Home Grants

A place to call home is a basic human need. Shelter promotes health, stability and a sense of safety. With the exception of disaster relief, there are no home grants available from the federal government and foundations.

Virtually No Grants to Individual Home Owners

Home grants sound like an appealing idea to a family struggling to pay the mortgage or someone who dreams of owning their own home. Such grants are not possible because the government is not structured to give individual home assistance. Federal housing money is given in blocks to state and local government, public housing authorities, and to non-profit and for-profit housing and emergency shelter.

Home Owner & Buyer Information and Loans

However, there is assistance for home owners and first time home buyers. While there may be no home grants, there is help. The Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD) publishes resources for home ownership, include local home buyer resources. There are also free housing counseling services that help individuals find ways to save money and buy or improve their hom

While there are no grant options, information may help a home owner find a lower interest loan, refinance their debt, or learn ways to conserve energy and reduce costs.

Renter Home Assistance

There is also assistance to people who are low-income renters and people who are on the brink homelessness. There is available legal help to tenants who are being unfairly treated or living in unhealthy apartments. Many local communities have tenant hotlines and web sites to help residents know their rights.

There are also rental subsidies to people who are very low-income, disabled, or are senior citizens. People must meet eligibility criteria and often there are waiting lists for affordable housing and rental subsidies. Housing counselors can help people apply for housing help and get on waiting lists.

Rental subsidies may be available to low-income people, but they are not grants. Usually subsidies mean a tenant need pay what they able to afford (such as 25%) from their social security or disability monthly checks.

Emergency Rent and Utility Assistance

There may be emergency rent and utilities assistance available in local communities. These programs are managed on the local level by social services agencies and local government departments. The Low Income Heating Assistance Program (LIHEAP) is not a grant, but a form of assistance to help pay energy bills. LIHEAP is a federally managed program and low-income people across the U.S. are allowed to apply.