Public programs that may help a homeowner in Lancaster County pay for a repair, each with its official page, where you apply. This site does not run any of them.
Programs open and close, and their rules change. The office that runs a program decides who qualifies. This site is not that office and cannot say whether you qualify: ask the program, using the official link given for each one.
Programs for Lancaster County
Home Repair Program (Lancaster County Redevelopment Authority)
County program. Run by Lancaster County Redevelopment Authority.
Critical home repairs for low- and moderate-income homeowners, such as roofs, plumbing, heating and cooling, windows and doors, with no upfront costs and no monthly payments. It is a deferred loan, repaid when the home is sold, transferred or refinanced, and a lien may be placed on the home.
Who it is for: Lancaster County homeowners outside the city limits who meet the income and program guidelines, have lived in and owned the home for at least two years with equity in it, have homeowners insurance and are up to date on the mortgage and property taxes.
Nonprofit program. Run by Good Neighbors Home Repair.
Critical repairs at no cost to the homeowner that make the home warmer, safer, drier and healthier, such as a heater or furnace, a leaking roof or pipe, windows and doors, soft floors, entry steps, ramps and grab bars.
Who it is for: Low-income homeowners in southern Chester County and southern Lancaster County who are current with their mortgage and taxes.
A no-cost energy assessment, free energy-saving products and energy tips. Customers with electric heat may be eligible for upgrades like insulation, air sealing, a heat pump, a water heater and smart thermostats.
Who it is for: Income-eligible PPL Electric customers aged 18 or older, whether they own or rent. Renters need their landlord's contact information.
Energy-saving improvements at no cost to qualifying UGI customers. After a home energy evaluation, the work may include insulation, air sealing, heating system repairs, a furnace clean, tune and safety inspection, caulking and weather stripping, and carbon monoxide and smoke alarms.
Who it is for: Income-eligible households with an active UGI residential gas heating or electric account, a full year of billing and higher than average usage. Renters need written permission from the landlord.
State program. Run by Pennsylvania Housing Finance Agency (PHFA).
Loans, to be repaid, for specific energy efficiency repairs: air sealing, insulation and ductwork; energy efficient windows and doors; energy efficient heating or cooling system repairs or replacements; and roof replacements.
Who it is for: Homebuyers and homeowners within the program's income limits, which the page lists by household size. Loans are subject to credit approval.
LIHEAP crisis grants (Low-Income Home Energy Assistance Program)
State program. Run by Pennsylvania Department of Human Services, through the County Assistance Offices.
LIHEAP gives cash grants to help pay heating bills. Its crisis benefits are for a heating emergency, such as broken heating equipment or leaking lines that must be fixed or replaced, or a lack of fuel.
Who it is for: Renters and homeowners who meet income requirements set by household size. You do not need to be on another public assistance program or have unpaid heating bills to qualify.
State program. Run by Pennsylvania Infrastructure Investment Authority (PENNVEST), with the Pennsylvania Housing Finance Agency and the Department of Environmental Protection.
Loans, secured by a mortgage on the home, for homeowners who need to repair or replace their on-lot septic system or make a first-time connection to a public sewer from an existing home.
Who it is for: Pennsylvania residents improving their primary residence. There are no restrictions on household income; borrowers are checked for their ability to repay the loan.
Single Family Housing Repair Loans and Grants (Section 504 Home Repair)
Federal program. Run by U.S. Department of Agriculture, Rural Development.
Loans to low and very-low-income homeowners to repair, improve or modernize their homes, and grants to elderly very-low-income homeowners to remove health and safety hazards.
Who it is for: Homeowners who occupy the house, cannot get affordable credit elsewhere and are within the income limit for their county; grants are for homeowners aged 62 or older. Only in areas USDA counts as rural: its Eligibility Site checks an address.
State program. Run by Pennsylvania Department of Community and Economic Development (DCED), through a local weatherization agency in each county.
Makes homes more energy efficient. After an energy audit of the home, the work can include air sealing, insulation, changing or replacing the heating system for efficiency or safety, and minor repairs or health and safety measures needed for the weatherization work.
Who it is for: Low-income individuals, with priority given to higher risk residents such as the elderly, disabled individuals, families with children and high energy users.