Federal grant money will be available to some rural homeowners in Butler, Beaver, Lawrence and Mercer counties who need help making repairs and renovations to their residences to accommodate people with disabilities.

Disability Options Network (DON) announced Monday that the U.S. Department of Agriculture was making the money available through its Housing Preservation Grant program, which provides matching funds up to $3,000 to help cover repair and renovation work at “rural owner-occupied very low and low-income” households.

The money can be used to make accessibility modifications, resolve health or safety issues, or energy-efficiency improvements, according to a news release from DON.

The group said homeowners who receive grant money will be required to provide either 25 hours of “sweat equity” toward the project being funded or volunteer 25 hours with an agency or organization that benefits their community.

The grant funds will be awarded through an application process, and on a first-come, first-served basis.

For more information call DON at 724-652-5144; visit the group’s website at www.doninc.orc/HPP; or visit its office at 831 Harrison St. in New Castle.