Article by Gwen Jones, Department of Family Services
(Posted 2025 August)
Older homeowners in Fairfax County who live on a fixed income may find it difficult to afford even minor home repairs. The good news is that there are programs to help these homeowners, ensuring that they are living in homes that are safe and healthy.
Home Repair for the Elderly Program
The Department of Housing and Community Development’s Home Repair for the Elderly Program provides minor home repairs to eligible low- and moderate-income elderly homeowners who live in the home. The program also provides accessibility modifications for disabled homeowners. The program provides a crew for one week and up to $1,000 in materials to complete necessary repairs and maintenance.
The crew does minor repairs, not major work. Some of the services they provide include minor electrical repair, window and door repair, minor plumbing repair, installation of grab bars, hand railings and other accessibility devices, and more.
Who is Eligible?
To qualify for the Home Repair for the Elderly Program, homeowners must meet these qualifications:
- Applicants must be residents of Fairfax County.
- Applicants must own and live in the home needing repair.
- Applicants must be 62 years of age or older, have a disability, or have a family member with a disability living in the home.
- Applicants must meet the program’s financial eligibility requirements. Visit FairfaxCounty.gov/housing/home-repair-elderly-program for details.
If you have any questions, please call the Home Repair for the Elderly Program at 703-246-5179, TTY 711, or email rha@fairfaxcounty.gov.
Rebuilding Together Arlington/Fairfax/Falls Church
Rebuilding Together-AFF is a nonprofit organization that makes home repairs at no charge for low-income homeowners. They prioritize serving older adults, people living with disabilities, families with children and veterans. Nearly all the work is done by dedicated skilled volunteers. Last year, Rebuilding Together-AFF made repairs to 120 homes in our community.
Two-thirds of the work they perform is through Rebuilding Together Express (RT Express) – a program designed to deliver essential health and safety repairs and accessibility modifications for people with disabilities and older people who want to age in place in their homes. Most RT Express jobs require four to five skilled volunteers and take half a day. Rebuilding Together-AFF spends approximately $400-$500 on materials for each home. The repairs made are based on a thorough assessment of the home, conducted by an RT Express Team Leader.
Fall prevention is a top priority of the RT Express program. Their most frequent repairs include the installation of grab bars, comfort height toilets, double stair rails, brighter lighting, and eliminating tripping hazards. After RT Express received the Commonwealth Council on Aging’s top statewide Best Practices Award in 2018, Rebuilding Together-AFF expanded the program to include services such as installing stairlifts and building wheelchair ramps.
Other common repairs made by RT Express teams address fire safety. Volunteers install 10-year battery smoke and carbon monoxide detectors, make sure there is a fire extinguisher in the kitchen, and check clothing dryer vents. They have found hazardous ducts in a third of the homes they visit.
Rebuilding Together-AFF’s work may include exterior repairs to the home, such as installing handrails and repairing fences, gates, and roofs. They also make sure gutters and downspouts are working properly and divert runoff around the home.
Who is Eligible?
To qualify for Rebuilding Together-AFF’s services, homeowners must:
- Own and live in a home located in Arlington or Fairfax counties, the cities of Fairfax or Falls Church, or the towns of Herndon and Vienna.
- Plan to stay in their home for at least two more years.
- Meet the income guidelines on the application.
- Complete an application, provide proof of ownership and total household gross income.
To learn more, visit rebuildingtogether-aff.org. If you have questions or need help with the application, call RT staff at 703-528-1999.
This article is part of the Golden Gazette monthly newsletter which covers a variety of topics and community news concerning older adults and caregivers in Fairfax County. Are you new to the Golden Gazette? Don’t miss out on future newsletters! Subscribe to get the electronic or free printed version mailed to you. Have a suggestion for a topic? Share it in an email or call 703-324-GOLD (4653).