Is Your Georgia Home In Need of Repairs? There Are Grants That Can Help

Grants for home repairs in Georgia

Georgia offers a range of resources to help homeowners tackle necessary repairs without overwhelming their budget. These programs are designed to support safe, comfortable living conditions while preserving the value of your home.

Community Home Investment Program

Georgia’s Department of Community Affairs helps make homes safe and livable through its federally funded Community Home Investment Program (CHIP). What’s interesting about this program is that homeowners don’t apply directly. Instead, CHIP gives money to local nonprofits, public housing authorities, and other community groups that are improving housing for low-income residents.

CHIP grants can go up to $500,000 for rehabilitation and $1.5 million for new builds. If you want to get involved, keep an eye on local organizations that get funding and stay updated on new projects popping up in your community.

Community Development Block Grants

The Department of Community Affairs also offers the federally funded Community Development Block Grants (CDBG) program to support low- to moderate-income regions. Through its Annual CDBG Competition, it grants communities up to $300,000 to rehab single-activity housing projects (meaning only one kind of project per grant).

Small city and county governments that are not part of HUD’s metro‑city or urban‑county programs can apply for this program. Among these applicants, funds go first to the communities that show the highest need, measured by poverty rates and low per‑capita income, and that present plans with the biggest benefits for low‑ and moderate‑income residents.

USDA Rural Development Single Family Housing Repair Loans & Grants

USDA Rural Development supports communities across the U.S. in modernizing structures and creating updated, affordable housing through its Section 504 Home Repair Program. The program provides loans up to $40,000 at a 1% interest rate over 20 years for low-income individuals. Meanwhile, grants have a lifetime limit of up to $10,000 and are offered to homeowners aged 62 or older.

To qualify, you must live in a rural area, be unable to afford credit elsewhere, and have an income that’s below your county’s very low-income limit. For example, most of Georgia’s 1- to 4-person annual income limits are between $38,100 and $44,150, with the Atlanta Metro Area being an outlier at $57,100.

A homeowner can use the USDA Home Repair loan to modernize and improve their home, whereas the grant can only be used to remove health hazards. Applicants apply through the state’s RD office and can find support via a USDA home loan specialist. Learn more about Georgia’s USDA program here to determine if you qualify.

FHA’s 203(k) Rehabilitation Mortgage Insurance

The FHA offers the 203(k) Rehabilitation Mortgage Insurance to support the purchase or refinance and repair of a single-family home. The program insures a single, long-term, fixed or adjustable rate loan on properties at least a year old.

The Standard 203(k) Mortgage lets homeowners tackle big repairs, major updates, and even structural additions. Your rehab costs need to be at least $5,000, and the total value of the home, including the repairs, must stay within the FHA mortgage limit for your area. In Georgia, the average limit for a single-family home is $541,287, so it’s important to check your county’s specific number before applying.

If you have a less extensive project, the FHA provides a Limited 203(k) Mortgage, financing up to $75,000 to cover improvement projects identified by an FHA appraiser or inspector.

203(k) is a convenient option that saves individuals from high interest rates, making homeownership more accessible across income levels. You’ll apply through an FHA-approved lender, and you may access online the list of lenders.

How to find county- and city-specific programs for home repair grants in Georgia

The state of Georgia works to provide safe housing for low- to moderate-income communities, primarily through its Department of Community Affairs arm. But it’s important to note that most home repair grant programs exist at the local government level. You can tap into these programs by researching your county and city government offices, and we’ve done the work for you in some key counties.

Fulton County

Located in the north-central region and covering a substantial portion of Atlanta, Fulton County is Georgia’s most populous county, with over a million residents. It’s no wonder many call this beautiful region home, as it offers everything from big-city lifestyles to Appalachian Mountain escapes.

If you live in this area, the Housing Rehabilitation Program can help cover the cost of fixing up your home. They focus on making homes safer and healthier, and they base their assistance on income. Families with kids or older adults often get priority.

Repairs they can help with include electrical updates like breakers and wiring, HVAC repairs or replacements, roof fixes, plumbing (think water lines, toilets, sewer), water heater updates, and even weatherproofing or accessibility upgrades.

Chatham County

Chatham County is home to quintessential southern towns, a well-visited lighthouse museum, and a population of over 300,000 individuals. Chatham is also the fifth most populous county in Georgia and is focused on supporting lower-income communities.

Regarding repairs, Chatham’s largest city, Savannah, offers homeowners a home repair assistance program. The initiative works with eligible homeowners to make home exterior or system repairs through the distribution of grants of up to $2,000 annually and loans of up to $15,000 over three years.

Funds can be used to buy materials or hire contractors. The main thing that matters for eligibility is your income, and the repairs have to make your home safe and livable.

DeKalb County

DeKalb County is one of Georgia’s top five most populous counties, and its Community Development Department is a good resource for home assistance programs that support low-income households. It has also been granted Community Development Block Grant funds to expand suitable housing options for all income levels.

Across the county, a few programs stand out with a specific focus on supporting the elderly and disabled populations:

• Special Purpose Home Repair Program: This program offers forgivable loans of up to $14,000 for disabled adults (21+) and seniors (62+) to cover health and safety repairs. To qualify, you need to be current on your taxes, live in the home as your main residence, and have an income at or below 60% of the area median income ($54,840 for a two-person household as of 2025). Repairs they can help with include roof work, HVAC replacements, and plumbing or electrical fixes.
• Senior Home Repair Program: Habitat for Humanity DeKalb’s Aging in Place program helps seniors and homeowners with disabilities fix up their homes so they can stay safe and comfortable. They cover repairs and upgrades like roofs, plumbing, electrical work, and other accessibility improvements. To qualify, you need to own and live in your home, meet income limits, be 62+, and pay a small $500 fee.

Cherokee County

The county’s Home Repair Program offers financial assistance to low- to moderate-income homeowners aged 62 and older for essential repairs that address health, safety, or code violations. Administered by Habitat for Humanity, the program provides grants, not loans, to eligible applicants.

Here are the eligibility requirements:

• Homeowner must reside in the home; manufactured homes must be on a permanent foundation.
• Household income must not exceed 60% of the area median income (AMI), with exceptions requiring County Manager approval.
• Home must require repairs that address HUD code deficiencies.

Using this grant, you can repair leaky roofs, plumbing issues, HVAC system problems, electrical issues, and damaged windows or doors. Note that you can’t use this type of assistance on these improvement projects: exterior or interior painting, gutter cleaning, additions or upgrades, and tree removal

Grants are capped at $15,000, and recipients must agree to remain in the home for five years.

Other options for homeowners who do not qualify for home repair grants

Most home repair programs are meant for folks who meet certain requirements, usually income-based, so they can help low- to moderate-income households. Often, you must have an income at or below 60% of your AMI.

If you qualify, the money usually has to go toward specific repairs that improve safety, health, or accessibility, not just cosmetic upgrades. But if you don’t meet the income requirements, there are other funding options you can check out to tackle your home improvement projects.

Apply for a home equity line of credit (HELOC)

A HELOC is a revolving source of funds with a maximum available credit secured by home equity. It usually comes with variable interest rates, and the average rate on a $100,000 HELOC was 7.06% in February 2026.

The first phase of a HELOC is the draw period, usually between five and ten years, during which you can draw from the available funds while making payments on only the interest. Upon completion of the draw period, you enter the repayment period, usually between 10 and 20 years, and pay off the remaining balance.

A HELOC is an excellent method when you need immediate funds for a home project, such as an emergency repair, and when you don’t qualify for income-based programs.

Consider a cash-out refinance

When undergoing a significant home project, you should consider a cash-out refinance. This replaces your current mortgage with a new one that provides the remaining funds in cash once your old mortgage has been paid off. Most lenders only offer an 80% loan-to-value ratio, i.e., the loan can only be up to 80% of the home’s value.

Let’s use an example. Say your current home’s appraised value is $200,000, and you owe $100,000 on your home. A cash-out refinance could give you a new mortgage of $160,000 (80% of the home’s value). You would pay off the old mortgage and use the remaining $60,000 for home repairs and closing costs.

Cash‑out refinances are generally better for larger, planned projects rather than quick emergency fixes, and it helps if you can secure a competitive interest rate so you’re not paying a lot more over time. You’ll face closing costs and a new loan term, so it’s worth comparing this option with a HELOC or home equity loan before deciding.

Sell your home as-is and move on

Home repair projects come with hassles, whether planned for or surprising. You certainly create value in your current homestead, but at the expense of time, money, and emotional resources. You don’t have to tell us that seeing your contractor call you creates immediate stress.

Fixing your home needs to be worth the effort, and you may decide it’s not. Maybe there is a long list of repairs, or you’d prefer to downsize. If this sounds like you, selling your home as-is might be your best option. You should first carefully review the pros and cons of an as-is sale before making this decision, including but not limited to:

Pros of selling as is:

• Skipping repairs and leaving them to the new owner
• Attracting investors, like home flippers and instant buyers or iBuyers
• Selling more quickly than traditional processes

Cons of selling as is:

• Being perceived as a red-flag property
• Having a limited number of interested buyers
• Receiving a lower offer than expected

Selling an as-is home looks a bit different than the traditional home sale process. HomeLight’s Simple Sale is a great starting point if you decide this is how you would like to proceed. The platform makes it easy to sell your home by providing a no-obligation, all-cash offer within 24 hours and closing in as little as 7 days.

Ready to repair your Georgia home?

You have options for funding home repairs in Georgia, whether you’re tackling a big renovation or just a few small projects. State and county programs can help you stay in your home if that’s what you want.

From grants to low-interest loans or even a cash-out refinance, there are ways to handle the costs without breaking the bank. Do a little research, use this guide, and find the program that works best for you. And before you start any work, get a free estimate of your home’s value so you know exactly where you stand and which repairs will give you the best value for your money.

Header Image Source: (Collov Home Design / Unsplash)