A scene of people with various disabilities gathered around a blue lake, enjoying their home, community, the out-of-doors, health, recreation, housing, transportation and education with an accessible path for them to a high mountain and large yellow sun on the horizon.  New Horizons Un-Limited Inc.


Community and Internet Resources


Housing: Home Modification Assistance


National

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. Qualified members ($5 saving deposit required) may obtain Access Loans, for 100% of the purchase amount, from $1,500 to $25,000 and with terms up to 72 months. For more information, visit their website or call (800) 328-8797 ext. 3.

State Listings

Alaska

New Sign Access Alaska, offers a listing of Home Modification Programs throughout Alaska.

Arizona

Arizona Bridge to Independent Living (ABIL) 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 (MOPD), offers the HomeMod program, which provides financial assistance to qualifying individuals with disabilities for structural alterations that increase the accessibility of homes or apartments. 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. Modifications are limited to a maximum of $10,000 per project and must be performed by licensed, insured and experienced home remodeling companies. For more information, call (312) 744-7054 (voice) or (312) 744-4964 (TTY). Please note the application period ends in early March of each year.

Massachusetts

Massachusetts Rehabilitation Commission offers the Home Modification Loan Program to benefit qualifying individuals with disabilities. Any homeowner who has a disability, has a household member who has a disability or rents to an individual(s) with a disability may apply for this loan. Deferred payment (DPL) and amortized loans range from $1,000 to $25,000. The deferred loan is due upon sale or transfer of title of the property, while, low interest amortized loans require monthly payment schedules but will be offered at below market rates. For more information about this program, call (617) 204-3724.

Minnesota

Minnesota 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

Missouri Housing Development Commission, via the HOME Repair Program, provides funds to selected Community Action Agencies to meet the growing need for home repair for low- to moderate income homeowners. Eligible home owners may apply for assistance to make their home accessible, including ramps, lifts, relocation of light switches and wall outlets, widening of doorways, lowering of kitchen counters, installation of roll-in showers, etc. For more information, contact your local Community Action Agency. To locate your local agency, contact the Missouri Association for Community Action, Inc.

Pennsylvania

The Pennsylvania Housing Finance Agency (PHFA), offers the Access Home Modification Program, 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 Program, offered by Society's Assets, makes funding available to homeowners with a disability (or to homeowners who have a family member with a disability residing in the house) for accessible home modifications. Homeowners must reside in Racine, Kenosha, Rock or Walworth counties (excluding city of Racine and Kenosha residents), have owned their home for two years and have an annual income that does not exceed 80% of their county median income. Additional eligibility criteria applies. For more information, call the Society's Assets Racine office at (262) 637-9128.

For more on the topic of Housing:

Community and Internet Resources / Editorials / FAQ /
Guides / Books / News Publications and Media

Homepage icon Home  / Disability News  / NHU Quarterly Newsletter
Share Your Knowledge!  / NHU Community Discussion Board  / E-mail Us
About NHU  / Announcements and Features  / Contribute  /  What's New?  /  Site Plan
© Copyright 2005, New Horizons Un-Limited Inc.  
[Updated December 30, 2005]
NHU has no liability for content or goods on the Internet.