Home repair help available for qualifying seniors

MOSES LAKE — Seniors whose homes need a little upkeep may be eligible for some help. The government offers grants and low-interest loans for home repairs, and some nonprofits are available to help out as well. 

“There's a really great program out there that supports seniors with home repairs,” said Rebecca Mabius, executive director of Habitat for Humanity of Greater Moses Lake. “They have a grant and a loan that equates to about $50,000. I always point people that way if we can't support something, like, ‘Hey, this is an opportunity. There's a $10,000 grant through USDA Rural. Apply for it. You're eligible for it if you're a senior.’” 

The U.S. Department of Agriculture’s Single Family Housing Repair program is perhaps not as well known as it should be. It’s offered through USDA Rural Development, and provides loans up to $40,000 and grants as high as $10,000, according to the USDA’s website. The loans are open to any homeowner who meets the other qualifications; grants are only available to applicants who are 62 or older. 

To qualify, an applicant must: 

• Be the homeowner and occupy the house 

• Be a U.S. citizen or permanent resident 

• Be unable to obtain affordable credit elsewhere 

• Have a household income that does not exceed the “very low” limit by county 

• Reside in an area designated rural by the USDA. 

In both Grant and Adams counties, the “very low” income level for a household of up to four people is $45,000, according to the USDA. For a household of five to eight, it’s $59,400. All locations in Grant and Adams counties are considered rural, whether within incorporated city limits or not. 

Loans may be used to repair, improve or modernize homes or remove health and safety hazards, according to the USDA. Grants for seniors must be used for removing health and safety hazards, but that includes improvements like wheelchair ramps and walk-in tubs to improve accessibility as the owners age. 

Loans are fixed at 1% interest, according to the USDA, and termed for 20 years. Grants must be repaid if the property is sold in less than three years. 

The Federal Housing Administration also offers Home Equity Conversion Loans, according to its website. The HECM is a reverse mortgage program that enables you to withdraw a portion of your home's equity to use for home maintenance, repairs, or general living expenses. HECM borrowers may reside in their homes indefinitely as long as property taxes and homeowner's insurance are kept current. 

On the private side, Habitat for Humanity International’s A Brush With Kindness program offers work on homes including siding and trim repair, roof and deck repair and wheelchair ramp installation, according to Habitat’s website. Individuals who receive Social Security, Medicaid or disability are eligible. 

In A Brush with Kindness, the homeowner assumes a no-interest loan for up to four years from Habitat. The organization pays the contractor directly and the homeowner pays Habitat in monthly installments. 

A Brush with Kindness is the program Habitat for Humanity of Greater Moses Lake is focusing on in 2025, said Mabius.  

“We work with seniors, veterans and low to moderate-income families to live safely within their home,” Mabius said. “We'll do anywhere from small projects such as installing handrails, replacing tubs, to as large as helping with installing showers or other amenities within the home to ensure that they stay safe.” 

For information about Single-Family Housing Repair grants and loans, visit https://bit.ly/USDARuralHomeRepair or call 360-704-7700. For information about A Brush With Kindness, visit https://bit.ly/KINDBRUSH.