USDA Section 504 home repair help
For very-low-income owners in rural areas, USDA's Section 504 program offers low-interest repair loans — and grants for older homeowners — to fix health and safety problems. Here's the general picture and how to check eligibility.
Published June 4, 2026
If you own your home, live in a rural area, and can't afford an urgent repair, USDA's Section 504 program may help. Through Rural Development, it offers low-interest repair loans to very-low-income owners and grants to older owners to fix health and safety hazards. This article gives the general picture. It is general information, not legal or financial advice; confirm the current terms and your eligibility with USDA.
Loans and grants — two parts
Section 504 has two tracks:
- Repair loans — low-interest loans for very-low-income homeowners to repair, improve, or modernize a home, repaid over time; and
- Repair grants — for homeowners generally at or above a set age who can't repay a loan, used to remove health and safety hazards.
The two can sometimes be combined. The current dollar maximums and the age threshold for grants are listed on the USDA program page — check there for the figures, since they're updated periodically.
Do manufactured homes qualify?
Often yes, when the home and owner meet the program's rules. Key requirements typically include:
- The home is in an eligible rural area (USDA has an address-lookup tool);
- The owner occupies the home and meets the income limits; and
- The owner is unable to get affordable credit elsewhere.
Because some requirements relate to how a manufactured home is titled and sited, confirm your specific situation with the local office.
How to apply
- Find your local USDA Rural Development office (the program is administered locally);
- Use benefits.gov to check this and other programs you may qualify for; and
- Gather proof of income, ownership, and the needed repair before you apply.
Where to learn more
See the FightMyPark articles on the Weatherization Assistance Program (energy upgrades), on converting a title from personal to real property (which can affect program eligibility), and on keeping your home insured. Your local USDA Rural Development office can confirm eligibility and current limits.
Frequently asked questions
- What is the USDA Section 504 program?
- It's a USDA Rural Development program that offers very-low-income homeowners low-interest loans to repair or improve a home, and grants to older homeowners to remove health and safety hazards. It's commonly called 'Section 504.' This is general information; check the USDA page for current terms and limits.
- Can a manufactured home owner use it?
- Often yes, if the home and owner meet the program's requirements — including that the home is in an eligible rural area and the owner occupies it and meets the income limits. Some requirements relate to how the home is titled and sited, so confirm your specific situation with your local USDA Rural Development office.
- What's the difference between the loan and the grant?
- The loan is available to very-low-income owners at a low interest rate and is repaid over time; the grant is generally limited to homeowners at or above a certain age who can't repay a loan, and must be used to remove health and safety hazards. Current dollar limits and the age threshold are listed on the USDA program page.