your creditors. The payment then goes to your chosen agency and they distribute those funds on your behalf. A debt management plan is not a loan, but an agreement between debt management companies and creditors on your behalf. Although this is NOT a grant, you still save money in interest and fees. Before you agree to a debt management plan, it is advisable to get help from a credit counseling organization. Debt Management Plans usually last from 36 to 60 months. The link below shows a list of approved credit counseling agencies in the state of Oregon you may contact:
You can also try and reduce your debt by applying online for debt counseling services at InCharge.org, a non-profit organization. This organization has a debt management program that works directly with creditors to consolidate your debt through the method of combining multiple debts into one monthly payment, reduce the interest rate on your credit, and create a monthly payment plan that you can afford.
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. The loans can be secured by a home, car, or property or be unsecured.
Debt Settlement is your third option, in which a debt negotiator works out a settlement with your creditor. This settlement reduces your existing loan principles and credit card balances by a substantial margin. This option is a prime alternative to bankruptcy.
If you are having credit card debts, you can use a Balance Transfer Credit Card. This type of card typically comes with a promotional, low, or zero percent interest rate, which lasts usually 12-18, but in some cases could go for 24 months.
Are there homeowner grants for bills?
The government or other available grant programs can provide financial aid to help pay for housing, mortgage, rent, utilities, medical supplies, or even transportation costs. There are resources for low-income families, single mothers, seniors, people with disabilities, veterans and their families, the unemployed, the underemployed, and others in need. Residents of Oregon impacted by the Covid-19 crisis may also use these programs. Many utility companies in Oregon also have programs to assist low-income customers. These funds may help you pay your utility bills or give you a discount and lower the amount of energy you use.
The Oregon Low Income Home Energy Assistance Program is a federally funded program that helps eligible Oregon families, seniors, and individuals pay a portion of their home energy bills. Eligibility is based on several factors, including household income, household size, and heating costs. This program provides assistance for heating costs, electric costs, and energy crisis situations. This program provides assistance to households across the state to help lower the burden incurred with monthly energy costs. The LIHEAP program may provide bill payment assistance and/or energy crisis assistance. A household income of at least 60% of the Area Median Income is required. You can only apply for LIHEAP once each program year. Find your local provider at the following link if you are interested and eligible for this program:
Pandemic EBT (P-EBT) provides financial assistance to students impacted by the COVID-19 pandemics. This grocery money is to compensate for meals students missed while schools and childcare were closed because of the pandemic during the 2020-21 school year. Benefits are issued through an EBT card to the child receiving these benefits.
The Oregon Worker Relief Fund provides temporary financial relief to those who have lost wages in Oregon to COVID-19 and are ineligible for financial assistance from the federal and state programs due to their immigration status. The aid can be distributed electronically and through other secure methods.
The Oregon Temporary Assistance for Needy Families (TANF) provides financial and medical assistance to needy dependent children in Oregon and the parents, or relatives, with whom the children are living. A family can only get TANF for 60-months (5 years) in a lifetime. These payments are based on the family’s income and number of members.
Households that meet low-income guidelines or receive public benefits, may enroll in the LifeLine program, where they may apply for discounts on their cellular or home telephone bills. This program is available in every state, to low-income service users with a household income of 135% of the Federal Poverty Guidelines. The LifeLine Program provides a discount of up to $9.25 a month.
Are there tax grants for homeowners?
Although there are no specific tax grants for homeowners, there are cases in which you can get help with your debt to the IRS. Oregon offers property tax relief programs for the permanent residence of qualified homeowners, including senior citizens, people with disabilities, and veterans.
The Senior Citizen Property Tax Exemption is available to senior citizens, aged 62 and older, living in the state of Oregon. A property tax exemption excludes a part of your property’s value from being taxed. While the exemption doesn’t affect the tax rate, it will reduce your tax bill. Oregon is the only U.S. state, imposing a property tax and providing property tax relief to low-income senior homeowners exclusively through a property tax deferral program. As a disabled or senior citizen, you can borrow from the State of Oregon to pay your property taxes to the county. If you qualify for the program, the Oregon Department of Revenue will pay your county property taxes on November 15 of each year. A lien is placed on the applicant’s property, in the amount estimated of future taxes to be paid and interest to be charged based on the current tax and life expectancy tables.
How can I get a grant to repair my home?
Home repair grants and loans are NOT given to anyone and for any purpose. 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.
Each of these grants varies in income, age, type of repair necessary, and location of the property. Very low income and low-income families, families with children, single parents, senior citizens, people with disabilities, and veterans have a primary position when it comes to approval. Repairing a home is a very broad subject and can cover many projects within. Unfortunately, not all of them are eligible for grant fundings. No one will give you free money if you don’t like the tiles in your bathroom or the color of your kitchen cabinets. Emergency repairs, including repairs addressing health and safety hazards, as well as home modifications that improve code violations are the only eligible repairs. 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.
Keep in mind these funds are limited and they usually work on a first-come, first-served basis, so you want to be informed on time. Make sure you meet all the required criteria and you have all the necessary documents. Another fact you should know is that not all grants will be categorized specifically under home improvement needs. They may be related to broader themes such as home repair, home rehabilitation, community upgrades, low-income family support for all residents. If you require such programs to renovate your home and make it a safe place to live, do your research about available funds within your city/county and all the documents and eligibility requirements. Contact the HUD’s official Oregon office, visit the state’s official site, call the 24-hour live telephone service 2-1-1 or get in touch with non-profit organizations like Habitat for Humanity or Rebuilding Together in your area.
How can I get a grant for windows?
Grants are available in Oregon 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 grants and zero interest loan programs.
The Oregon Weatherization Assistance Program is designed to help residents of Oregon overcome the high cost of energy by making their homes more energy-efficient. This program is available all over the US. Although WAP is not a home improvement program and will not cover the cost of new windows, it can still provide minor repairs that can save you up on your utility bills. This program (WAP) is 100% federally funded through a grant from the Federal Department of Energy. To be eligible for this benefit program, you must be a resident of Oregon. The services are for low-income households, particularly for the elderly, individuals with disabilities, and families with children. The program is available to both homeowners and renters and it is administered through a network of local agencies. Agencies include community action agencies, housing authorities, local governments and other non-profit organizations. To find your local agency, use the link:
Windows repair and replacement is an eligible project that can be covered by the Home Repair Loans if you are a resident of Clackamas County. Washington County also administers a Home Access and Repair for the Disabled and Elderly Program (HARDE) and provides assistance for broken windows. The City of Eugene has an Emergency Minor Home Repair Program that can cover the cost of broken or inoperable windows. Income eligible residents of Portland may use the Home Repair Loan Program the City operates. Medford is another city in Oregon that administers a Homeowner Repair Loan Program and provides financial assistance for damaged windows to low-income eligible homeowners.
If you are living in a rural area in Oregon and anywhere in the US, getting help for repairing or replacing your windows is possible by the federal program Single Family Housing Repair Loans and Grants or Section 504, operated by the U.S. Department of Agriculture. This program offers 1% interest loans up to $20,000.00 to low-income homeowners and grants up to $7,500.00 to low-income people over 62. You can also make a combination of a loan and a grant and get up to $27,500.00. Grants can only be used to correct health and safety deficiencies on properties, and loans can be used in all home improvement projects.
If you need such programs to repair or replace your windows, do your research about available funds within your city/county and all the documents and eligibility requirements. Contact the HUD’s official Oregon office, visit the state’s official site, call the 24-hour live telephone service 2-1-1 or get in touch with non-profit organizations like Habitat for Humanity or Rebuilding Together in your area.
How can I get a grant for new flooring?
A home improvement flooring project is a complex and very expensive project. Whatever your home flooring style, you’re sure to face a repair or replacement project if you live in your home for a long time or have moved into an older property. Luckily, low and moderate-income homeowners in Oregon can reach their local government or visit their government official site and apply for a home improvement grant or a zero-interest loan. These grants and zero or low-interest loans offer partial or complete financial aid to eligible homeowners, and they can be used for fixing health and safety-critical issues, as well as emergency repairs. Start your research online for federal, state, county, or city programs that may help you partially or completely lower your home improvement project cost.
Damaged foundation and floorings are major safety issues that must be addressed immediately. Senior residents of Washington County may use funds from the Home Access and Repair for the Disabled and Elderly Program (HARDE) and get grant funds up to $8,000.00. Clackamas County income eligible residents can use the Home Access Grants if they need wheelchair ramps, widened doorways, bathroom accessibility, and kitchen accessibility improvements. This County also offers Home Repair Loans with 3% interest, and deferred payments. An Accessibility Improvement Program is also available to residents of the City of Eugene. Income eligible residents of Portland may use the Home Repair Loan Program the City operates. This program provides a 0% interest loan to help eligible homeowners with low and moderate incomes make critical home repairs, such as collapsing porches, accessibility modifications, and damaged foundations.
If you are living in a rural area in the state of Oregon and anywhere in the US, getting help for repairing or replacing your flooring, as well as addressing foundation repairs is possible by the federal program Single Family Housing Repair Loans and Grants or Section 504, a program operated by the U.S. Department of Agriculture. This program offers 1% interest loans up to $20,000.00 to low-income homeowners and grants up to $7,500.00 to low-income people over 62. You can also make a combination of a loan and a grant and get up to $27,500.00. Grants can only be used to correct health and safety deficiencies on properties, and loans can be used in all home improvement projects.
If you need such programs to repair or replace your flooring, as well as to address foundation repairs, do your research about available funds within your city/county and all the documents and eligibility requirements. Contact the HUD’s official Oregon office, visit the state’s official site, call the 24-hour live telephone service 2-1-1 or get in touch with non-profit organizations like Habitat for Humanity or Rebuilding Together in your area.
Are there grants for the elderly?
Senior citizens living in Oregon may get help from many federal, state, county, and city programs, as well as non-profit organizations and charities. This help can be in the form of home maintenance and minor repair services, transportation, assistive technology equipment, legal aid, food vouchers, and home-delivered meals, senior centers, caregiver counseling, and in-home respite care, etc. These assistance programs help the elderly, retirees, and older Americans, whether they have medical issues or not.
The Oregon Department for Aging and Independent Living (DAIL) and the statewide network of Area Agencies on Aging and Independent Living assist older residents of Oregon with a range of services and sources of information. Each local agency establishes a series of programs with the funds they have been granted. Any senior resident of Oregon aged 60 and above is eligible to receive some sort of assistance under the Older Americans Act. The Older Americans Act (OAA) is a federal program that gives money to each state to assist elderly Americans who live outside of nursing homes. Visit the official site of the state of Oregon or one of the many Area Agencies on Aging and get informed on the ways you can get help:
The state of Oregon allows citizens older than 62 to delay paying their property taxes. As a disabled or senior citizen, you can borrow from the State of Oregon to pay your property taxes to your county. If you qualify for the program, the Oregon Department of Revenue will pay your county property taxes on November 15 of each year. A lien is placed on the applicant’s property, in the amount estimated of future taxes to be paid and interest to be charged based on the current tax and life expectancy tables.
If you are a senior citizen living in a rural area anywhere in the US, getting help for repairing your home is possible by the Single Family Housing Repair Loans and Grants or Section 504. This program offers 1% interest loans up to $20,000.00 to low-income homeowners and grants up to $7,500.00 to low-income people over 62. You can also make a combination of a loan and a grant and get up to $27,500.00. Grants can only be used to correct health and safety deficiencies on properties, and loans can be used in all home improvement projects.
Washington County administers a Home Access and Repair for the Disabled and Elderly Program (HARDE) and provides assistance to senior citizens (aged 62 and above) and people with disabilities whose properties are located within the County, Beaverton City excluded. The maximum grant is $8000 for this program.The structure must need repairs of an urgent nature, have a defect that is health and safety related or lack access into and within the dwelling. Eligible repairs include deteriorating roofs or siding, damaged electrical and plumbing systems, defective heating systems, grab bars, wheelchair ramps, broken windows, defective fuse boxes, defective sewage systems, and more. The applicant must permanently reside in the dwelling to be rehabilitated, or intend to reside in the dwelling when the rehabilitation is complete.
Oregonians aged 55 and older, and people with disabilities living in Portland may be eligible for the Community Builders Program, administered by REACH Community Development. This program offers free home repairs, including REACH staff, volunteers, and subcontractors to income eligible residents. Fill out the form at the following link to start your application process:
Are there grants for low income homeowners?
There is a variety of financial assistance available when it comes to home improvement grants and loans in Oregon. You may be eligible for all kinds of federal, state, county, or city grant programs. Some non-profit organizations and charities also help families in need, giving priority to low-income families with children, seniors, single parents, people with disabilities, and veterans and their families. The eligibility requirements on these funds vary on income, age, type of property, as well as the location of the property.
Rebuilding Together Washington County (RTWC) is a non profit organization that administers the Critical Repair Program to help low income residents. Eligible repairs include making accessibility modifications, repairing floors, fixing plumbing leaks, fixing broken windows, repairing roofs, fixing electrical faults, exterior painting, and siding repairs. Fill out the online application at the following link to receive this help:
Clackamas County offers its residents help with their home improvements through two grant programs, the Home Access Grants and the Critical Repair Grants. Home Access Grants up to $5,000.00 are provided for needed access or safety improvements, and both renters and homeowners can apply. Eligible repairs include wheelchair ramps, handrails, widened doorways, bathroom accessibility, and kitchen accessibility improvements. The Critical Repair Grants up to $5,000.00 are provided for repair of safety or access deficiencies, primarily for exterior elements of manufactured homes or mobile homes. Eligible repairs for this program include leaking roofs, faulty plumbing systems, and faulty wiring or electrical connections. This County also offers Home Repair Loans with 3% interest, and deferred payments. According to the official site, these funds can be used for “Single Purpose”, up to $15,000.00 (health and safety issues, water/well, septic/sewer, roof or heat), “Exterior Repairs”, up to $25,000.00 ( roofs and gutters, paint, weatherization, windows and doors, foundation), and “Complete Repairs”, up to $35,000.00 (complete home repairs that meet Community Development rehab standards).
Washington County also administers a Home Access and Repair for the Disabled and Elderly Program (HARDE) and provides assistance to senior citizens (aged 62 and above) and people with disabilities whose properties are located within the County, Beaverton City excluded. The maximum grant is $8000 for this program.The structure must need repairs of an urgent nature, have a defect that is health and safety related or lack access into and within the dwelling. Eligible repairs include deteriorating roofs or siding, damaged electrical and plumbing systems, defective heating systems, grab bars, wheelchair ramps, broken windows, defective fuse boxes, defective sewage systems, and more. The applicant must permanently reside in the dwelling to be rehabilitated, or intend to reside in the dwelling when the rehabilitation is complete.
Polk County homeowners may qualify for a low-interest loan or in some cases, financing through grants in order to make necessary repairs and accessibility upgrades to their homes. Polk Community Development Corporation operates a Home Repair Grant Program to applicants with sufficient equity and repayment ability. Eligible improvements include roof repair and replacement, foundations, painting, windows and siding, plumbing system, insulation, heating system, interior upgrades, ramps, grab bars, and more.
The City of Eugene has an Emergency Minor Home Repair Program and provides assistance to very low-income homeowners through 0%, deferred loans, up to $5,000.00. For very low-income mobile homeowners, grants are also available in the amount of up to $5,000.00. Eligible improvements that can be covered by this program are failure of electrical, plumbing, sewer, or heating system, leaking roofs, broken or inoperable windows, and more. The maximum assistance per property is $10,000.00 depending on the project. This City also administers an Accessibility Improvement Program, and offers assistance for very low-income homeowners and tenants with disabilities to make accessibility improvements to remove architectural barriers and install strobe smoke alarms. Assistance for very-low income, disabled homeowners and tenants is provided through 0%, deferred loans, up to $5,000.00. For mobile homes, grants are available in the amount of up to $5,000.00.
Income eligible residents of Portland may use the Home Repair Loan Program the City operates. This program provides a 0% interest loan to help eligible homeowners with low and moderate incomes make critical home repairs. There are no monthly payments and the loan is forgiven after 15 years, as long as the homeowner remains in the home for that time. To qualify, repairs must be critical to the health and safety of the owner occupants as determined by the Portland Housing Bureau’s (PHB) Construction Coordinators. Eligible repairs include electrical hazards, leaky roofs, broken furnaces, collapsing porches, accessibility modifications, and correcting other code violations.
The City of Coos Bay and NeighborWorks Umpqua (NWU) operate Home Repair Grants together, using funds from the Oregon Business Development Department. Grants up to $15,000.00 can be used for roof, bathroom, steps, flooring, decking and plumbing repairs as well as door and window replacements, electrical upgrades and handicapped accessibility improvements.
Medford is another city in Oregon that administers a Homeowner Repair Loan Program and provides financial assistance to low-income eligible homeowners, through funding from the City of Medford’s Community Development Block Grant Program. These funds can be used for repairing leaking roofs, inefficient wood stoves, failed heating systems, unsafe wiring, failed plumbing systems, broken water heaters, and more. Low-income homeowners with disabilities may be eligible for assistance with the removal of architectural barriers, installations of ramps, handrails and grab bars as well as modifications of doorways. To be eligible, the applicant’s annual gross income of the entire household must not exceed 80% of the current median income amount, adjusted for family size.
The City of Hillsboro operates a Housing Rehabilitation Program that provides home improvement assistance grants for owner-occupied or renter households in Hillsboro that meet low to moderate income guidelines. This program offers grants up to $10,000.00 for home improvements such as roofing, insulation, accessibility improvements, plumbing system repairs, electrical system repair and replacement, removal of lead of other hazardous material, weatherization, and more. To qualify for the Housing Rehabilitation program, your household income must be at or below a low to moderate income level based on 80% of the median income for the Portland–Vancouver–Hillsboro Metropolitan Statistical Area.
The City of Lebanon also provides Home Repair Grants, through DevNW, a local non-profit organization. These funds are available to low-income Linn County residents who live in a manufactured home park and built after 1978. They can be used for repairing a home to a safe, healthy and decent condition. Eligible improvements include plumbing system, septic system, water heaters, electrical system, heating and cooling equipment, roofing, siding, doors, windows, and more.
Junction City/Harrisburg/Monroe Habitat for Humanity assists low-income residents with the Critical Home Repair Program. This program assists low-income homeowners, including veterans, seniors, and disabled homeowners with critical home repairs. Typical projects that can be covered include roof repairs and replacements, installing accessibility ramps, fixing porches, railings, and exterior and interior painting. The home must be an owner-occupied, single-family house, and the primary residence of the owner for at least one year. Mobile home repairs are limited to $3,000.00 and under. The property must be located within the school district boundaries of Junction City, Harrisburg, or Monroe, Oregon. Fill out the application at the following link if you are in need nd eligible for this program:
What are the easiest homeowner grants to get?
The easiest homeowner grants to get are those that have a solid foundation for requesting money, are well-thought-out, have a plan for the future, and are clear and concise in their goals and objectives. To obtain a grant, first, you look for an organization whose goals match what you need to have funded. Second, make sure you meet all the required criteria and you have all the necessary documents. All grants and loans vary by age, income, type of property, and the location of the property. These fundings are primarily available to low-income families, families with children, single parents, senior citizens, people with disabilities, veterans, and their families. Homeowners impacted by natural disasters, such as tornadoes, hurricanes, floods, and earthquakes can also get financial aid for these types of grants.
States, like Oregon, have different programs available to help their low and moderate-income residents. For convenience, search and apply for Oregon home repair grants online. To search or apply for grants, use the free, official website, Grants.gov. If you need such programs to repair your home, do your research about available funds within your city/county and all the documents and eligibility requirements. Contact the HUD’s official Oregon office, visit the state’s official site, call the 24-hour live telephone service 2-1-1 or get in touch with non-profit organizations like Habitat for Humanity or Rebuilding Together in your area.
Keep in mind, there are NO “easy” grants to get. The process until applicants are approved can be long and requires providing a large amount of 100% accurate information. Income limitations are one of the most important factors when applying. There is a reason these funds are only available to people meeting all the required criteria. They are here to help people in need live in homes without code violations and health and safety hazards.
Can I get a grant to renovate my house?
There are plenty of available home renovation grants in the state of Oregon. These grants are available to applicants ONLY if you need an emergency modification in your home to remove life-threatening health or safety conditions, as well as addressing code violations. You also must meet the required criteria and have all the necessary documents to apply for these funds. A grant to renovate your house is not available to anyone and for any purpose. There must be a solid foundation for requesting these funds. Very low and low-income homeowners, low-income families with children, single parents, seniors, veterans, and people with disabilities are usually eligible to receive these funds. Homeowners impacted by natural disasters, such as tornadoes, hurricanes, floods, and earthquakes can also get financial aid from these types of grants.
For convenience, search and apply for Oregon home repair grants online. You can also start by visiting or contacting your U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development or HUD’s official office, found in the city of Portland, https://www.hud.gov/states/oregon/offices, or get informed on the homeownership assistance and improvement programs on the following link: https://www.hud.gov/states/oregon/homeownership/homerepairs. HUD provides federal assistance to local administrations and organizations, such as the Community Development Block Grant Program (CDBG) or the HOME Investment Partnership Program.
As a state, Oregon offers support to its residents, including new homeowners and long-time property owners alike. Non-profit organizations, such as Habitat for Humanity, have over 20 offices in Oregon that can help your home improvement projects by providing volunteer labor and free or discounted materials from their Restores. You can visit their official sites, and contact a local office, and get informed on the programs they offer, as well as the documents and eligibility requirements: https://www.habitat.org/local/affiliate-by-state?state=OR.
Rebuilding Together is another volunteer, home improvement, non-profit organization that has affiliates all over the US, including three in the state of Oregon, in Portland, Washington County, and Rogue Valley. These organizations administer programs that help low income homeowners, senior citizens, people with disabilities, and veterans.
If you need to connect with available resources in your community, but don’t know where to look, Oregon 2-1-1 Info is also a great place to start. 2-1-1 Info is a free, confidential service available to anyone and it is responsible in Oregon for the 211 helplines. This is a live telephone service available on a 24-hour basis to connect residents to a variety of human services or social services across the state. According to their official website, the 2-1-1 call specialists can be found in every state and they are available 24/7 to help callers find such services as mortgage, rent, and utility assistance, food, emergency shelter, health care, counseling, support groups, etc., that are available right in their communities:
Can I get a grant to repair my roof?
Repairing or replacing your roof is an expensive cost, but leaking and damaged roofs can present a hazard for you and your family. What may seem like a simple leak could wind up costing you thousands of dollars in repair costs. All roofs eventually break down and need replacement, no matter the type of material or how well they were maintained. There are several options in which you can get financial aid from federal and state agencies for a complete or partial replacement and repair. As a state, Oregon offers support to its residents, including new homeowners and long-time property owners alike. Oregon home improvement grants and zero-interest loans are available to low-income homeowners to reduce the cost of their emergency repairs that present safety and health hazards, including problems with damaged and leaking roofs. These grants are usually administered at a local level by governments and agencies.
Roof repair and replacement is an eligible project that can be covered by the Critical Repair Grants, a program administered by Clackamas County. This County also provides Home Repair Loans that can be used for roofs and gutters. The City of Eugene has an Emergency Minor Home Repair Program and provides assistance to very low-income homeowners through 0%, deferred loans, up to $5,000.00, that can be used for leaking roofs. Income eligible residents of Portland may use the Home Repair Loan Program the City operates to cover the cost of their damaged roofs. The City of Coos Bay and NeighborWorks Umpqua (NWU) operate Home Repair Grants together and provide up to $15,000.00 to repair or replace a roof. Medford is another city in Oregon that administers a Homeowner Repair Loan Program and provides financial assistance to low-income eligible homeowners to repair a leaking roof.
If you are in need and eligible for such programs to partially or completely cover the cost of your roof repair or roof replacement project, do your research about available funds within your city/county and all the documents and eligibility requirements. Contact the HUD’s official Oregon office, visit the state’s official site, call the 24-hour live telephone service 2-1-1 or get in touch with non-profit organizations like Habitat for Humanity or Rebuilding Together in your area.
How do I apply for a federal home repair grant?
There are several places you can find available federal home improvement grants. The United States government has 26 agencies in charge of making grants. In addition to federal grants, some states have grant programs. Locate and contact your local government office. Government representatives, there will be able to advise you about eligibility requirements and other necessary criteria for applying for a grant. To search or apply for grants, you can also use the free, official website, Grants.gov. First, you have to register an account on this site. Then, you can search their site for their available grants and apply.
Besides meeting the required criteria and applying within the deadline, it is very important to have all the necessary documents. For example, the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development or HUD provides all kinds of housing support and helps communities. If you live in a rural area, then you might be interested in the Single Family Housing Repair Loans and Grants – Section 504. Applicants interested in applying for a repair loan or grant can contact their local Rural Development office and provide the following documentation:
- Form RD 410-4 (https://forms.sc.egov.usda.gov/efcommon/eFileServices/eForms/RD410-4.PDF),
- Form RD 3550-1 (https://forms.sc.egov.usda.gov/efcommon/eFileServices/eForms/RD3550-1.PDF),
- Form RD 3550-4
- (https://forms.sc.egov.usda.gov/efcommon/eFileServices/eForms/RD3550-4.PDF), and
- All application items are listed in the Attachment 12-E checklist (https://www.rd.usda.gov/files/RD-SFH-Attachment12E.pdf).
The applications are accepted year-round and their approval time depends on funding availability in your area.
How does HUD mortgage assistance work?
The U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development provides housing grants to low-income families. These grants help families pay for rent, purchase or even rehabilitate a home. HUD also allocates grant funds to local governments and nonprofit agencies so they can develop their affordable housing program in their communities. HUD-approved counseling agencies are available in every state to help you find a housing grant in an area near you. The approved housing agencies in Oregon can be found at their site:
The Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD) also funds an Emergency Homeowners Loan Program or EHLP, that provides mortgage help and loans to those homeowners who may be facing foreclosure due to a drop in household income from a job loss, underemployment, or reduction in working hours, involuntary unemployment, or a medical condition or emergency.
To qualify for this program you must fit certain criteria such as:
- You must be at least three months behind on their monthly mortgage payment,
- The home involved must be your primary residence,
- You must have demonstrated a timely payment record on their mortgage before the job loss or medical condition or event that produced the reduction of income for the homeowner.
If you are struggling to make your mortgage payment on your FHA-insured mortgage because of the impacts of COVID-19, you might get help from the Special COVID-19 mortgage relief for homeowners with FHA-insured single-family mortgages. Your mortgage servicer is required to offer you a mortgage payment forbearance, which allows you to reduce or pause making payments for 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 can 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. You will only repay this lien when your mortgage ends, which, for most borrowers, is when you sell your home or refinance your mortgage.
Is the mortgage relief program legit?
Fannie Mae’s HIRO program and Freddie Mac’s Enhanced Relief Refinance or FMERR are the only active relief programs today. They provide mortgage incentives by replacing your existing loan with a new loan that has a lower interest rate and more affordable payments.
Fannie Mae’s HIRO program can be used only by homeowners whose mortgages are currently owned by Fannie Mae. This program allows homeowners to refinance with no equity or an underwater loan. If your home has lost value since you bought it and you don’t have enough equity to do regular refinance, then this is a great option. You can’t apply to this program if you previously used the Home Affordable Refinance Program or HARP, which was a similar project by Fannie Mae that expired.
Freddie Mac’s Enhanced Relief Refinance program can be used for existing fixed-rate mortgages and adjustable-rate mortgages. This program is intended to refinance into a more sustainable mortgage that promotes long-term homeownership success, to reduce the monthly principal and interest payment of your first Lien Mortgage, as well as if you are interested in potentially reducing principal and interest payment. Freddie Mac’s Enhanced Relief Refinance program is only available to homeowners whose mortgages are currently owned by Freddie Mac.
Due to the Covid-19 pandemics, there is also a Covid-19 Mortgage Relief Program. The COVID hardship forbearance applies to all federally backed and federally sponsored mortgages, which includes HUD/FHA, VA, USDA, Fannie Mae, and Freddie Mac mortgage loans. The Coronavirus, Aid, Relief, and Economic Security Act (CARES Act) directed lenders holding federally-backed mortgages to suspend borrowers’ payments for up to a maximum of 360 days if they had experienced financial hardship due to the Coronavirus outbreak. Landlords of multi-family property mortgages can also receive relief. The CARES Act allows a 30-day forbearance for multi-family mortgages, and up to two 30-day extensions. You can apply for forbearance through Sept. 30, 2021, and will not be charged late fees or reported to credit bureaus.
Is there a grant for rewiring a house?
A home electrical wiring is an expensive project and you may be eligible for a grant to partially or completely cover the cost. There are several options in which you can get financial aid from federal and state agencies for rewiring your house. Some of these funds can only be used in electrical system repairs and upgrades, others include a new rewiring of your home. Oregon home improvement grants and zero-interest forgivable loans are available to moderate and low-income homeowners to reduce the cost of their emergency repairs that present safety and health hazards, including problems with the electrical system. These grants are usually administered at a local level by governments and agencies. Grants cover the costs of the rewiring projects, which include labor expenses, equipment, and supply purchases.
Rewiring a home or repairing a damaged and nonfunctional electric system is an eligible project that can be covered by the Critical Repair Grants and Home Repair Loans if you are a resident of Clackamas County. Washington County also administers a Home Access and Repair for the Disabled and Elderly Program (HARDE) and provides aid for damaged electrical systems and defective fuse boxes. The City of Eugene has an Emergency Minor Home Repair Program and Income eligible residents of Portland may use the Home Repair Loan Program the City operates. The City of Coos Bay and NeighborWorks Umpqua (NWU) operate Home Repair Grants together and provide funds up to $15,000.00 that can be used for electrical upgrades.
If you are in need and eligible for such programs to partially or completely cover the cost of your electrical system upgrade, repair, or replacement, do your research about available funds within your city/county and all the documents and eligibility requirements and see if you qualify. Contact the HUD’s official Oregon office, visit the state’s official site, call the 24-hour live telephone service 2-1-1 or get in touch with non-profit organizations like Habitat for Humanity or Rebuilding Together in your area.
What is the Emergency Mortgage Assistance Program?
As of March 31st, 2021, Oregon Homeownership Stabilization Initiative closed their COVID-19 Mortgage Assistance Program. However, Oregon is in the process of setting up the Homeownership Assistance Fund. The fund is currently awaiting guidance from the US Treasury, but plans to open later this fall. This moratorium prevents Oregonians who own their homes from losing their homes to foreclosure if they have lost income and been unable to pay their mortgage during the COVID-19 pandemic.
The Oregon Affordable Housing Assistance Corporation (OAHAC) is an Oregon nonprofit corporation. The primary purpose of OAHAC is to administer programs, such as the Oregon Housing Stabilization Initiative (OHSI), targeted to help prevent or mitigate the impact of foreclosures on low and moderate income persons, to help stabilize housing markets in Oregon, to provide resources for affordable or subsidized housing and to develop and administer programs related to housing permitted under the Emergency Economic Stabilization Act of 2008, as amended (“EESA”), and act as an institution eligible to receive Troubled Asset Relief Program Funds under EESA.
What is a request for mortgage assistance?
A Request for Mortgage Assistance or RMA is the application you have to fill out to be considered for a mortgage loan modification. With a mortgage modification, you can permanently change one or more terms of your mortgage loan. This includes getting a lower interest rate, some or all late fees may be waived or reduced, your interest rate may be changed from an adjustable-rate loan to a fixed rate, the months or years the homeowner has to repay the loan may be lengthened, total loan principal may be reduced, as well as your second mortgage or equity loan could be waived.
This form requires detailed information about the borrower’s current financial situation. The information provided will allow the mortgage lender to determine the filer’s eligibility for mortgage assistance. This form includes your current income, debts, expenses, employment, bankruptcies, and other issues that will help the lender determine if you are eligible for mortgage assistance.
In the USA, modifications were made under the government’s Home Affordable Modification Program or HAMP.
To qualify for this program you must have fit certain criteria such as:
- You are having trouble making your mortgage payments because of financial hardship,
- You obtained your mortgage on or before January 1, 2009,
- Your property has not been condemned,
- You owe up to $728,750.00 on your primary residence or one to four-unit rental property.
Who can get a home improvement grant?
Low and moderate-income families, seniors, veterans, single parents, disabled people, people impacted by Covid 19, as well as people impacted by natural disasters such as hurricanes, tornadoes, earthquakes, and floods can get home improvement grants or zero-interest loans. In the case of home improvement grants, funds are available to help homeowners renovate their homes, and correct code violations and bring them up to health and safety standards. You can apply to these federal, state, or local grants and loans, charities, community agencies, and nonprofit organizations and get the help you need.
The biggest part of the eligibility to these programs is the household income. Assistance will usually be provided to families or individuals who are living in occupied single-family homes, or mobile homes and whose combined total household annual income does not exceed certain income thresholds. Every program has different criteria and provides different amounts of funding. By law, these rules must not discriminate against you because of your age, disability, gender reassignment, pregnancy and maternity, race, religion or belief, sex, or sexual orientation.
These grant programs are primarily directed at very low and low-income homeowners who might not be approved by a bank for funding. Eligibility requirements vary by the grant. 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. Contact the HUD’s official Oregon office, visit the state’s official site, call the 24-hour live telephone service 2-1-1 or get in touch with non-profit organizations like Habitat for Humanity or Rebuilding Together in your area.