Orange County: help paying for grab bars, ramps and home modifications
In Orange County, home repair help is run city by city, so your address decides which program you can use. Seniors in many smaller cities and unincorporated areas can apply to the county's Safe Homes for OC Seniors grant. Larger cities such as Garden Grove, Tustin, Irvine, Huntington Beach and Anaheim run their own programs. Funding is limited and several programs use wait lists or short application windows, so apply early and to every program you qualify for.
Programs that install or pay for home modifications
Checked Oct 2026: Habitat for Humanity of Orange County says its Home Preservation Program is closed to new applications, and the City of Santa Ana says its Residential Rehabilitation program is no longer accepting applications, so neither is listed below.
Safe Homes for OC Seniors
Run by: Orange County Housing & Community Development (funder), run by CivicStone, Inc.
Who it serves
Brea, Cypress, Dana Point, La Palma, Laguna Beach, Laguna Hills, Laguna Woods, Los Alamitos, Placentia, San Juan Capistrano, Seal Beach, Stanton, Villa Park, Yorba Linda and unincorporated Orange County.
What work it does
Safety, accessibility, energy and code repairs. The program lists ramps, grab bars, handrails, shower accessibility changes, taller toilets, roofing, plumbing, electrical, water heaters and heating repairs among eligible work. Cosmetic and luxury work is not covered.
Who qualifies
Homeowners age 62 or older who live in a single-family home they own in a participating area, have owned it for at least one year, and have household income at or below 80% of Area Median Income for their household size.
Cost to you
A grant of up to $20,000. It is forgiven 25% per year over four years as long as you keep living in the home and follow the program rules. You sign a promissory note and deed of trust.
How to apply
Apply online or download a paper application from the CivicStone Safe Homes page. Questions: call (909) 364-9000 or email [email protected].
Code, health and safety repairs, including accessibility work such as wheelchair ramps, grab bars and walk-in showers, plus items like plumbing, electrical, heating and windows.
Who qualifies
Owner-occupants in Garden Grove with household income at or below 80% of Area Median Income (the City's table lists $104,200 for 1 person and $119,100 for 2). Past grant recipients must wait 5 years to apply again.
Cost to you
A grant of up to $5,000. You must put in at least $500 of your own money and pay anything above the grant.
How to apply
Applications open in short windows, and the City picks 10 eligible applicants by blind raffle in each round. The City lists the next application portal opening on November 30, 2026. Questions: (714) 741-5131 or (714) 741-5143.
Run by: City of Tustin, administered by Housing Programs
Who it serves
City of Tustin
What work it does
Essential health and safety repairs. The City lists ADA (accessibility) improvements along with plumbing, heating, electrical, windows, roofing and paint.
Who qualifies
Low- and moderate-income Tustin homeowners who are seniors (62+), have a disability, or are veterans, and who live in the home. Single-family homes, townhomes, condos and manufactured homes qualify.
Cost to you
A grant of up to $15,000.
How to apply
Apply through the online portal linked on the City's program page. Questions: 714-537-3133 or [email protected].
Health and safety, building code and accessibility repairs. Grants are only for emergency code-related repairs (such as a leaking roof or unsafe wiring); larger jobs, including accessibility work, use a loan.
Who qualifies
Owner-occupants of single-family homes (attached or detached) or manufactured homes in Irvine with income below 80% of Area Median Income.
Cost to you
Emergency grants for repairs of $5,000 or less (one grant per homeowner). Deferred loans up to $50,000 at 0% interest, repaid when the home is sold or transferred.
How to apply
The City says the program is wait list only. Join the wait list from the program page, or call 949-724-6114 or email [email protected].
City of Huntington Beach Residential Rehabilitation Program
Run by: City of Huntington Beach, with consultant GRC Associates, Inc.
Who it serves
City of Huntington Beach
What work it does
Code corrections, health and safety repairs and general home improvements. The City's page doesn't list accessibility items by name, so ask whether your project (such as a ramp or grab bars) qualifies.
Who qualifies
Huntington Beach homeowners whose household income is within the City's limits (effective 5/1/2026, the low-income limit is $104,200 for 1 person) and whose home needs repairs to meet City code. Single-family homes, townhouses, condos and mobile homes are eligible.
Cost to you
Grants for repairs estimated at $15,000 or less (single-family and mobile homes). Deferred loans up to $75,000 (single-family homes, townhouses, condos) or $25,000 (mobile homes) at 3% simple interest, due when the home is sold or transferred. Loans have a $500 processing fee that can be added to the loan. Grants and loans can't be combined.
How to apply
Call GRC Associates at (562) 553-0991 to start. An inspector visits, then contractors bid on the work.
City of Anaheim Residential Rehabilitation Program
Run by: City of Anaheim Housing and Community Development (federal CDBG funds)
Who it serves
City of Anaheim
What work it does
Emergency, health, safety and accessibility repairs, including grab bars, plus roof, plumbing, water heater, heating and structural repairs and code fixes.
Who qualifies
Owner-occupants of a single-family home, condo, townhome or mobile home in Anaheim with household income at or below 80% of Orange County Area Median Income. Other limits apply, such as no income property or other assets over $100,000, and one type of help per household every 10 years.
Cost to you
Mobile homes: grants up to $15,000. Other homes: a 0% minor loan up to $15,000 that is forgiven in years 6 to 10, or a major loan up to $100,000 at 3% simple interest with payments deferred 30 years. All help depends on available funding.
How to apply
Fill out the Residential Rehabilitation Interest List form on the City's program page; the program administrator then calls to pre-screen you. Priority goes to CDBG target areas, and a waiting list may apply. Help with the form: (714) 765-4300 ext. 4822 or [email protected]. Call to confirm whether new screenings are open.
Aging, disability and Medi-Cal help in Orange County
OC Office on Aging (Area Agency on Aging)
Run by: County of Orange, OC Community Resources
Who it serves
Orange County
What work it does
A free information and assistance call center that connects older adults, caregivers and people with disabilities to local services, including in-home help, housing information and assistive technology resources. Staff speak Spanish and Vietnamese, and an interpreter line covers other languages.
Who qualifies
Older adults, caregivers and people with disabilities.
Cost to you
Information and referrals are free. Programs they refer you to may charge.
How to apply
Call (714) 480-6450, Monday to Friday, 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. The office is at 1300 S. Grand Ave., Building B, Santa Ana.
A Home Access Team that gives home modification consultations and needs assessments, plus an assistive technology program with an equipment recycle and reuse program, housing help and peer support.
Who qualifies
People with disabilities, older adults and veterans in Orange County.
Cost to you
DMC says its services are free. Some programs funded by CalOptima may require CalOptima coverage.
How to apply
Call (714) 621-3300 to make an appointment; walk-ins can't be guaranteed help. The only office is at 501 N. Brookhurst St., Suite 102, Anaheim.
Near the Los Angeles County line, the Long Beach-based Disabled Resources Center (an Independent Living Center, 562-427-1000) also lists Cypress, La Palma and Seal Beach in its service area.
Last verified Oct 2026
HCBA Waiver Agencies for Orange County (Medi-Cal)
Run by: Access TLC and Libertana Home Health (assigned by ZIP code)
Who it serves
Orange County, split by ZIP code between the two agencies
What work it does
Applications and care management for the HCBA Waiver, which can include home modifications. See the statewide page for details.
Who qualifies
Medi-Cal members at risk of nursing home placement. There is a waiting list.
Cost to you
Waiver services are paid by Medi-Cal once you are enrolled.
How to apply
Use the ZIP code lists on the DHCS HCBA page to find your agency, then contact it for an application.
Medi-Cal home modification benefits, VA grants for veterans, USDA rural repair grants and other statewide options also apply in Orange County. See the statewide page. Before you hire anyone, read how to hire and verify a contractor.