Wilmington Home Repair Program to Open Applications Oct. 26

Wilmington homeowners can begin applying Oct. 26 for up to $10,000 in home repair assistance through a new city program replacing the former Homeowner Repair Lottery.

The Homeowner Repair Program follows legislation approved in July that eliminated the lottery system. Applications will now be accepted on a first-come, first-served basis until available funding is exhausted.

City officials said the change was made in response to community feedback. The legislation eliminating the lottery system was sponsored by council member Christian Willauer.

City Council allocated $500,000 for the program in its Fiscal Year 2027 budget, approved in May. The Department of Real Estate and Housing will administer the program in partnership with Habitat for Humanity of New Castle County.

To qualify, applicants must own a home within Wilmington city limits and have a household income at or below 80% of the area median income. Applications will be available on the city's website beginning Oct. 26.

City officials have not specified how many homeowners the program is expected to assist, how long application reviews will take, or which repair categories will qualify for funding.

The new program does not include the age restriction that applied to the previous home repair lottery.

The previous homeowner repair lottery, announced in December 2024, offered grants of up to $10,000 to homeowners ages 65 and older who owned and occupied homes within city limits. At the time of its announcement, City Council said the lottery gave all eligible homeowners who registered during the enrollment period an equal chance of being selected for assistance.

The city has not yet released a detailed list of eligible repairs under the new program. The Department of Real Estate and Housing conducted informational sessions ahead of the Oct. 26 application launch. Residents with questions can contact the city's 311 helpline.