Housing grants provide an alternative for low-income families to secure the funds needed for obtaining housing. This can be for purchasing a home, buying rental property for housing income, making major renovations on existing properties, or to receive assistance when in danger of losing your home through foreclosure. One of the main sources of this funding is the federal government, which offers grant programs through a collaborative initiative of the the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD), and traditional lenders such as banks. Even if you have been turned down by a bank for your home loan, you may still qualify for one of the home grants made available via this program.
In addition to the actual government housing grants, assistance is offered in the form of low-interest loans and down-payment funding, to help families who might not otherwise have the means to become homeowners. These federal housing programs are the largest single source of home grants, but they aren’t the only ones – many states also offer various kinds of grant programs for families with low to moderate income, minorities, and some which are intended especially for female homeowners.
How do government housing grants work?
The first place to check in your search for government grants should be at the website for the Department of Housing and Urban Development. There you will see how much money the government currently has available for funding the various programs offered, and you’ll also find thorough descriptions of each program. There can be significant differences in the amount of funding available for any given program from one year to the next, so it’s always worth checking back periodically, to find out if more funds are being made available. These grants are literally free money from the government which you will not have to pay back, so if you qualify, it can be a financially life-changing event for you and your family.
Who is eligible for government housing grants?
As previously mentioned, grant programs are primarily directed at low-income families who might not be approved by a bank for funding, and among this group, many different sets of circumstances are possible. First-time homeowners as well as previous homeowners may be eligible, and family size is not a consideration – applicants can be single, married, or married with children. Eligibility is not based on credit rating or credit history, so those with a less than stellar financial past are not necessarily excluded from consideration.
What kinds of home grants are available?
A wide variety of home grants are available, and they can be arranged literally at any location in the country, whether you want to buy into an urban area or a rural one. Grants are available for purchasing into senior-citizen communities, mobile or manufactured home parks, apartment buildings, or recreational vehicle parks. There are a number of grants available for purchasing commercial property, for land development, and for rental housing projects. The kind of home you’re hoping to buy can be either from new construction, or it can be an existing home with a long history in a given neighborhood.
What other purposes can home grants be used for?
Although buying a home is the most popular reason to apply for a housing grant, it is certainly not the only one. Some grants are awarded for completely refurbishing a home heating or cooling system, or to install a brand new furnace to replace a tired old one. Some older homes which were built before current standards were in effect for insulation, electrical wiring, plumbing, or roofing, might need major overhauls to make them more habitable, and more energy-efficient.
Applicants in the past have also sought home grants for use in repairing their dwellings after natural disasters, such as floods, tornadoes, and hurricanes. In situations like these, it is sometimes necessary to completely rebuild or to embark on comprehensive repairs to make the home habitable once again. There have traditionally been very few restrictions applied against how housing grant funds must be used, so most home renovation projects are fair game.
The bottom line on government grants
Of course, not everyone will qualify for one of these home grants offered by the federal government – but you’ll never know if you do personally, unless you try. If you need help in finding a grant to fit your circumstances, there are even agencies which provide that kind of assistance, and they will help you find that ideal grant, then help you apply for it, to maximize your chances of approval.