If you are a disabled person and want to make your daily life easier, safe and sound by modifying your home, then this article is for you. Yes every disabled person need some extra support, like , wheelchair ramp, stair lift, railing and grab bars, automatic door openers, floor replacement, installation of sensory equipment, modified bathroom, etc. A perfect and proper modification of your home can ensure these facilities.
Home modification refers to converting or adapting the environment of your home so that you can perform your task with ease and safety. It reduces the possibilities of accidents and supports independent living. You may get the fund for the modification of your home through Government organizations, non-profit organizations, and private organizations.
In this section you may get a clear idea about government, nonprofit and private organizations that pay or grant you to renovate your home. Here one thing should be mentioned that these organizations do not give you cash directly , instead they will pay the money to the workers who work for the modification of your home.
Government Organizations That Help Disabled Individuals For Free Home Modifications
A mentionable number of Government organizations are helping disabled to modify their home for free. Such organizations or programs are:
Federal Grants Programs For Disabled Individuals Home Modifications
The US Department of Veterans Affairs: The veterans that are disabled for service related issues, get home modification grants from the Government. The grant is given to the veterans by the following programs:
- Specially Adapted Housing ( SAH Grant): If a veteran is disabled for service related causes and lost the function of at least one leg, or loss the function of both arms, or have blindness in both eyes plus loss the function of one leg, or have severe burns issue, then he/she may get home modification grant under SAH Grant.
- Special Housing Adaptation( SHA Grant): The Special Housing Adaptation Grant is for those veterans who have blindness in both eyes, lost the function of both arms, have the issue of severe burns, or have significant respiratory injury.
- Home Improvement and Structural Alteration(HISA): The veterans that have a veteran’s affair doctor’s prescription that states the need and medical reasons for the modification of the patient’s home, can get this type of grant.
- Heroes At Home: The program is working for disabled veterans that are wheelchair bound. The program installs wheelchair ramps, modify bathroom and kitchen to ensure that these aged disabled veterans can maintain an independent life. You may contact US Government And Veteran Affairs Website at : “department.va.gov”.
Rebuilding Together Americorps: Rebuilding Together Americorps helps many families with disabled members to renovate their house to make it comfortable, easy, and accessible for the disabled members. You may contact their website at: “rebuildingtogether.org/americorps”.
The Rural Housing Repair Loans and Grants Program: This grant program is funded by the United States Department of Agriculture(USDA). To get help from this grant a person must be 62 years old or over. The fund is used to modify existing homes or new ones. You may visit their website at: “www.govloans.gov/loans/rural-housing-housing-repair-loans-and-grants”.
The Assisted Living Conversion Program: The U.S department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD) operates the program. This program is designed for the disabled who need modification of their home.
State Grants Programs For Disabled Individuals Home Modifications
USDA State offices: USDA State offices help rural people to modify their home to make it safe and eligible for the dwellers, specially for disabled.
The Benevolent and Protective Order Of Elks: The Benevolent and Protective order of Elks has chapters across the country to help needy people specially the disabled by making their home eligible and easy for living. The chapters are working successfully in many states.
The National Council Of State Housing Agencies: NCSHA is a one stop shop in your state that provides housing modification related assistance to organizations that aim to modify houses for disabled persons. You may visit their website at: “www.ncsha.org”.
The American Parkinson Disease Association: A mentionable number of people in our country are attacked by many degenerative diseases. They need support to modify their home to lead an easy and safe life. This organization helps to modify these aged persons’ houses. You may visit their website at: “www.apdaparkinson.org”.
The National Resource Center On Supportive Housing and Home Modification: This institution publishes a directory that provides information on home modification, such as featured programs, fundings, providers and available resources.
The Medicaid Program in Helping Disabled: Medicaid program is offered in many states to help seniors and /or disabled persons by providing a modified home , so that they can stay at home with ease, comfort, and safety. Medicaid gives the waiver for purposes such as addition of wheelchair ramps , stairlifts, wheelchair accessible bathtubs and showers, etc .
Private Organization Grants That Help Disabled Individuals For Free Home Modifications
The following organizations help in modifying homes for disabled persons, so that they can lead an easy and independent daily life. Let’s know about these organizations and their role in modifying homes.
The Gary Sinise Foundation’s Restoring Independence Supporting Empowerment (RISE):
The organization helps the disabled persons of the United States military, who have service related disabilities. The program was created by the Forrest Gump icon. The program provides grants to modify existing and new houses. You may visit their website at: “www.garysinisefoundation.org/rise”.
The American Red Cross
The American Red Cross helps active military members, veterans, and veteran’s family members, with a service related disability. They help you to modify your home so that you can lead an easy and hassle free daily life. You may apply online through your mobile phone, tablet, or computer; download their free app and seek assistance, or call this toll free number: 1-877-272-7337. You may chat with an assistant virtual agent also. You may visit their website at: “www.redcross.org”
The Army Wounded Warrior Program (AW2)
The Army Wounded Warrior Program (AW2) helps qualified soldiers, veterans, and their families to carry on expenses including home modification. The aim of this program is to ensure the independent life for the disabled eligible persons. You may contact them at: 703-286-2560 (local), Or, 888-721-2769 ( Toll-Free).
The Self-Sufficiency Grant From ModestNeeds.Org
Modestneeds.Org helps those who are unable or in a tight budget to pay emergency expenses.They help the disabled with house modification cost , so that the disabled may not be bound to spend their last expensive dollar after the home modification.
The Individual Adaptive Equipment Grant From The Travis Roy Foundation
The Travis Roy Foundation helps people with a spinal cord injury and thus disabled. The service is open to all ages of people with spinal cord injury related disability. The organization helps to modify an eligible person’s home, such as ramp construction, grab bar placement, etc. You may visit their website at: “www.travisroyfoundation.org”
Area Agency On Aging
The Area Agency On Aging (AAA) helps low -income seniors and people with disabilities. If you need help with repairing or modifying your house, you may contact your local Area Agency On Aging(AAA). You may call at: 1-800-677-1116 to reach the US Administration on Aging. They can help you find your nearest Area Agency On Aging office. You may visit their website at: “eldercare.acl.gov/Public/About/Aging_Network/AAA.aspx”
How To Apply For Programs That Provides Home Modification Help For Disabled Individuals
Each program may have their own application process and eligibility criteria for application. So, you may visit their webpages and thus know the details of their application processes. But a common procedure is that all the programs will assess your disability condition and also what type of home modification you basically need. And they may ask for a paper given by your doctor about your disability . So, it is a good idea to keep any documents related to your disability.
How To Modify Your Home After Approve Your Application
You can take the responsibility to renovate your home, or can take help from a friend or relative. You don’t need to be worried about the cost. In many cases the government , non profit organizations, and private organizations manage the cost of your home modification.
You should hire a professionally trained expert to renovate your home. Say for wheelchair ramp installation , you must hire someone who is good at ramp installation. Because a wrongly installed ramp can be dangerous for a disabled person. So hiring an expert professional is very important.
Costs Analysis To Modify Your Home
Your home can be modified to give you ease and comfort. You may need to install a wheelchair ramp, elevator, stair lift, grab bars, bathroom modification, kitchen modification, etc. You don’t need to worry about the cost for the modification. In most of the cases government organizations, non profit organizations, and some private organizations bear the cost if you are eligible.
A Wheelchair Ramp: A wheel chair ramp with installation fee costs $ 1035 to $ 3350. This cost may vary depending on the material used, length and width of the ramp, type of the ramp, and the local labor rates.
Elevator: To establish an elevator you have to spend from $1500 to $ 40000 ( according to the materials and multi storey). And you have to spend $ 500 to $1500 for the installation of the elevator. Residents of multilevel homes that use wheelchairs for disability will be much benefitted by establishing a modified elevator.
Grab Bars and Handrails: To establish grab bars and handrails, it costs $100 to $500.
Widening Doors: It costs $ 700 to $ 2500 to widen the door.
Bathroom Modifications: You may modify your bathroom by adding grab bars, slip-resistant floor, curbless shower, wall-mounted pedestal sinks, lever handles, etc. The total cost may differ for the size and type of the bathroom. It costs between $6000 to $8000 for a standard bathroom.
Final Words
If you are disabled , you must need a modified home to make your daily life easy, comfortable, safe and hassle free. So, it is vital to contact a government, non-profit , or private organization to get support for home modification. You should research all the resources available to find out the best service for you.
