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Is the USDA Section 504 home repair program open?

Section 504 Home Repair program, U.S. Department of Agriculture, Rural Development, United States (federal) Application Window: Open Applications are accepted for processing from individuals on an ongoing basis from October 1- September 30.

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Source: U.S. Department of Agriculture, Rural Development, read 23 October 2026.

Source: U.S. Department of Agriculture, Rural Development, read 23 October 2026.

Section 504 Home Repair program, U.S. Department of Agriculture, Rural Development, United States (federal)

Status: Open (as of 23 October 2026, www.rd.usda.gov):

Application Window: Open

Applications are accepted for processing from individuals on an ongoing basis from October 1- September 30.

Applications for this program are accepted through your local RD office year round

Maximum loan is $40,000

Maximum grant is $10,000

Loans and grants can be combined for up to $50,000 in assistance

Loans are termed for 20 years

Loan interest rate is fixed at 1%

Full title service is required if the total outstanding balance on Section 504 loans is greater than $25,000

Grants have a lifetime limit of $10,000

Grants must be repaid if the property is sold in less than 3 years

Source: U.S. Department of Agriculture, Rural Development, read 23 October 2026.

Quoted from the agency named, as read on the date shown. Programs change; check the agency's page before you rely on it. InstaBids does not run these programs or decide who qualifies, and is not affiliated with any government agency.

By InstaBids editorial team with AI research agents. Sources read: 23 October 2026 Updated 2026-10-27

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Who can apply for the USDA Section 504 home repair program?

Section 504 Home Repair program, U.S. Department of Agriculture, Rural Development, United States (federal)

To qualify, you must:

  • Be the homeowner and occupy the house
  • Be unable to obtain affordable credit elsewhere
  • Have a household income that does not exceed the low and very-low limit by county
  • For grants, be age 62 or older and have a household income that does not exceed the very low limit by county

Source: U.S. Department of Agriculture, Rural Development, read 23 October 2026.

Quoted from the agency named, as read on the date shown. Programs change; check the agency's page before you rely on it. InstaBids does not run these programs or decide who qualifies, and is not affiliated with any government agency.

How can USDA Section 504 home repair loans and grants be used?

Section 504 Home Repair program, U.S. Department of Agriculture, Rural Development, United States (federal)

Also known as the Section 504 Home Repair program, this provides loans to low and very-low-income homeowners to repair, improve or modernize their homes or grants to elderly very-low income homeowners to remove health and safety hazards.

Loans may be used to repair, improve or modernize homes or remove health and safety hazards

Grants must be used to remove health and safety hazards

Source: U.S. Department of Agriculture, Rural Development, read 23 October 2026.

Quoted from the agency named, as read on the date shown. Programs change; check the agency's page before you rely on it. InstaBids does not run these programs or decide who qualifies, and is not affiliated with any government agency.

How do you apply for the USDA Section 504 home repair program?

Section 504 Home Repair program, U.S. Department of Agriculture, Rural Development, United States (federal)

Utilizing the USDA Eligibility Site you can enter a specific address for determination or just search the map to review general eligible areas.

Prior to applying, potential applicants are encouraged (but are not required) to go through an informal prequalification process to determine if the repair program may be a good fit for them. To start, potential applicants can contact their local Rural Development office and provide the following documentation:

  • Form RD 3550-35, Section 504 Home Repair Loan and Grant Program Intake Form & Form RD 3550-1, Authorization to Release Information (Spanish versions of these forms are not available)

Very-low income homeowners in rural areas interested in applying for the repair program (preferably after going through the prequalification process as described above) can contact their local Rural Development office and provide the following documentation:

  • Form RD 410-4, Uniform Residential Loan Application
  • Form RD 410-4, Solicitud de Préstamo Residencial Único
  • Form RD 3550-1, Authorization to Release Information (Spanish version not available)
  • Form RD 3550-4, Employment and Asset Certification
  • Form RD 3550-4, Certificación de Empleo y Patrimonio Certificación de Empleo
  • All application items listed in Attachment 12-E Checklist (Spanish version not available)

Source: U.S. Department of Agriculture, Rural Development, read 23 October 2026.

Quoted from the agency named, as read on the date shown. Programs change; check the agency's page before you rely on it. InstaBids does not run these programs or decide who qualifies, and is not affiliated with any government agency.

What governs the USDA Section 504 home repair program?

Section 504 Home Repair program, U.S. Department of Agriculture, Rural Development, United States (federal)

The Housing Act of 1949 as amended, 7 CFR Part 3550

Source: U.S. Department of Agriculture, Rural Development, read 23 October 2026.

Quoted from the agency named, as read on the date shown. Programs change; check the agency's page before you rely on it. InstaBids does not run these programs or decide who qualifies, and is not affiliated with any government agency.

Section 504, Electronic Code of Federal Regulations (Office of the Federal Register), United States (federal)

Repairs necessary to remove health and safety hazards may be made to mobile or manufactured homes provided: (1) The applicant owns the home and site and has occupied the home prior to filing an application with RHS; and (2) The mobile or manufactured home is on a permanent foundation or will be put on a permanent foundation with section 504 funds.

Source: Electronic Code of Federal Regulations (Office of the Federal Register), read 17 October 2026.

Quoted from the agency named, as read on the date shown. Programs change; check the agency's page before you rely on it. InstaBids does not run these programs or decide who qualifies, and is not affiliated with any government agency.

This page is general information, not tax or legal advice. For your own situation, ask a tax professional or the agency that runs the program.

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