Elderly homeowners have substantial need for assistance in repairing and upgrading their homes. Overall, the elderly receive less than the proportion of all federal aid for these purposes that their share of homeowners' needs would imply. But home repair programs differ widely in their service to older owners. Programs can be designed to target more aid to the elderly, by measures including sharply limiting income eligibility; providing aid for major, basic rehabilitation; and giving aid in the form of grants rather than loans.