South Fulton seniors now have a shot at up to $25,000 in critical home repairs, thanks to a new city program that turns federal housing dollars into grant money for long-time homeowners who need serious fixes.
The Senior Homeowner Rehabilitation Program is funded with federal Community Development Block Grant money and offers awards as grants, not loans, to help older residents stay safe and independent in the homes they own. Applications are open now through July 31, 2026, and city officials caution that approvals, inspections and actual repair work could take several months to complete.
The need is clearly there. At in-person pre-screening events this month, residents lined up for help with the paperwork. More than 100 people showed up for a July 15 session at Welcome All Park, according to CBS Atlanta. "Clients can go online to fill out the pre-screening application," Seaiqua Smith, an intake coordinator for the program administrator, told CBS Atlanta. Several attendees described years of deferred maintenance, including one homeowner who said her 1950s house floods in the basement and needs new windows.
Who qualifies and how to apply
According to the City of South Fulton, the program is open to owner-occupants age 62 and older who live in single-family homes inside the city limits and meet federal low-to-moderate income guidelines. Applicants must have homeowner's insurance and be current on their mortgage, property taxes, special assessments and any liens.
Residents first complete a pre-application for eligibility screening. Those who qualify are then invited to submit full documentation. The city held in-person assistance sessions on July 9 and July 15 at Welcome All Park to help seniors navigate the process, and applications are handled on a first-qualified, first-served basis until the money runs out.
What the grant pays for
The list of eligible repairs is long and practical. It includes electrical and plumbing work, roof replacement, HVAC upgrades, new exterior windows and doors, mold remediation, lead hazard reduction and ADA accessibility modifications, according to WSB-TV.
The assistance is structured as a grant that does not have to be repaid, and program managers say the full journey from application to finished repairs can stretch over several months. CBS Atlanta also reported that Mayor Carmalitha Gumbs pegged the first round of funding at $700,000, a signal that city leaders expect strong demand for the repair dollars.
Why it matters for South Fulton
The program grows out of the city's 2025 CDBG Annual Action Plan, which set aside roughly $534,631 to launch a senior rehabilitation initiative and created the policy framework for this effort, according to the City of South Fulton. Officials say the goal is to preserve aging housing stock and tackle health and safety hazards that fall hardest on low- and moderate-income seniors.
Because the federal money is limited, the city has been upfront that some eligible homeowners may land on a waiting list unless more funding comes through.
Residents interested in applying can find the pre-screening link on the city's Senior Home Rehabilitation page or get help by emailing [email protected] or calling 470-855-5778. The city has partnered with Nehemiah Project Community Development Corporation to handle eligibility checks and oversee repairs, and local advocacy groups say they will keep doing outreach to connect seniors with this program and other resources as needed.
