Help with housing costs

Kentucky

Financial assistance for low-income, older, and disabled homeowners and renters

22 programs listed · 16 verified against the program's own website

If you own or rent a home in Kentucky and you are living on a low income, are an older adult, or have a disability, this page lists the help available to you. Verified July 25, 2026.

One thing to know before you start: Kentucky delivers most federal housing and energy aid through local Community Action Agencies. For repair, weatherization, and utility help, your best first call is the Community Action Kentucky network locator at capky.org/network or 800-456-3452. If you are an older adult or have a disability, your second front door is your local Aging and Disability Resource Center, reached through the Department for Aging and Independent Living at 877-315-0589.

If you are thinking about sharing your home: on programs that look at income, the income of the person you share your home with is often counted toward your household total, which can affect what you qualify for. Where a program does not clearly say how it treats another adult in the home, we say so below and recommend you confirm with the program directly before anyone moves in. Kentucky’s property tax exemptions and the free Medicare counseling programs do not look at income at all, so sharing your home does not affect them.

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Home modification and aging in place

Home and Community Based (HCB) Medicaid Waiver: Environmental and Minor Home Adaptation

state Owners or renters
Type of help
service
Who runs it
Kentucky Department for Medicaid Services (DMS) and Department for Aging and Independent Living (DAIL)
What you get
Covered home accessibility adaptations (ramps, grab bars, bathroom and doorway modifications) for waiver participants; no fixed dollar amount published on the program page as of 2026
Who qualifies
65 or older and/or physically disabled
Income limit
Must meet Medicaid financial eligibility with special HCB waiver limits (institutional Medicaid rules); no separate published dollar figure
How to apply
Establish Medicaid financial eligibility via kynect.ky.gov or DCBS at (855) 306-8959, then apply for HCB waiver services through an Aging and Disability Resource Center or Community Mental Health Center; a waiting list currently applies
If you share your home: this program does not clearly say how it treats another adult in the home. Confirm with the program before anyone moves in.

KATS Network Lending Library and Project CARAT device reuse

nonprofit Owners or renters
Type of help
service
Who runs it
Kentucky Assistive Technology Services (KATS) Network Coordinating Center
What you get
Short-term device loans (typically 30 days), device demonstrations, and reused/reassigned equipment such as ramps, grab bars, and mobility aids; nominal per-item fee only, varies by regional center (2026)
Who qualifies
any age
Income limit
None; no income requirement
How to apply
Browse and request equipment at the KY Assistive Technology Locator katsnet.at4all.com or contact a regional Assistive Technology Resource Center
If you share your home: this program does not count a home seeker's income, so sharing your home does not affect it.

Aging and Disability Resource Centers (ADRC) / Area Agencies on Aging

state Owners or renters
Type of help
service
Who runs it
Kentucky Department for Aging and Independent Living (DAIL) through 15 Area Development District Area Agencies on Aging
What you get
No-cost information, options counseling, and referral to home modification, waiver, and aging-in-place resources (2026)
Who qualifies
60 or older and adults with disabilities
Income limit
None for information and referral
How to apply
Call the DAIL statewide line to be connected to the local ADRC / Area Agency on Aging
If you share your home: this program does not count a home seeker's income, so sharing your home does not affect it.

Home repair and deferred maintenance

USDA Section 504 Single Family Housing Repair Loans and Grants

federal-in-state Homeowners Not confirmed

We could not open this program's own website to check these details, so they may be out of date or incomplete. Please call or visit the program before relying on anything here.

Type of help
grant
Who runs it
USDA Rural Development, Kentucky state office
What you get
Grants up to $10,000 (age 62+ only); loans up to $40,000 at 1% fixed interest; combined cap $50,000 (2026)
Who qualifies
62 or older required for grants; loans have no age minimum
Income limit
Very low income, at or below 50% of area median income by county (2026)
How to apply
Apply year-round through the local USDA Rural Development office; rural properties only
If you share your home: a home seeker's income counts toward this program's income test, so it can change what you qualify for.

KHC Affordable Housing Trust Fund (AHTF) Home Repair Program

state Homeowners
Type of help
grant
Who runs it
Kentucky Housing Corporation (KHC) through local partner agencies
What you get
Critical repairs including structural, roofing, heating, plumbing, and accessibility modifications; per-home maximum set annually in the AHTF policy manual (2026 program year)
Who qualifies
no age minimum; elderly and disabled households prioritized
Income limit
Low-income homeowners; income limits set in the annual AHTF policy manual (2026)
How to apply
Apply through the KHC-designated partner agency serving your county; find the local administrator via kyhousing.org
If you share your home: this program does not clearly say how it treats another adult in the home. Confirm with the program before anyone moves in.

Kentucky Community Development Block Grant (CDBG) Housing Rehabilitation

state Homeowners
Type of help
grant
Who runs it
Kentucky Department for Local Government (DLG)
What you get
Owner-occupied housing rehabilitation delivered by cities and counties; state allocates roughly $4.57 million to housing in the 2026 cycle out of about $26 million total CDBG
Who qualifies
no age limit
Income limit
Benefits low- and moderate-income persons per HUD national objective (2026)
How to apply
Individuals do not apply directly; access rehab through your city or county government, which applies to DLG. Entitlement cities (Louisville, Lexington, Covington, Owensboro, Bowling Green, Paducah, Henderson, Hopkinsville, Ashland, Elizabethtown) run their own CDBG
If you share your home: this program does not clearly say how it treats another adult in the home. Confirm with the program before anyone moves in.

Weatherization and energy efficiency

Kentucky Weatherization Assistance Program (WAP)

state Owners or renters
Type of help
service
Who runs it
Kentucky Housing Corporation (KHC), delivered by local Community Action Agencies
What you get
No-cost energy audit, insulation, air sealing, furnace repair or replacement, LED bulbs, and heat pumps; typical savings up to $500 per year (2026)
Who qualifies
no age limit
Income limit
At or below 200% of the federal poverty level; not weatherized in the past 15 years (2026)
How to apply
Contact your local weatherization provider; find it at capky.org/network. Renters need written landlord permission
If you share your home: this program does not clearly say how it treats another adult in the home. Confirm with the program before anyone moves in.

LG&E and KU WeCare Program

utility Owners or renters
Type of help
service
Who runs it
Louisville Gas and Electric Company and Kentucky Utilities Company
What you get
No-cost home energy audit, education, LED bulbs, smart thermostats, water-saving devices, insulation, and duct sealing (doors and windows excluded) (2026)
Who qualifies
no age limit
Income limit
Enrolled in LIHEAP, Medicaid, SNAP, HUD/Section 8, or WIC, or meeting federal poverty guidelines; at least one month of LG&E or KU service; not served in past 3 years (2026)
How to apply
Apply online via My Account or by phone; renters need landlord consent
If you share your home: this program does not clearly say how it treats another adult in the home. Confirm with the program before anyone moves in.

Project Warm

nonprofit Owners or renters Not confirmed

We could not open this program's own website to check these details, so they may be out of date or incomplete. Please call or visit the program before relying on anything here.

Type of help
service
Who runs it
Project Warm, Inc. (Louisville-area nonprofit)
What you get
Free year-round weatherization repairs and energy management education for low-income households in the Louisville area (2026)
Who qualifies
no age limit; older adults served
Income limit
Low-income; specific limit set by the agency
How to apply
Contact Project Warm directly by phone
If you share your home: this program does not clearly say how it treats another adult in the home. Confirm with the program before anyone moves in.

Utility bill assistance and discounts

Kentucky LIHEAP Subsidy Component

federal-in-state Owners or renters
Type of help
grant
Who runs it
Kentucky Cabinet for Health and Family Services, delivered by Community Action Kentucky agencies
What you get
One-time benefit paid to the energy vendor; spring 2026 electric subsidy ran $41 to $250 by household size and income
Who qualifies
no age limit
Income limit
At or below 150% of federal poverty guidelines, program year 2025-2026
How to apply
Schedule an appointment or apply at your local Community Action Agency; locate an office at capky.org/network or call statewide
If you share your home: a home seeker's income counts toward this program's income test, so it can change what you qualify for.

Kentucky LIHEAP Crisis Component

federal-in-state Owners or renters Not confirmed

We could not open this program's own website to check these details, so they may be out of date or incomplete. Please call or visit the program before relying on anything here.

Type of help
grant
Who runs it
Kentucky Cabinet for Health and Family Services, delivered by Community Action Kentucky agencies
What you get
Emergency benefit for households facing disconnection, past-due bills, or fuel supply below a set level; amount based on need (program year 2025-2026)
Who qualifies
no age limit
Income limit
At or below 150% of federal poverty guidelines and in a heating or cooling crisis, program year 2025-2026
How to apply
Apply at the local Community Action Agency during the winter crisis window (opened January 2026, through March 27) or summer crisis window; locate an office at capky.org/network
If you share your home: a home seeker's income counts toward this program's income test, so it can change what you qualify for.

The LG&E and KU assistance page lists LIHEAP, WeCare, Project Warm, and Community Winterhelp but no standing income-qualified rate class. Kentucky IOUs generally accept LIHEAP and offer budget billing and one-time charitable funds rather than a permanent discounted rate.

Property tax relief

Homestead Exemption for Homeowners Age 65 and Older

state Homeowners
Type of help
exemption
Who runs it
Kentucky Department of Revenue, administered by county Property Valuation Administrators (PVA)
What you get
$49,100 reduction in assessed value for 2025-2026 (up from $46,350 in 2023-2024); adjusted for inflation every two years
Who qualifies
65 or older during the tax year
Income limit
None; not income-tested
How to apply
File Form 62A350 with your county PVA, with proof of age; must own and occupy the home as of the January 1 assessment date
If you share your home: this program does not count a home seeker's income, so sharing your home does not affect it.

Disability Homestead Exemption

state Homeowners
Type of help
exemption
Who runs it
Kentucky Department of Revenue, administered by county Property Valuation Administrators (PVA)
What you get
$49,100 reduction in assessed value for 2025-2026; same amount as the age 65+ exemption
Who qualifies
any age
Income limit
None; not income-tested
How to apply
File Form 62A350 with the county PVA with proof of total disability; most applicants must reapply annually unless they are a service-connected disabled veteran, or classified totally and permanently disabled by Social Security or Kentucky Retirement Systems
If you share your home: this program does not count a home seeker's income, so sharing your home does not affect it.

The Department of Revenue homestead page describes only the exemption; it does not offer a deferral, circuit breaker, or freeze.

HomeShare-relevant extras

Louisville Metro Accessory Dwelling Unit (ADU) Policy

county-city Homeowners Not confirmed

We could not open this program's own website to check these details, so they may be out of date or incomplete. Please call or visit the program before relying on anything here.

Type of help
service
Who runs it
Louisville Metro Office of Planning
What you get
ADUs permitted on single-family lots up to 800 sq ft or 30% of the principal structure, whichever is greater (2026)
Who qualifies
no age limit
Income limit
None
How to apply
Apply for a building permit through Louisville Metro's online portal; Construction Review and Planning staff review
If you share your home: this program does not count a home seeker's income, so sharing your home does not affect it.

Lexington-Fayette Accessory Dwelling Unit (ADU) Ordinance

county-city Owners or renters
Type of help
service
Who runs it
Lexington-Fayette Urban County Government, Division of Planning
What you get
ADUs permitted including new detached construction; owner-occupancy and deed-restriction mandates removed as of December 2023 (2026)
Who qualifies
no age limit
Income limit
None
How to apply
Consult the Imagine Lexington ADU guidance and apply through the Division of Planning
If you share your home: this program does not count a home seeker's income, so sharing your home does not affect it.

KHC Housing Choice Voucher (Section 8) Program

state Renters
Type of help
discount
Who runs it
Kentucky Housing Corporation (KHC) Tenant Assistance Programs
What you get
Portable rental subsidy paying the difference between roughly 30% of adjusted household income and the unit rent (2026)
Who qualifies
no age limit
Income limit
Very low income, generally at or below 50% of area median income
How to apply
Apply when the KHC waiting list opens (announced on kyhousing.org and social media); waits can be 3 to 5 years
If you share your home: a home seeker's income counts toward this program's income test, so it can change what you qualify for.

We did not identify a program in this category. That does not always mean none exists, so it is worth asking your city or county.

Programs that work the same in every state

Some of the biggest sources of help are federal and work much the same everywhere, including USDA Section 504 home repair, LIHEAP energy assistance, the Weatherization Assistance Program, and VA housing grants. They are described once, in detail, on our federal programs page, and the entries above give you the Kentucky contacts.

One more option

Sharing your home is not on this list, but it belongs beside it.

Every program here helps you afford the home you have. Home sharing does something different: it turns a spare room into steady income and company. It is worth considering before you sell, before you move, and before things get harder to manage alone.

See how home sharing works