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Mecklenburg, North Carolina · Loan

Safe Home Rehabilitation Program (City of Charlotte)

Run by City of Charlotte Housing & Neighborhood Services

Deferred, forgivable loan of up to $50,000 from the City of Charlotte for repairs to owner-occupied homes of low-income households, covering code, health and safety fixes plus energy- or water-saving upgrades when funds allow.

Open Checked Oct 25, 2026
Apply before you buy or install anything.Purchases made first don't qualify.

Amounts

How much you get

Deferred, forgivable loan of up to $50,000, set by a City rehabilitation specialist's cost estimate. Homes that need more than $50,000 to meet code can't be assisted. A 15-year deed restriction applies; selling, renting or transferring the home in that period means repaying the City in full.

Eligibility

Do I qualify?

You need to meet all 8 of these.

  • Your home is in Mecklenburg, North Carolina.

  • Household income below 60% of area median income (HUD Part 5). For example, the FY2026 policy lists $67,320 for a household of 4. Households in LeadSafe Charlotte may qualify up to 80% AMI.

  • The home must be owner-occupied and inside Charlotte city limits.

  • Single-family owner-occupied homes only.

  • You must have lived in the home at least one year before applying.

  • The property can't be in a floodplain, can't have unpaid taxes beyond the current year plus one prior year or any federal, state or local liens, and must be free of excessive clutter.

  • No City housing rehabilitation assistance in the last 10 years (the policy PDF says none in the past), and no LeadSafe Charlotte assistance in the current grant cycle.

  • At least one must apply: an occupant 62 or older (web page); someone in the home with a long-term disability or impairment (veterans benefits, SSD, long-term disability income or a physician's notice); the household meets LeadSafe Charlotte rules; or (policy PDF) the home was previously served by Duke Energy's High Usage Efficiency Program or referred by a community health worker in Washington Heights, Winterfield or Hidden Valley.

Applying

How to apply

You apply online. Get approved before you buy anything.

  1. Complete the short pre-application form.

    Preliminary applications are accepted year-round through the City's CiviForm portal.

  2. Send ownership and income documents if the City asks for them.
  3. City inspections.

    A healthy-homes inspection on every home, plus a free lead inspection for homes built before 1978.

  4. Cost estimate and program meeting.

    A rehabilitation specialist estimates the work; if it fits within $50,000 the City reviews the program with you. If not, the application is closed.

  5. City bids the work and you sign a three-party contract.

    Most homeowners must move out temporarily during construction.

  6. Work completed, usually within one year of approval.
What you'll need

  • Proof of ownership

  • Income documentation for the household

Forms and instructionsResources for Homeowners & Renters (City of Charlotte) · Safe Home Program Information and Assistance Policy, FY2026 for Owner Occupied Units (7/10/25)

Questions about applying980.416.3931

Your address

Next steps

Check that it covers your address. This program has to approve you before you buy anything, so start with the program, not a contractor quote.

FAQ

Questions

How much does Safe Home Rehabilitation Program (City of Charlotte) pay?

Up to $50,000 loan.

Is there an income limit?

Household income below 60% of area median income (HUD Part 5). For example, the FY2026 policy lists $67,320 for a household of 4. Households in LeadSafe Charlotte may qualify up to 80% AMI.

Do renters qualify?

The home must be owner-occupied and inside Charlotte city limits. You must have lived in the home at least one year before applying.

Do I need approval before I buy?

Yes. Apply before you buy or install anything; purchases made first don’t qualify.

Is it still available?

Yes. It was open when we last checked, on October 25, 2026.

Plain words

Words used on this page

AMI
Area median income: the middle household income where you live, set each year by HUD.

References

Sources

This page is built from these official pages, run by the program itself.

  1. Resources for Homeowners & Renters (City of Charlotte)charlottenc.gov · Read Oct 25, 2026 · Re-checked weekly
  2. Safe Home Program Information and Assistance Policy, FY2026 for Owner Occupied Units (7/10/25)charlottenc.gov · Read Oct 25, 2026 · Re-checked monthly

When one of these pages changes, we re-check this page against it.

Report a problem with this page

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