Roof replacement grants and assistance programs

Is there a government grant for a new roof?

Not in the way most ads suggest. USA.gov states plainly that the federal government does not offer "free money" to individuals to repair their homes. What it does fund is a handful of need-based programs, most of them loans or locally run grants with income limits, age rules and waitlists. If you meet the rules, they can cover some or all of a roof. If you don't, your best tools are comparing quotes and roof financing.

Which program fits you

USDA Section 504 Home Repair loans and grants

The Section 504 Home Repair program from USDA Rural Development is the closest thing to a federal roof grant. It offers loans to low and very low income homeowners to repair, improve or modernize their homes, and grants to very low income homeowners aged 62 or older to remove health and safety hazards. Loans can go toward a new roof, and grants can too when the roof is a health or safety hazard; your local office decides.

• Grants: up to $10,000, only for homeowners 62 or older. The $10,000 is a lifetime limit, and the grant must be repaid if you sell the home within 3 years.
• Loans: up to $40,000 at a fixed 1% interest rate for 20 years.
• Combined: loans and grants together can reach $50,000.
• Who qualifies: you must own and live in the home, be unable to get affordable credit elsewhere, have household income under the county limit, and live in an eligible rural area (check your address on the USDA eligibility site).
• How to apply: contact your local Rural Development office. Applications are taken year round, and approval times depend on funding in your area.

HUD Title I property improvement loans

Title I is a loan, not a grant, but it helps homeowners who have little equity. HUD insures loans that private lenders make for repairs and improvements, so you apply through a HUD-approved lender, not HUD. For a single-family home HUD's published maximum is $25,000, with terms up to 20 years. The 21st Century ROAD to Housing Act (Public Law 119-101, signed July 11, 2026, section 303) raised the statutory limit to $75,000 and lets HUD set terms of up to 30 years, so ask a Title I lender what it currently offers. Loans over $7,500 must be secured by the property. The rate is fixed and negotiated with the lender, and there is no prepayment penalty. The home must have been completed and occupied for at least 90 days.

Weatherization Assistance Program: what it can and can't pay for

The Department of Energy's Weatherization Assistance Program lowers energy bills for low-income households, generally those at or below 200% of the federal poverty guidelines, with priority for older adults, people with disabilities and families with children. It is not a roof program. DOE guidance strictly prohibits stand-alone roof replacements. It can pay for limited roof repairs when a leak would damage new insulation or creates a health and safety problem, and some states use Weatherization Readiness Funds for bigger repairs that would otherwise stop a home from being weatherized. Apply through your state's weatherization agency.

FEMA help after a declared disaster

If a hurricane, tornado or other event leads to a presidential disaster declaration that includes Individual Assistance, FEMA may help repair a primary residence. FEMA does not duplicate insurance, so file your insurance claim first. Its goal is to make the home safe, sanitary and functional, not to restore it to how it was, so it may fix disaster-caused roof leaks rather than pay for a full upgrade. Apply at DisasterAssistance.gov or call 1-800-621-3362.

State and local housing repair programs

Most roof grants are local. HUD sends Community Development Block Grant money to states, cities and counties, and many use part of it for home repair and rehabilitation. HUD does not give these funds to individuals, so you apply to your city or county housing or community development office. State housing agencies run their own repair loans and grants too. In storm-prone states, look for roof-strengthening grants: My Safe Florida Home, for example, offers free wind mitigation inspections and grants of up to $10,000 for approved upgrades, including roof improvements. If you don't know where to start, dial 211. It's a free, confidential line that connects you to local housing and utility help.

Help for seniors

Homeowners 62 and older are the only ones eligible for USDA 504 grants. Beyond that, your local Area Agency on Aging serves people 60 and over and can tell you about senior home repair programs near you. Find it through the Eldercare Locator at eldercare.acl.gov or 1-800-677-1116. Homeowners over 62 may also qualify for a reverse mortgage (a Home Equity Conversion Mortgage) and use the money for repairs, but it is a loan against your home, so weigh it carefully.

Nonprofit home repair programs

Many Habitat for Humanity affiliates run home repair programs, and some aging-in-place programs list a new roof among the exterior work they do. Eligibility is set by each local affiliate and usually means low income, so contact the Habitat affiliate that serves your county. For other local charities that help with urgent repairs, ask 211.

Storm damage: your insurance claim comes first

If hail, wind or a fallen tree damaged your roof, homeowners insurance is usually the biggest source of help. Policies typically cover sudden damage, minus your deductible, but not wear and age. Read our guide to whether insurance covers roof replacement before you call your insurer, and never sign your insurance check over to a contractor.

How to apply: a checklist

1. Get a written estimate for the work, so you know the scope and the dollar amount you're asking for. Our roof replacement cost guide shows typical prices.
2. Gather documents: photo ID, proof you own the home (deed or tax bill), proof of income for everyone in the household (tax returns, pay stubs, Social Security statements), your homeowners insurance policy and your mortgage statement.
3. If you live outside a city, check your address on the USDA eligibility map and call your Rural Development office.
4. Call 211 and your city or county housing office to ask which repair programs are open now.
5. If you're 60 or older, call your Area Agency on Aging.
6. If a storm caused the damage, file the insurance claim first, then apply to FEMA if the area has a disaster declaration.
7. Apply early and keep copies. Most programs fund homes in order until money runs out.
8. Never pay anyone to apply or to "guarantee" approval.

How to spot a "free roof" scam

The Federal Trade Commission warns that the government will not call, text, email or message you out of the blue about a grant, and no agency will ask you to pay to get one. Scammers ask for fees by gift card, wire transfer, cash or crypto, or ask for your bank account or Social Security number. The FTC adds that if someone wants money to help you qualify for FEMA funds, it's a scam. When a roofer advertises a "free roof," it usually means an insurance claim, and offering to cover your deductible is illegal in several states. Learn the warning signs in our guide on how to spot a bad roofer, and report scams at ReportFraud.ftc.gov.

If you don't qualify

Most homeowners won't qualify for a grant, and that's normal. Your next steps: compare free itemized estimates, since quotes for the same roof can differ by thousands; read our affordable roofing guide for ways to cut the price; look at roof financing options; and see 7 ways to pay for a roof you can't afford. When you're ready, see how to check roofers near you.

Sources

• USDA Rural Development: Single Family Housing Repair Loans and Grants
• HUD: Title I Insured Programs
• GovInfo: Public Law 119-101, 21st Century ROAD to Housing Act (section 303, Title I loan limits)
• USA.gov: Government home repair assistance programs
• DOE: How to apply for weatherization assistance and WPN 19-5 on roof repairs
• FEMA: Individual Assistance housing help
• HUD: Community Development Block Grant program
• Eldercare Locator (Administration for Community Living)
• Habitat for Humanity: Aging in place FAQ
• My Safe Florida Home
• FTC: Government grant scams and scams after natural disasters