Home Modification Resources for Individuals with Disabilities: New Horizons Un-Limited:

Home Modification Assistance

National
State Listings: AK / AZ / IL / MA / MN / MO / PA / WI (Official USPS State Abbreviations)

National

Community Development Block Grant (CDBG) Program Some local housing agencies utilize portions of their CDBG program to pay for various kinds of home modifications. To contact your local CDBG grantee, call the US Department of Housing and Urban Development at (202) 708-1112.

Digital Federal Credit Union offers Access Loans, which are for any product, device, or building modification designed to assist someone with a disability. The borrower need not be the beneficiary of the purchase. Accessible building modifications may include bathroom accessibility, kitchen modifications, widening doorways for wheelchairs, lowering countertops, changing cabinets, modifying sinks and faucets, installing ramps, elevators, stair climbing devices, or installing ceiling lifts. Access Loans can be obtained for 100% of the purchase amount, from $1,500 to $25,000 and with repayment terms up to 72 months. For more information, visit their website or call (800) 328-8797 ext. 3.

Easter Seal Society, 416-421-8377 call this national number to find a local chapter near you and more about their home modification assistance program.

Home Access Program, an initiative started by Handi-Ramp, a company that has been manufacturing handicap accessible ramps since 1958, assists individuals in finding an accessible home or modifying an already existing one. The program provides ADA experts free of charge who can assist in making a home accessible. Whether you're in the market for an accessible home or interested in modifying your current home, the Home Access Program is the resource for you.

Multiple Sclerosis Society At Home with MS - Adapting your Environment is a brochure on home modifications. Check with your local chapter of the MS Society for which modification services they will assist.

Muscular Dystrophy Association (MDA) -Home Sweet Modified Home offers a comprehensive list of home modifications to consider and then a general list of funding resources.

Muscular Dystrophy Association (MDA) - Home Modifications is a checklist of home modifications with simple ADA specifications and a list of funding ideas and resources to check.

Rebuilding Together, Inc., is a non-profit organization dedicated to providing home repair and modification services at no expense to homeowners with disabilities in need. Go to their Finding an Affiliate page on their website and enter your zipcode to find the office nearest you and find out how to apply to your local Rebuilding Together home modification program.

Thrivent Builds Repairs is a program of Thrivent Builds with Habitat for Humanity. It is a financial, volunteer and advocacy partnership between Thrivent Financial for Lutherans and Habitat for Humanity International. Through the Repairs program, Thrivent Financial members and other volunteers partner with local Habitat affiliates around the country to complete simple one- or two-day projects to improve existing owner-occupied homes. Thrivent Financial for Lutherans offers financial assistance for wheelchair accessible ramps. Each project is eligible for a $2,500 grant from Thrivent Financial through the Thrivent Builds with Habitat for Humanity program.

Internal Revenue Service (IRS): Publication 907 — Tax Highlights for Persons with Disabilities offers tax deductions for home modifications. Also in html Publication 907 (HTML), this publication covers deductions for such things as wheelchair purchases, service animals and home accessibility modifications.

State Listings

State Independent Living Center will know grants or funding sources for home modifications at the state or local level. Visit this link to our NHU page to find the CIL nearest you that serves your county. They provide information about home modifications such as building a ramp, installing grab bars and widening doors.

Alaska

Access Alaska, a non-profit Independent Living Center, provides accessibility modifications in the homes of qualified individuals and families with disabilities in Alaska. For more information, call 1-800-770-4488.

Arizona

Ability 360 offers a Home Modification Program, through which they provide financial assistance for home modifications to Phoenix, Glendale, Peoria, Mesa, and Tempe residents living with disabilities. This is a match program so consumers are expected to contribute 10 percent toward the cost, either in cash, in-kind or volunteer contributions. Licensed contractors provide modifications such as widening doorways, building ramps, installing roll-in showers, grab bars, raised toilets and other needed structural modifications. For more information, contact ABIL at (602) 256-2245.

Illinois

The Chicago Mayor's Office for People with Disabilities: HomeMod Program allow people with disabilities, who are under the age of sixty, to receive home modifications that make their living environment accessible. Typical alterations include kitchen and bathroom modifications and the addition of interior and exterior lifts and ramps. Specific modifications can include the installation of grab bars, lowering cabinets and countertops and widening doorways. Subsequent work may include, but is not limited to, plumbing, electrical, carpentry, masonry, dry walling, tiling and painting. Applications are only accepted between October 1st and January 15th. Call 312-744-7050 to learn more.

Massachusetts

Massachusetts Rehabilitation Commission: Home Modification Loan Program provides no- and low-interest loans to modify the homes of adults and children with disabilities. 0% interest and deferred payment (payment is not due until sale of the home) loans are provided to individuals with incomes of up to 100% of area median income. For more information about this program, download the HMLP brochure or call 617-204-3739.

Minnesota

Home Wheelchair Ramp Project offers several resources for homeowners in need of an exterior wheelchair ramp. Specifically, they offer safety tips, financial assistance sources, many helpful articles, as well as a complete how-to ramp manual.

Missouri

Home Repair Opportunity (HeRO) Program, provides up to $20,000 in cash assistance to low-income homeowners with disabilities for accessibility modifications. This includes improvements such as the installation of ramps and lifts (but not elevators), re-locating light switches and service outlets, widening doorways, lowering kitchen counters, installing roll-in showers, etc.

Pennsylvania

The Pennsylvania Housing Finance Agency (PHFA), offers the Access Home Modification Program go to this link and click on Access Home Modification which provides mortgage loans to assist persons with disabilities or who have a family member(s) living in the household with disabilities who are purchasing a home that needs accessibility modifications. This program provides a deferred payment loan, with no interest, and no monthly payment. The loan becomes due and payable upon payoff of the first mortgage, sale, transfer, refinance or non-owner occupancy of the property. For more information, call (717) 780-3874.

Wisconsin

Home Solutions USA specializes in making accessible home modifications for people with disabilities and those wishing to age at home They work with you, your family and case managers to fit your needs and wants within your budget. They will discuss adaptive aids and equipment options and knowledge of funding resources, they will also do maintenance, needed repairs and more. Whether you need design/build remodeling, or just a simple grab bar installation, you can be certain that Home Solutions USA will help you live at home safely and independently through complete house care solutions. For more information, contact Home Solutions USA team at 6502 W. North Avenue, Wauwatosa, WI 53213, (414) 963-4663, or send e-mail to: info@homesolutionsusa.net

WHEDA Wisconsin Housing and Economic Development Authority (WHEDA) click on the home improvement tab for the WHEDA HOME IMPROVEMENT ADVANTAGE. This is an EXCLUSIVE OFFER for WHEDA Homeowners! Looking for an easy, affordable loan to improve your home? With the WHEDA Home Improvement Advantage loan you can borrow up to $10,000 to improve the quality and value of your home for years to come! Additions and remodeling projects Home repairs, including repairs to make a home handicap accessible Energy updates that are permanent in nature Energy Star appliances Do your remodeling homework – Visit the National Association of the Remodeling Industry (NARI) to get remodeling ideas, locate contractors and find important tips to ensure your remodeling project runs smoothly. Find the best price for quality work – Get bids for the planned improvements. DO NOT start the work until your home improvement loan from WHEDA has been approved. Contact a WHEDA lender – Talk to a participating WHEDA lender to begin the loan application process. Get the WHEDA Home Improvement Advantage – Based on your work estimates, your lender will complete the loan application and sent it to WHEDA for approval.

WisLoan is a statewide program than provides loans for home accessibility modifications. Repayment terms are based upon the amount borrowed. For more information, contact the WisLoan Coordinator at Independence First by calling 414-291-7520.