Home Modification Grants and Loans for Persons with Disabilities

Modifying a home to make it more accessible can involve costly updates. Wider doors, altered kitchen cabinets and a wheelchair ramp can cost thousands of dollars.

Before you finance or pay out of pocket for these upgrades, look for assistance from the government or nonprofit organizations. Many offer resources for people living with disabilities, low-income individuals and service members.

Federal government aid is geared toward military service members and low-income residents of rural areas.

Disability housing grants for veterans

The U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs offers several grants to help service members and veterans modify a home for qualifying service-related disabilities.

• The Specially Adapted Housing (SAH) grant offers up to $117,014 for the fiscal year 2024 (which ends Sept. 30) to help modify a home you will buy, build or change.

• The Special Home Adaptation (SHA) grant offers up to $23,444 for FY 2024 to help modify a home that you or a family member will buy, build or change.

• The Temporary Residence Adaptation (TRA) grant helps modify a family member’s home where you’re temporarily living. You must otherwise qualify for an SAH or SHA grant. TRA grants are up to $47,130 in FY 2024 for SAH-qualified individuals, and up to $8,415 in FY 2024 for SHA-qualified individuals.

• The Home Improvements and Structural Alterations (HISA) grant provides funds for medically necessary home improvements, including accessibility updates to home entrances and bathrooms. Those with service-related disabilities can get up to $6,800, and those with non-service-related disabilities can get up to $2,000.

» MORE: Use our free VA disability calculator

Rural housing repair loans and grants

The U.S. Department of Agriculture provides Rural Housing Repair loans and grants to rural homeowners with very low income, which the department defines as earning less than 50% of the area's median income. Grants up to $7,500 are available to homeowners age 62 and older. Loans, which don’t have an age requirement, are up to $20,000, repaid monthly over 20 years at 1% interest. Grants and loans can be combined, according to the department.

State and local agencies may offer more assistance with less restrictive qualification requirements.

• The U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development’s state information list includes housing and homeownership resources for each state. Many states include resources and grants for home repairs. Information on the state pages vary, but resources are usually listed under a link that references learning about homeownership.

• The Independent Living Research Utilization program has a directory of organizations that support people with disabilities who want to live independently. Some organizations provide funding for assistive technology, including chairlifts and bathroom modifications, while others provide referrals.

• The National Directory of Home Modification and Repair Resources has a list and a map of home improvement resources for older adults and people living with disabilities.

• The Benevolent and Protective Order of Elks offers disability assistance in several states. Ask a local office if it has programs that address your specific needs.

• Lions Clubs International provides donated glasses and hearing aids to those who need them. Ask a club near you about availability.

Nonprofit groups that advocate and volunteer for people living with disabilities can provide funding or assistance at the national or local level. Assistance is often income-based.

• Rebuilding Together is a national organization whose volunteers make homes safer and more livable for low-income families, older adults and people living with disabilities. Qualifications and the type of modifications available vary by location.

• Modest Needs is an organization that provides Self-Sufficiency Grants to those who live just above the poverty level in the U.S. and Canada. The grants cover a range of expenses, including accessible-home modifications.

• Your grant amount depends on your financial situation, but the group says average grants are $750 to $1,250. To qualify, one household member must be employed, and the main source of household income must be from employment, child support, veterans benefits or retirement.

• The National Disability Institute, a group that researches and advocates for people living with disabilities, provides affordable assistive technology loans of up to $45,000 to residents of New Jersey and New York. The institute also has a list of organizations across the country that help finance assistive technology.

To prove that you need a modification grant, you may be asked to provide evidence of a disability, as well as information about your income, employer and ownership of the property.

You can make the application process go more smoothly by previewing the requirements and gathering copies of supporting documents before you apply.

If you need to finance a home modification, compare multiple options to find one that fits comfortably in your budget. Borrowing requirements vary for different types of loans, but your credit score, income, existing debts and possibly the value of your home determine whether you qualify for financing.

The U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development loans

The U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development offers two low-rate home improvement loan options:

• The FHA Title I loan is a fixed-rate loan used for projects that improve the “basic livability or utility” of the property — a broad standard that includes accessibility upgrades, according to HUD.

• The FHA 203(k) rehabilitation loan can help you buy a home that needs remodeling or refinance an existing home loan to get extra money for updates. Rates are usually lower than credit cards and personal loans, and loan amounts vary depending on the type of 203(k) loan you get (standard or limited). Credit standards may be lower than a traditional home equity loan or line of credit.

» MORE: What Is an FHA 203(k) loan?

Home equity financing

A home equity loan or line of credit is a low-rate way to finance an update. These loans let you borrow up to 85% of your equity, minus what you owe on your mortgage, and require you to use the home as collateral for the loan.

Home improvement loans

A home improvement loan may be an expensive option, but it can provide fast funding for urgent repairs and modifications. These loans have annual percentage rates from 6% to 36%, and borrowers with good or excellent credit (scores of 690 or higher) and high incomes get the lowest rates.

» MORE: Best home improvement loans

The cost of home accessibility updates will depend on the scale of the project, materials used and labor costs. Here are some common modifications and their costs^[0]

• Elevator: $2,500 to $60,000.

• Indoor stair lift: $2,500 to $5,000.

• Lower cabinets and sinks: $1,500 to $8,500.

• Wheelchair ramp: $1,000 to $4,000.

• Wider doorways: $700 to $2,500 per doorway.

• Grab bars: $100 to $500 each.

Fully converting a bathroom and kitchen to comply with the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) guidelines can cost $9,000 to $40,000, but you don’t have to do a full renovation all at once. Starting with the most urgent updates may be easier on your budget.

NerdWallet writer Alex Rosenberg contributed to this article.