Federal and state governments have stepped up grant provisions to help people deal with the tough economic conditions. In the case of assistance for housing, financial aid is available for everything from home repair and renovation to buying a home. You need not be intimidated by the grant proposal process, though. It is not necessary for you to be a trained granter writer in order to successfully write a grant for free housing. Anyone with satisfactory writing skills and the ability to do research can create an effective grant proposal.
Find the grant opportunity that best fits your needs by searching online for “housing grants”. The U.S. Housing and Urban Development (HUD) website is an excellent resource for this, but you can also do a search for housing grants in your state. Some individual states have grant opportunities that might not be listed on the federal site.
Read carefully through the guidelines or policy memo for the grant you want to apply for. It is important to make sure that you qualify for the grant according to the policy and that you understand all of the requirements for submitting an application, including the deadline for submission and any limitations on funding or purchasing amounts.
Write the proposal, sticking to the guidelines outlined in the policy memo. You will have to address the need, how the funding of your request fits in with the objective of the grant opportunity, an evaluation plan that will show that the need has been met and a budget that justifies the amount of money you are requesting.
Submit your proposal to the agency or office indicated in the guidelines, preferably prior to the deadline. Many agencies require electronic submissions, but even a submission done through a website can take some time, so it is a good idea to try to have your submission ready before the actual deadline, in case any difficulties occur.
Tips
Be aware of the deadline for submitting your grant. No exceptions are typically given if you miss a deadline, regardless of the urgency of the need.
Go over your grant proposal at least twice before submitting it. Make sure that you are providing all of the information and materials that are required by the guidelines.
References
- U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development:
- Government Grants
- ed2go: Get Grants!; grant writing course taught on line by Bo Morton and Janet Levine
Tips
- Be aware of the deadline for submitting your grant. No exceptions are typically given if you miss a deadline, regardless of the urgency of the need.
- Go over your grant proposal at least twice before submitting it. Make sure that you are providing all of the information and materials that are required by the guidelines.
Writer Bio
Elle Di Jensen has been a writer and editor since 1990. She began working in the fitness industry in 1987, and her experience includes editing and publishing a workout manual. She has an extended family of pets, including special needs animals. Jensen attended Idaho and Boise State Universities. Her work has appeared in various print and online publications.