Grants for Homeowners in Rhode Island

How can I get a home improvement grant in Rhode Island?

There are 15 home improvement and support programs in Rhode Island, and almost all of them are in found Providence. Home improvement or home repair grants as well as zero-interest loans in this or any other state in the US are available to low and moderate-income homeowners, renters, and lenders. There are some home improvement and support programs in Rhode Island whose 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 Rhode Island home repair grants online. You can also start by visiting or contacting your U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development or HUD’s Providence Field Office, https://www.hud.gov/states/rhode_island/offices, or get informed on the homeownership assistance and improvement programs on the following link: https://www.hud.gov/states/rhode_island/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. These programs provide funds to income-eligible homeowners for home repairs, improvements, and modifications.

As a state, Rhode Island offers support to its residents, including new homeowners and long-time property owners alike. Non-profit organizations, such as Habitat for Humanity, have 4 offices in the State of Rhode Island 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=RI.

If you need to connect with available resources in your community, but don’t know where to look, United Way of Rhode Island 2-1-1 is also a great place to start. It is a free, confidential service available to anyone and it is responsible for the 211 helplines in Rhode Island. Rhode Island 2-1-1 helpline is Rhode Island’s only comprehensive, community information and referral helpline. 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: https://www.unitedwayri.org/

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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How can I get a solar grant in Rhode Island?

Rhode Island is a state with not so much sunshine and laws that are favorable for solar power and renewable energy. Rhode Island 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, Rhode Island offers some additional incentives for going solar, depending on where you live and who your utility company is.

One of the state’s best solar incentive offers is National Grid’s Renewable Energy Growth (REG) program. Residential customers who choose to participate in this program will receive 28.75 cents for each kilowatt-hour (kWh) their solar panel system generates for the first 15 years of their system. The value of this offer is most clearly highlighted when compared to the regular retail rate of about 19 cents per kWh. For residential customers, the PBIs take the form of a bill credit and a cash payment, and are based on the number of kilowatt-hours (kWhs) generated by the solar energy system in a given month.

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. As of November 2021, the average solar panel cost in Rhode Island is $3.00/W. Given a solar panel system size of 5 kilowatts (kW), an average solar installation in Rhode Island ranges in cost from $12,750.00 to $17,250.00, with the average gross price for solar in Rhode Island coming in at $15,000.00. You can apply for this credit on your taxes when purchasing solar systems and installing 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.

Rhode Island also offers great net metering laws. Net metering is a system in which solar panels or other renewable energy generators are connected to a public-utility power grid and surplus power is transferred into the grid, allowing customers to offset the cost of power drawn from the utility. When you generate electricity from your solar array for your home or business, it reduces the amount of energy you purchase from your electric utility. It also lowers your monthly electricity bills. If your system produces more energy than you need, the excess power is sold back to the grid. That amount of energy is deducted from your monthly bill or credited toward a future bill.

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 Rhode Island 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 Rhode Island you may contact:

https://apps.hud.gov/offices/hsg/sfh/hcc/hcs.cfm?webListAction=search&searchstate=RI.

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, reducing the interest rate on your credit, and creating 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 making 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 Rhode Island impacted by the Covid-19 crisis may also use these programs. Many utility companies in Rhode Island also have programs to assist low-income customers. LIHEAP pays only one benefit per year. These funds may help you pay your utility bills or give you a discount and lower the amount of energy you use.

The State of Rhode Island Low Income Home Energy Assistance Program (LIHEAP) helps eligible low-income households pay their heating bills through federal grants to the household. There are two components to this program. Heating Assistance: A grant to assist a household in meeting heating costs. The grant may be paid to either a heating fuel vendor or utility company, or in a few cases, directly to the applicant.

Crisis Assistance: A grant to help resolve a home heating crisis caused by a heat shut-off because of failure to pay a regulated energy bill, the inability to pay for deliverable fuel, or the failure of a heating system that is not repairable.

Rhode Island Works is a financial and employment assistance program for parents and families with little to no income who have children high school age or younger. It gives individualized and family supportive services, job readiness, preparation and placement, employment or vocational training and retention services. Recipients can also receive child care, transportation and educational services towards the goal of improved long-term stabilization. The amount of money your family receives depends on your income, household size and housing situation. Approved during the summer of 2021, RIW benefits increased by 30 percent. The new, higher benefit amount started on September 1, 2021. Eligible families may receive:

Family of two – $584.00
Family of three – $721.00
Family of four – $825.00

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?

If you’re a senior or you’re disabled, you might be able to get property tax relief in RI! There is a property tax relief credit that might make it easier for you to pay your property taxes. You must make less than $30,000.00 per year to be eligible for this program. Rhode Island also has other requirements you’ll need to meet if you want to get a property tax relief credit.

If you’re a veteran, you might be able to get property tax relief. The program has strict guidelines you will need to meet to qualify for it. You might also have to provide proof of your service in addition to other documents to get help with the property tax credit.

A disabled veteran or the surviving spouse of a disabled veteran might be able to get help with property taxes. If you meet either one of these, help could be available! Rhode Island has a property tax relief program that could help you with up to 100% of the value of your home. You could be fully exempt from property taxes depending on if you are 100% disabled as a result of your service.

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. The process until applicants are approved can be long and requires providing a large amount of 100% accurate information.

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 office, visit the state’s official site, call 2-1-1 or get in touch with the Habitat for Humanity in your area.

How can I get a grant for windows?

Grants are available in Rhode Island 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 emergency repair and it is usually covered by all home improvement grant and loan programs.

The Rhode Island Weatherization Assistance Program helps income-eligible households reduce heating bills by providing whole house energy efficiency services to households that qualify for LIHEAP. Some services available include installing insulation and providing health and safety measures including: installing smoke and carbon monoxide detectors, reducing drafts, and providing proper ventilation.

Window repair and window replacement are eligible projects that can be covered by the Housing Rehabilitation Loan Program if you are a resident of the City of Cranston. The loan comes with interest rates that vary between 0% and 2% depending on your income and your credit score. A Home Improvement Grant Program is also available in the City of East Providence. This program offers grants, no-interest deferred payment loans, and low-interest loans to owner-occupied and qualifying rental properties in East Providence. The Town of Lincoln helps its residents through 100% Grants and 50% Grants. These grants can be used for repairing and replacing damaged windows.

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 office, visit the state’s official site, call 2-1-1 or get in touch with the 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 Rhode Island 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.

New flooring and repairing damaged ones are eligible projects that can be covered by the Housing Rehabilitation Loan Program if you are a resident of the City of Cranston. The loan comes with interest rates that vary between 0% and 2% depending on your income and your credit score. A Home Improvement Grant Program is also available in the City of East Providence. This program offers grants, no-interest deferred payment loans, and low-interest loans to owner-occupied and qualifying rental properties in East Providence. The Town of Lincoln helps its residents through 100% Grants and 50% Grants. These grants can be used for repairing and replacing damaged floors.

If you are living in a rural area in the state of Rhode Island 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 office, visit the state’s official site, call 2-1-1 or get in touch with the Habitat for Humanity in your area.

Are there grants for the elderly?

Senior citizens living in Rhode Island 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 Older Americans Act (OAA) is a federal program that gives money to each state to assist elderly Americans who live outside of nursing homes. The goal is to help them remain living independently in their homes. Each local agency establishes a series of programs with the funds they have been granted. Any senior resident of Rhode Island aged 60 and above is eligible to receive some sort of assistance under the Older Americans Act. In most states, these programs provide services under different names, but in Rhode Island, they are referred to as Area Agencies on Aging. The Administration on Aging is established by the Older Americans Act as a separate agency under the Department of Health and Human Services Visit the official site of the Rhode Island Care Planning Council and get informed on the ways you can get help. https://www.longtermcarelink.net/contact.htm

Habitat for Humanity Greater Providence administers an Aging in Place Program to help senior citizens living in this area. To be eligible for this program, homeowners must be 65 and older, live at or below 80% of the area median income, and have proof of home insurance. The organization helps with home modifications such as ramps, railings, lighting and more.

If you are a senior living in a rural area in the state of Rhode Island 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.

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 Rhode Island. 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.

The City of Cranston offers a Housing Rehabilitation Loan Program that you might be able to get if you qualify for it. You will need to meet credit, income and residency requirements. The loan comes with interest rates that vary between 0% and 2% depending on your income and your credit score. If you meet the requirements of the loan, you might be able to use this to help with a variety of repair projects. The CDBG is also available for people who are in need of help through the city and it does not have to be paid back as the loan does. Funds are limited and are provided on a first come first serve basis. Typical improvements include roofs, vinyl siding, replacement windows, doors, gutters and more.

A Home Improvement Grant Program is also available in the City of East Providence. This program offers grants, no-interest deferred payment loans, and low-interest loans to owner-occupied and qualifying rental properties in East Providence. Eligibility is based on income and other factors. The Home Improvement Program will provide assistance to homeowners in need of emergency repairs, building and health code violation repairs, and/or other repairs in order to improve the safety, accessibility and energy efficiency of their home. Online applications for these funds can be found at the following link:

https://live-east-providence-ri.pantheonsite.io/sites/default/files/field/files-docs/hip_application_1.pdf

The Town of Lincoln helps its residents to ensure decent, safe and suitable housing if they have low to moderate income. Grants are awarded on the basis of need and are available to eligible applicants up to a maximum amount of $10,000.00 per dwelling in any given grant year. A limited amount of funds are available for rehabilitation. Grants are generally awarded on a first come first serve basis for completed applications. Preference is given, but not limited to persons of very low income, elderly and disabled applicants. 100% Grants are intended to assist low income homeowners who cannot qualify for a loan or do not have the financial resources to make the necessary improvements to their dwellings. The maximum grant available is $10,000.00 in any given grant year; applicants are limited to one grant in a five year period. 50% Grants are intended to assist homeowners who have the resources to pay for one half of the home improvement cost. These grants provide the eligible applicant with a grant of 50% of the total cost needed to accomplish the necessary improvements. The applicant is expected to provide the remaining 50% of the project cost. The maximum 50% grant available is $5,000.00 in any given grant year, based on the maximum project improvement cost of $10,000.00; applicants are limited to one grant in a five year period.

Providence provides Community Development Loans that might be able to help you if you’re in need of RI home repair help. These loans have lower interest rates than traditional loans. They also have better terms than traditional loans and an easier approval process. You could get help with your home repairs through the CDBG and HOME programs too which offer options for low-income families in need of home repairs. Providence has even more options and offers a 0% loan for up to $25,000 that you might be able to use to make your home safer.

Residents of Warwick might be able to get RI home repair help through the CDBG-R. This is a grant program that might be able to help low-income homeowners in the city get the funding they need for necessary repairs and rehabilitation projects.

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 Rhode Island, have different programs available to help their low and moderate-income residents. For convenience, search and apply for Rhode Island 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 Rhode Island 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 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 Rhode Island. 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 address 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.

https://www.habitat.org/local/affiliate-by-state?state=RI.

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, Rhode Island offers support to its residents, including new homeowners and long-time property owners alike. Rhode Island 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 roof replacement are eligible projects that can be covered by the Housing Rehabilitation Loan Program if you are a resident of the City of Cranston. The loan comes with interest rates that vary between 0% and 2% depending on your income and your credit score. A Home Improvement Grant Program is also available in the City of East Providence. This program offers grants, no-interest deferred payment loans, and low-interest loans to owner-occupied and qualifying rental properties in East Providence. The Town of Lincoln helps its residents through 100% Grants and 50% Grants. These grants can be used for repairing and replacing damaged roofs.

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 office, visit the state’s official site, call 2-1-1 or get in touch with the Habitat for Humanity 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 Rhode Island can be found at their site:

https://apps.hud.gov/offices/hsg/sfh/hcc/hcs.cfm?webListAction=search&searchstate=RI.

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. Rhode Island 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 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.

New rewiring, making electrical upgrades and fixing electrical systems are eligible projects that can be covered by the Housing Rehabilitation Loan Program if you are a resident of the City of Cranston. The loan comes with interest rates that vary between 0% and 2% depending on your income and your credit score. A Home Improvement Grant Program is also available in the City of East Providence. This program offers grants, no-interest deferred payment loans, and low-interest loans to owner-occupied and qualifying rental properties in East Providence. The Town of Lincoln helps its residents through 100% Grants and 50% Grants. These grants can be used for repairing and replacing non functional electrical systems..

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 office, visit the state’s official site, call 2-1-1 or get in touch with the Habitat for Humanity in your area.

What is the Emergency Mortgage Assistance Program?

RIHousing provides mortgage payment assistance funding through the federally-funded Hardest Hit Fund Rhode Island (HHFRI) program. The new program provides financial assistance to Rhode Island homeowners negatively impacted by the COVID-19 pandemic and struggling to make their mortgage payments. Borrowers must have experienced unemployment or underemployment due to the COVID-19 pandemic to be eligible.

The HHFRI program offers a five-year, zero interest forgivable loan for eligible homeowners to pay up to six months of mortgage payments. This program helps qualified homeowners make monthly mortgage payments and/or catch up on their payments if they have fallen behind due to a recent involuntary loss of employment or reduction in employment income. Payments can also cover arrearages if the homeowner fell behind because he/she is unemployed or underemployed due to the pandemic. All borrowers must have been current on their mortgage payments as of March 1, 2020 and must meet certain income and eligibility criteria. Applicants currently in a forbearance agreement with their lenders are eligible for the program.

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.

https://www.hmpadmin.com/portal/programs/docs/hamp_borrower/rma_english_sd1110.pdf

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 office, visit the state’s official site, call 2-1-1 or get in touch with the Habitat for Humanity in your area.