2026 Income Limits
Most programs here use one of two limits. Project Home's Madison and Dane County repair programs use 80% of the Dane County median income, effective June 1, 2026.(Project Home)(Project Home) Those figures match HUD's FY2026 limits for the Madison area.(HUD) Weatherization and energy assistance use 60% of the state median for October 2026 to September 2027.(Wisconsin DOA)
| People | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | 5 | 6 | 7 | 8 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 80% of county median (Project Home, 2026) | $74,800 | $85,450 | $96,150 | $106,800 | $115,350 | $123,900 | $132,450 | $141,000 |
| Weatherization (2026-27) | $39,864 | $52,129 | $64,395 | $76,661 | $88,927 | $101,193 | $103,492 | $105,792 |
City of Madison
The City's Community Development Division funds the repair programs, and Project Home runs them: 608-246-3737 ext. 2200.(City of Madison) You must own and live in the home, and it can't be for sale or in foreclosure within the next 12 months.(Project Home)
- Minor Home Repair is low-cost, not free: you pay materials plus $15.00 an hour per worker. After a free inspection and estimate, you pay a third up front, Project Home staff do the work, and you have 90 days to pay the rest. Typical jobs: decks and landings, leaky faucets and toilets, windows and doors, grab bars and railings.(Project Home) Work is usually done 30 to 60 days after approval and guaranteed for 12 months.(Project Home)
- Major Rehabilitation is a 0% deferred loan secured by a mortgage, repaid when you sell or the home stops being your main residence. It covers roofing, siding, heating, plumbing, electrical, safety and accessibility work, and the house must meet code when it's done. Condos, mobile homes and rentals aren't eligible.(Project Home)
- Loan limits: up to $24,999 unless a waiver is approved, for homes needing $5,001 to $24,999 of work. You need some equity: total debt can't be over 95% of the value. Fees for appraisal and title are rolled into the loan.(Project Home)
- Home value cap (effective December 1, 2025): $397,000 single-family, $508,000 duplex. On a duplex, only the owner's side can be worked on.(Project Home)
- One or the other: after any Minor Home Repair work, you can't get the major loan for 3 years.(Project Home)
- Former Town of Madison. For a limited time, Project Home also runs a rehab program for homeowners in the areas recently annexed into the City.(City of Madison)
The City's Community Development Division also lists property tax assistance for seniors and special assessment loans: 608-266-6520.(City of Madison) Special assessments explains the payment plans.
The Rest of Dane County
Dane County's federal housing money (CDBG and HOME) must be spent outside the City of Madison.(Dane County) Only residents of the Urban County Consortium's member municipalities can use it, and as of October 2025 that's every city, village and town in the county except Madison: 59 in all.(Dane County)(Dane County) In 2026 Project Home runs the programs.(Project Home)
- Dane County Minor Home Repair is a grant for owner-occupants. Project Home inspects the home to HUD's housing quality standards, and only items that fail can be repaired, health, safety and code first. No new construction or remodeling.(Project Home) The county's 2025 flyer listed up to $7,500.(Dane County)
- Dane County Rehabilitation Program (DCRP) is a 0% deferred loan, repaid when you sell or move out, for homes needing $5,000 to $24,999 of work, with the same value cap and 95% loan-to-value limit as Madison.(Project Home) Project Home says it can't serve the City of Edgerton, the Town of Dane or the City of Madison.(Project Home)
- City of Sun Prairie Home Repair Loan, run by Project Home since August 2026: 0% and deferred, for health, safety, code and accessibility repairs, with no up-front costs or monthly payments.(Project Home) The home value caps don't apply to it.(Project Home)
- Village of DeForest is listed by the state as offering homeowner repair: 608-846-6751.(Wisconsin DOA)
Weatherization and Emergency Furnace Help
Wisconsin's Weatherization Assistance Program is free. It's funded by the U.S. Department of Energy and state money and run by the Department of Administration through local agencies.(Wisconsin DOA) Work can include insulating attics, walls and floors, sealing air leaks, repairing or replacing the furnace, testing or replacing the refrigerator, and a health and safety check.(Wisconsin DOA)
- Apply for energy assistance (WHEAP). There's no separate weatherization application; eligible applications are referred.(Wisconsin DOA) In Dane County, apply through Energy Services, Inc., 800-506-5596.(Project Home)
- Project Home is Dane County's weatherization agency for 2026-27, 608-246-3737.(Wisconsin DOA) Eligibility from a WHEAP application lasts a year at the same address.(Wisconsin DOA)
- Who goes first: people 60 and older, people with disabilities, families with children under 6, and households with high energy costs.(Wisconsin DOA)
- Renters qualify. In buildings with 2 or more units where the owner pays the heat, the owner pays at least 15% unless the owner is also eligible.(Wisconsin DOA)
- No heat? Call Energy Services right away. The state's emergency furnace program repairs or replaces a broken or unsafe heating system year-round, and never results in a lien or charge. A companion program fixes leaking or broken water heaters.(Wisconsin DOA)(Wisconsin DOA)
- Customers of municipal or co-op utilities that run their own program instead of the state fund can't get the state-funded benefits.(Wisconsin DOA)
More: winter shutoff rules and WHEAP · energy rebates by income · furnace troubleshooting.
USDA Section 504 (Rural Areas Only)
- Loans up to $40,000 at a fixed 1% for 20 years, to repair, improve or modernize a home. Grants up to $10,000 per lifetime, for owners 62 and older, to remove health and safety hazards. The two can be combined up to $50,000. A grant must be repaid if you sell within 3 years.(USDA)
- Who qualifies: you own and live in the house, can't get affordable credit elsewhere, and have very low income for the county.(USDA)
- Where: only areas USDA designates as rural.(7 CFR 3550) Check an address on USDA's eligibility map. We haven't checked which Dane County addresses qualify or USDA's Dane County income limit, so confirm both with USDA.
- Applying: year-round, through Wisconsin Rural Development's housing line, 715-345-7611.(USDA)(USDA)
Veterans
- Serving Those Who Served: minor repairs at no cost for honorably discharged veterans who own and live in their Dane County home, with income at or under 80% of the county median.(Project Home) 608-246-3737 ext. 2200.(Project Home)
- VA grants for certain service-connected disabilities, FY2026: Specially Adapted Housing up to $126,526, Special Home Adaptation up to $25,350, usable up to 6 times.(VA) HISA pays up to $6,800 (service-connected) or $2,000 for medically needed changes such as ramps, roll-in showers and lowered counters.(VA)
Other Loans
- WHEDA More Like Home: the 0% forgivable version has closed. A 3% fixed loan up to $50,000 is still offered through participating lenders, for owner-occupied homes at least 40 years old, until the fund runs out. Work must be done by a licensed, insured contractor, and income limits apply.(WHEDA)
- WHEDA Home Improvement Loan: a regular loan for repairs that requires good credit and current mortgage payments.(WHEDA)
- The state's Housing Cost Reduction Initiative doesn't pay for repairs.(Wisconsin DOA)
- For accessibility changes, Medicaid long-term care and WisLoan can help: see aging in place.
The ADRC of Dane County
The Aging and Disability Resource Center doesn't pay for repairs, but it's the free starting point for older adults, people with disabilities and caregivers: unbiased information, long-term care options and public benefits, for any Dane County resident regardless of income.(ADRC of Dane County) 2865 N Sherman Ave, Madison; 608-240-7400 or toll-free 855-417-6892.(ADRC of Dane County)(Wisconsin DHS) The aging in place guide covers modifications and who pays for them.
Applying
- Project Home (all its repair programs): 3841 Kipp St., Madison, 608-246-3737, info@projecthomewi.org.(Project Home) For minor repair, send the application with a signed 2025 federal tax return for every adult with income, and proof you own the home, such as a tax bill or mortgage statement.(Project Home) Project Home publishes no deadlines or waitlists.
- Before you hire anyone yourself, check the contractor's Wisconsin credential.
- Repair programs don't cover everything: a storm or burst pipe may be an insurance claim instead.
Badger Homeowner doesn't recommend companies and takes no money from them.
Questions
Does the City of Madison give home repair loans?
Yes, through Project Home, which runs the City's programs. The Major Rehabilitation loan is 0% and deferred until you sell or move out, up to $24,999. Minor Home Repair is low-cost: materials plus $15 an hour for labor. Both need income at or under 80% of the county median ($106,800 for a family of four in 2026).
What is the income limit for home repair help in Dane County?
Project Home's Madison and Dane County repair programs use 80% of the county median, effective June 1, 2026: $74,800 for one person up to $141,000 for eight. Weatherization uses 60% of the state median: $39,864 for one person up to $105,792 for eight for 2026-27.
What does the ADRC of Dane County do for home repairs?
The ADRC doesn't pay for repairs. It's a free information and referral center for older adults, people with disabilities and caregivers, and it's where Medicaid long-term care programs that can pay for home modifications begin. Call 608-240-7400.
Can renters get weatherization?
Yes. Wisconsin's Weatherization program serves rental units occupied by eligible households. In buildings with two or more units where the owner pays the heat, the owner pays at least 15% of the cost unless the owner also qualifies.