Calling all mobile and manufactured homeowners in Vermont!
Did you know you may be eligible for financial assistance to help with critical repairs, weatherization upgrades, or even full home replacement? Many state, federal, and nonprofit programs exist specifically to support mobile home owners like you with essential home repairs.
One of the most widely available resources is the USDA’s Section 504 Home Repair Program. This federal program offers loans and grants to help repair, improve, or modernize your home, and to eliminate health and safety hazards. Homeowners can apply for loans up to forty thousand dollars. Seniors aged sixty-two or older may be eligible for grants of up to ten thousand dollars, or fifteen thousand in designated disaster areas.
To qualify, you must own and occupy the home as your primary residence, and your household income must fall within the USDA’s low-income limits. If you’re approved for a loan above twenty-five thousand dollars, the USDA will also require full title service or a legal check to verify ownership and property records. This program is especially helpful for homeowners in rural areas, and it can cover repairs like roofing, electrical work, or accessibility modifications that make your home safer and more livable.
In Vermont, there’s the Manufactured Home Improvement and Repair Program (MHIR), which helps mobile home owners in registered parks stay in their homes by funding essential repairs, installing foundations, and even removing abandoned units in some cases. Grants are available — up to about $18,000 for repairs, $15,000 for foundation work — but the home must be in a mobile home park that’s officially registered. Homes on private land aren’t eligible under MHIR. Applications are offered in funding rounds, so checking when the next round opens is key
There are also nonprofit organizations that may be able to help, depending on where you live and what you need. Groups like Rebuilding Together and Habitat for Humanity sometimes offer free or low-cost repair services for low-income mobile home owners, seniors, or people with disabilities. Program availability and eligibility requirements may vary by county or change over time, so be sure to check with the administering organization for the most up-to-date information.
If you’re a mobile home owner in Vermont, these resources can make a real difference in maintaining the safety, value, and comfort of your home.
Overview:
- The USDA Section 504 Home Repair Program offers loans and grants to help repair and improve your home.
- The Manufactured Home Improvement and Repair Program (MHIR) funds essential repairs, installing foundations, and even removing abandoned units through grants.
- Non-profit organizations like Rebuilding Together and Habitat For Humanity sometimes offer low-cost repair surfaces for low-income households or homeowners with disabilities.
Programs and Resources:
USDA Section 504 Home Repair Program / Single Family Housing Repair Loans & Grants
https://www.rd.usda.gov/programs-services/single-family-housing-programs/single-family-housing-repair-loans-grants
State of Vermont Agency of Commerce and Community Development | Manufactured Home Improvement and Repair Program
https://accd.vermont.gov/housing/funding/MHIR
Rebuilding Together / Find your local affiliate
https://rebuildingtogether.org/find-your-local-affiliate
Habitat for Humanity / Find your local habitat
https://www.habitat.org/volunteer/near-you/find-your-local-habitat