RESTORE Program in New York: Home Repair Grants for Seniors

What RESTORE Covers

RESTORE — Residential Emergency Services to Offer Repairs to the Elderly — is a New York State program that provides grants for emergency home repairs to low-income homeowners aged 60 and older. The program is administered by the New York State Division of Housing and Community Renewal (HCR) through local program administrators such as municipalities and nonprofit organizations.

The "emergency" qualifier is important. RESTORE does not fund cosmetic renovations, kitchen upgrades, or general maintenance. It covers repairs that, if left unaddressed, would force the homeowner to leave their home or create an immediate health and safety hazard:

• Furnace or boiler replacement when heating fails
• Roof repairs to stop active leaks
• Plumbing repairs (burst pipes, non-functioning water heater, sewage backup)
• Electrical hazard remediation (exposed wiring, failed circuit panels)
• Structural repairs to stairs, porches, or flooring that create fall risks
• Window replacement when existing windows are broken or non-functional in winter

Each grant has a statutory maximum of $20,000 per building, while local award availability and administration depend on program funding. Repairs are overseen through the local program administrator, which will explain contractor arrangements.

Who Qualifies

Eligibility requirements are straightforward:

• Age: 60 years or older
• Homeownership: Must own and occupy the home as a primary residence (renters are not eligible — landlord-tenant law places repair obligations on the property owner)
• Income: Household income must not exceed 100% of area median income

There is no Medicaid requirement. RESTORE is separate from Medicaid and is administered through HCR and local program administrators. In practice, the program can help homeowners who cannot fund emergency repairs out of pocket.

The award carries property-maintenance obligations: the program requires a Property Maintenance Declaration and a three-year maintenance term. Ask the local administrator about any additional conditions that apply to the award.

How to Apply

Applications go through your county's local aging services network:

1. Contact your county's RESTORE program administrator and ask about current availability. NY Connects or your local Area Agency on Aging may be able to identify the current administrator. Not every county has active RESTORE funding in every fiscal year — allocations depend on program funding and local demand.

2. Complete an application that documents your age, homeownership, income, and the nature of the emergency repair needed. The administering agency may send an inspector to verify the repair need.

3. Wait for approval and contractor assignment. Processing times vary by local program administrator and funding availability; ask for the current estimate when you apply.

4. The local program administrator oversees the repair and explains whether funds are paid to a contractor or reimbursed.

RESTORE vs. Other Home Modification Programs

RESTORE fills a specific niche — emergency structural and systems repairs for homeowners. It is not the right program for accessibility modifications like grab bars, wheelchair ramps, or roll-in showers. Those are covered under different funding streams:

• Medicaid MLTC plans authorize and fund accessibility modifications for enrolled members through their Care Manager
• EISEP Ancillary Services covers grab bar installation and minor safety modifications for people aged 60+ who are not Medicaid-eligible
• NHTD waiver includes home modification as a covered service, though the program is frozen at its enrollment cap as of 2026

For families whose parent's home needs both emergency repairs (a dangerous staircase) and accessibility modifications (grab bars and a raised toilet seat), RESTORE handles the structural repair while EISEP or Medicaid handles the accessibility work. The two programs can be used together.

The Bigger Picture

A home that is physically falling apart pushes families toward nursing home placement faster than almost any clinical factor. A parent whose furnace fails in January or whose bathroom floor is rotting cannot safely age in place regardless of how many aide hours Medicaid authorizes. RESTORE addresses the infrastructure side of the equation.

The Aging in Place in New York guide covers RESTORE alongside every other home modification and repair program available in the state, with a room-by-room safety checklist and application guidance for each funding source.

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