Home Improvement Grants

• Though many people differentiate the terms "home improvement" and "decorating," decorating your home does constitute improvement. Though needs and requirements may vary considerably between grant programs, many decorating endeavors are considered home improvements and eligible for funding. For instance, the cost of installing new aluminum siding or windows to your home for decorative purposes might be covered by energy efficiency grant programs. If you'd like to paint and wallpaper your home, you may qualify for a grant designed to promote health and sanitation in the home. Other decorating endeavors that are often eligible for grant funding include landscaping, fencing and complete remodeling projects.
  
  

Who Is Eligible

• Though it may vary by city, state or the particular program you are applying for, in most cases you must prove a financial need or certain entitlement to qualify for grant programs. Typically, low-income homeowners, landlords, seniors and disabled citizens qualify for some type of financial assistance to improve living conditions. In some instances, business owners are eligible to receive grant funds to improve and decorate work facilities to create more jobs and provide safe work environments for employees.
  
  

Federal Grants

• The federal government provides a great deal of financial assistance to home and property owners nationwide for development, repairs, improvement and rehabilitation. If you qualify for this type of grant funding, sometimes a portion of the grant awards can be put to use for decorating as well. USDA Rural Development grants are awarded to low-income homeowners nationwide in amounts of up to $7,500. Funds can be used for cosmetic purposes as long as they are related to removing health and safety hazards. The U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development also offers numerous types of home improvement grants and loans to low-income qualified applicants.
  
  

City Grants

• Depending on where you reside, you might be able to obtain financial assistance for repairing and decorating your home through local governing agencies. For example, the city of Savannah, Georgia's, Public Development Bureau offers qualified residents home improvement grants, such as the 2011 Minor Home Repair & Paint Program and its Neighborhood Renaissance Savannah Housing Program. In Modesto, California, you may qualify for $1,000 to $2,000 for minor repairs through the city's Minor Home Repair Grant Program or receive funding for decorating through its Property Enhancement Program. Contact your city council or county government to explore grant programs in your area.