Free Home Repair & Weatherization Help in St. Louis (Especially for Seniors)
Revised July 16, 2026
Is there free home repair for seniors in St. Louis?
Free and low-cost home help exists across the St. Louis metro. The Weatherization Assistance Program provides free insulation, air sealing, and furnace repair for income-eligible households — call the agency for your county (Urban League 314-615-3600 for the city, CAASTLC 314-863-0015 for the county, JFCAC 636-789-2686 for Jefferson/Franklin, NECAC 573-324-2231 for St. Charles) or dial 2-1-1. For repairs and safety fixes, Rebuilding Together St. Louis (314-918-9918) and, for city seniors, the St. Louis Area Agency on Aging (314-612-5918) build ramps and grab bars and fix hazards.
Keep reading ↓There’s a particular heartbreak in a paid-off house slowly falling apart around someone who can’t afford to fix it. The furnace that quits in January. The porch step that’s become a fall waiting to happen. The roof that leaks a little more each rain. It happens to seniors and low-income homeowners in a North County brick bungalow, a farmhouse out in Franklin County, a place in Jefferson County, a home across the river in the Metro East — people too proud to ask, and sure they couldn’t afford help anyway.
Here’s the good news: across the St. Louis metro there are programs that will weatherize your home, repair what’s broken, and make it safer — for free or at very low cost — especially if you’re older, on a fixed income, or a veteran. Many people who qualify never apply, simply because no one told them these programs exist.
This guide lays out what’s available and, just as important, which number to call for your county — because the right program depends on where you live. Whether it’s for your own home or a parent’s, it’s written for you.
Free and low-cost home help exists across the St. Louis metro. The Weatherization Assistance Program provides free insulation, air sealing, and furnace repair for income-eligible households — call the agency for your county (see the table below) or dial 2-1-1. For critical repairs and safety fixes, Rebuilding Together St. Louis (314-918-9918) and, for city seniors, the St. Louis Area Agency on Aging (314-612-5918) build ramps and grab bars and fix hazards. City and county home-repair grant and forgivable-loan programs and USDA rural repair grants (for homeowners 62+) can cover bigger jobs.
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Free Weatherization: A Warmer Home and Lower Bills
The Weatherization Assistance Program (WAP) is a federally funded program, run in Missouri by the Department of Natural Resources and delivered by local community-action agencies. If your household income is at or below 200% of the federal poverty level (and you automatically qualify if you receive SSI or TANF), WAP can provide free energy-saving improvements: attic and wall insulation, air sealing, heating-system repair or replacement, and health-and-safety fixes. Both homeowners and renters (with the owner’s okay) can qualify. The catch is simply calling the agency that serves your county.
| Where you live | Free weatherization — who to call |
|---|---|
| City of St. Louis | Urban League of Metropolitan St. Louis — 314-615-3600 |
| St. Louis County | Community Action Agency of St. Louis County (CAASTLC) — 314-863-0015 |
| Jefferson & Franklin counties | Jefferson-Franklin Community Action (JFCAC) — 636-789-2686 |
| St. Charles, Lincoln & Warren counties | North East Community Action (NECAC) — 573-324-2231 |
Not sure which applies, or live somewhere else in the metro? Dial 2-1-1 and they’ll route you to the right agency.
Free Critical Repairs & Safety Fixes
Weatherization handles energy; other programs handle safety and repairs:
- Rebuilding Together St. Louis (314-918-9918, ext. 116) — free critical repairs and safety modifications like grab bars, railings, ramps, and roofing for low-income homeowners. Note: they are currently prioritizing military veterans age 60 and older, so call to confirm current eligibility for your situation.
- St. Louis Area Agency on Aging (SLAAA) (314-612-5918) — for homeowners 60+ in the City of St. Louis, a Senior Minor Home Repair program that builds ramps and handrails, installs grab bars, and makes minor repairs.
- Aging Ahead (800-243-6060) — the Area Agency on Aging for St. Louis County, St. Charles, Jefferson, and Franklin counties; call to be connected to home-modification help and other services for adults 60+. (Aging Ahead does not cover the City of St. Louis — city seniors use SLAAA above.)
Home-Repair Grants & Low-Cost Loans
For bigger jobs, several programs offer grants or forgivable loans:
- City of St. Louis — Healthy Home Repair Program (314-657-3888) — a mix of grants and loans for repairs, for income-eligible city homeowners who’ve owned and lived in the home at least two years. There’s usually a waitlist, so call to get on it.
- St. Louis County — Home Improvement Program (HIP) (314-615-4025) — up to $5,000 as a five-year forgivable loan (forgiven a bit each year you stay in the home) for income-eligible county homeowners.
- USDA Section 504 (rural areas) — for very-low-income homeowners in the rural parts of Franklin, Jefferson, Lincoln, and Warren counties: low-interest repair loans, plus grants up to $10,000 for homeowners age 62 and older to fix health and safety hazards. Apply through your local USDA Rural Development office.
And if a repair falls outside what these programs cover — or you don’t qualify but still need the work done — and you’re able to hire it out, our home services coverage map can help you find and compare trusted local contractors across the metro.
A Word of Caution: Beware Repair Scams
Because these programs are real and well-known, scammers impersonate them. A few rules keep you safe: legitimate assistance programs do not ask you to pay a fee up front to “unlock” free repairs, and they don’t cold-call or run social-media ads promising free remodels. Habitat for Humanity Saint Louis, for example, has warned that its home-repair program is currently paused and that ads on social media claiming to offer Habitat repairs are not legitimate — do not engage with them. When in doubt, don’t use a phone number from an ad; start from 2-1-1 or the official agency numbers in this guide.
Utility Help Counts Too
Your utility companies help fund weatherization. Ameren Missouri and Spire both point income-eligible customers to WAP through the local community-action agencies — so “call your gas or electric company” leads back to the same county numbers above, or to 2-1-1. And if you’re struggling with the bills themselves, our guide to utility assistance programs in St. Louis covers help paying your electric and gas bills.
Emergency Repairs: Heat, Water, and Safety
Some repairs can’t wait for a waitlist — a furnace that dies in a cold snap, a burst pipe, an electrical hazard. If your heat goes out in winter and you’re low-income, the same energy-assistance system that helps with your bills can sometimes cover emergency furnace repair or replacement — call your county community-action agency or 2-1-1 right away, and see our guide to utility assistance programs in St. Louis. For a true emergency like a gas leak or no heat in freezing weather with a medical need in the home, don’t wait on any program — call your utility’s emergency line or 911. For everything short of that, getting on the right program’s list now means help is lined up before the next crisis hits.
Staying Safe and Independent at Home
For many older homeowners, the goal isn’t a remodel — it’s being able to stay in the home they love, safely. Small changes make a big difference: grab bars in the bathroom, a ramp or handrail at the door, brighter lighting, a walk-in shower, or moving a bedroom to the main floor. Programs like the St. Louis Area Agency on Aging’s minor-repair program, Rebuilding Together, and USDA repair grants exist specifically for these accessibility fixes. If your loved one is on Medicaid, some in-home modifications may also be covered through a home-and-community-based services waiver — ask their case manager. Preventing a single fall can be the difference between staying home and moving to a care facility, which is exactly why these small fixes are worth the phone call.
What to Expect When You Apply
These programs are worth the effort, but a little patience helps. Most ask you to show that you own and live in the home and that your income is within their limits — so have your deed or property-tax bill, a photo ID, and proof of income (pay stubs, a benefits letter, or a tax return) ready. Many carry waitlists, and free volunteer-built repairs happen as crews and funding allow, so apply early and stay in touch. Work is usually prioritized by urgency and safety, so a dangerous condition — no heat, a fall hazard, a leaking roof — often moves up the list. And keep the safety rule in mind: legitimate programs never ask for an up-front fee, so start from 2-1-1 or the official numbers in this guide, never a number from an ad.
Not Sure Where to Start? Dial 2-1-1
If the list feels like a lot, let someone else do the sorting. Dial 2-1-1 (or 1-800-427-4626) to reach United Way’s free, confidential help line any hour of the day. Tell them your county and what your home needs — heat, a ramp, a roof, insulation — and they’ll connect you to the right program near you.
A Word for Renters and Landlords
Most of these programs are for people who own their home — but renters aren’t entirely out of luck. Weatherization can be done on a rental with the property owner’s written permission, since it lowers energy bills and improves the home, so it’s worth asking your landlord to sign off and calling your county’s weatherization agency together. If you rent and your unit has a dangerous condition the landlord won’t fix — no heat, unsafe wiring, a serious leak — that’s a code or tenant-rights issue, and Legal Services of Eastern Missouri or 2-1-1 can point you to help. And renters who are seniors or have a disability shouldn’t forget the Missouri Property Tax Credit, which can refund part of the rent they paid; a free tax preparer can file it.
Ready to get your home fixed? Call the weatherization agency for your county above, Rebuilding Together at 314-918-9918, or dial 2-1-1 to be routed to the right help. See all St. Louis help resources.
Run a nonprofit or program that repairs or weatherizes homes? List it on St Louis Near Me Directory so the homeowners who need you can find you.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the Weatherization Assistance Program and who qualifies?
The Weatherization Assistance Program (WAP) is a free, federally funded program that makes homes more energy-efficient — adding insulation, sealing air leaks, and repairing or replacing heating systems — which lowers utility bills and makes the home safer and more comfortable. Households at or below 200% of the federal poverty level qualify, and SSI or TANF recipients qualify automatically. Both homeowners and renters (with owner permission) are eligible. Apply through your county’s community-action agency or by dialing 2-1-1.
What if I can’t afford my home repairs?
You have options in St. Louis beyond paying out of pocket. For safety fixes like ramps and grab bars, Rebuilding Together St. Louis and the city’s Senior Minor Home Repair program help older and low-income homeowners for free. For bigger repairs, the City’s Healthy Home Repair Program and St. Louis County’s Home Improvement Program offer grants or forgivable loans, and USDA offers repair grants to rural homeowners 62+. Start by dialing 2-1-1 to be matched to the right one.
Does Medicare help with home repairs?
No — Medicare does not pay for home repairs or modifications like ramps, grab bars, or widened doorways, even when a doctor recommends them. But that doesn’t mean you’re on your own. In St. Louis, programs like the St. Louis Area Agency on Aging’s Senior Minor Home Repair, Rebuilding Together, and USDA repair grants exist specifically to cover these safety modifications for seniors and low-income homeowners. Call 2-1-1 to find the one that fits.
Who do I call for free weatherization in St. Louis City vs. St. Louis County?
It depends on your county. In the City of St. Louis, call the Urban League of Metropolitan St. Louis at 314-615-3600. In St. Louis County, call the Community Action Agency of St. Louis County (CAASTLC) at 314-863-0015. Jefferson and Franklin counties use JFCAC (636-789-2686), and St. Charles, Lincoln, and Warren counties use NECAC (573-324-2231). If you’re unsure, dial 2-1-1 and they’ll route you correctly.
Are there home repair grants for homeowners over 60 in Missouri?
Yes. USDA Section 504 offers grants of up to $10,000 for very-low-income homeowners age 62 and older in rural areas to fix health and safety hazards. For older city homeowners, the St. Louis Area Agency on Aging (314-612-5918) provides free minor repairs and safety modifications, and Rebuilding Together St. Louis currently prioritizes veteran homeowners 60 and older. Aging Ahead (800-243-6060) can connect county seniors to more help. Dial 2-1-1 to start.
Written by a dedicated team of St. Louis locals who live, work, and play right here in the St. Louis metro. Founder Lane Forman and team are committed to building the region’s most trusted directory by verifying listings and connecting local businesses with loyal customers across Missouri and Illinois.