USDA Housing Preservation Grants Window Now Open — Apply by September 8
Every year, USDA Rural Development sets aside funding to help rural communities keep existing housing stock in good repair, including replacing failing roofs, upgrading heating systems, and adding accessibility features where residents need them. The Housing Preservation Grants (HPG) Program opened its Fiscal Year 2026 application window on August 6 and runs through September 8, 2026.
HPG does not fund homeowners directly. USDA awards the grants to sponsoring organizations, including nonprofits, faith-based groups, tribal governments, and state or local government entities, which carry out the repair work on behalf of low- and very-low-income residents in rural communities of 20,000 people or fewer. This applies to organizations working in Virginia, North Carolina, South Carolina, and West Virginia, as it does in every other state.
This year, USDA has $8.3 million available nationally, including $2.09 million set aside for repairing homes damaged in Presidentially declared disasters from 2022, capped at $50,000 per award.
Eligible repairs cover a wide range: roofing, foundations, electrical and plumbing systems, insulation, heating upgrades, and accessibility modifications, along with the labor and administrative costs tied to the work.
Each state runs its own application process rather than routing through a single national portal. Organizations in Virginia, North Carolina, South Carolina, and West Virginia can contact their state's Rural Development office to learn about the application process. Putting together a complete package can take anywhere from a few weeks to several months.
The application window closes September 8, 2026.
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