Up to $30,000 per household | $10M total fund
Your home should be safe, stable, and yours to keep. BrighterHome provides forgivable loans to income-qualified homeowners for critical repairs — think roof replacements, HVAC and plumbing systems, accessibility upgrades, painting, and other health and safety improvements — so you can stay in the home and community you’ve built.
How It Works
BrighterHome connects eligible homeowners with pre-qualified contractors, organized by Commission District, to finalize the renovation scope of work and complete necessary repairs. Profit and overhead are capped at 20% of the renovation costs, not to exceed $5,000, to keep costs fair. The homeowner must maintain the home as their primary residence for ten (10) years following completion of repairs. If the homeowner satisfies the ten-year residency period, the loan balance will be fully forgiven.
BrighterHome can be paired with DeKalb County Community Development’s Special Purpose Home Repair Program for a total project cost of $44,000.
Who is Eligible
- Income-qualified homeowners in DeKalb County
- Owner-occupied primary residences only
- Property must require critical health, safety, accessibility, or system repairs
- BrighterHome does NOT have an age requirement.
- Preferred Service Categories:
- Applicants who have lived in and owned their home for 15 or more years
- Households earning up to 60% AMI
- Head of Households are:
- 62 years or older,
- Disabled, and/or
- Military veterans
| HUD INCOME LIMITS (effective May 1, 2026)* | ||||
| # Persons | 60% AMI | 80% AMI | 100% AMI | 120% AMI |
| 1 Person | $49,500 | $66,000 | $82,500 | $99,000 |
| 2 Persons | $56,580 | $75,440 | $94,300 | $113,160 |
| 3 Persons | $63,660 | $84,880 | $106,100 | $127,320 |
| 4 Persons | $70,680 | $94,240 | $117,800 | $141,360 |
| 5 Persons | $76,380 | $101,840 | $127,300 | $152,760 |
| 6 Persons | $82,020 | $109,360 | $136,700 | $164,040 |
| 7 Persons | $87,660 | $116,880 | $146,100 | $175,320 |
| 8 Persons | $93,300 | $124,400 | $155,500 | $186,600 |
*updated by HUD annually
When can you Apply?
Applications are anticipated to open in Fall 2026.
How to Apply
Submit an interest form below. Once applications open, you’ll provide documentation of income, ownership, and the repairs needed. Decide DeKalb will coordinate contractor assignment from our pre-qualified network.