Home Modification Assistance in Virginia: Grants and Programs to Help You Age in Place

USDA Section 504 Home Repair Program

The USDA Section 504 program, run through USDA Rural Development in Virginia, offers grants and low-interest loans to help lower-income older homeowners repair and modify their homes. It covers health and safety hazards and accessibility improvements like ramps, grab bars, and plumbing upgrades.

• Grants up to about $10,000 for very-low-income homeowners age 62 and older
• Loans up to about $40,000 at 1 percent interest
• Applications are accepted year-round through your local USDA Rural Development office

Virginia EHARP: Essential Home Repair Program

Virginia's Essential Home Repair Program, or EHARP, is administered by the state Department of Housing and Community Development and delivered through local partners. It provides grants, typically up to about $4,000, to low-income homeowners whose income is at or below 80 percent of the area median. Funds can go toward fixing health and safety hazards and removing physical access barriers such as ramps and grab bars. Because it is first-come, first-served through participating communities, it helps to ask your local program administrator about timing and availability.

Virginia Housing Accessibility Grants

Virginia Housing, formerly the Virginia Housing Development Authority, offers accessibility grants of up to about $8,000 to modify a home for accessibility. Eligible improvements include bathroom alterations, grab bars, toilets, ramps, and widened doorways. There are also related programs, including a grant for barrier-free rental units and the Granting Freedom grant of up to about $8,000 for disabled veterans, active service members, and permanently disabled Virginians. These are grants, not loans, so they do not need to be repaid.

Medicaid and Area Agencies on Aging

Medicaid's CCC Plus waiver, administered in Virginia by the Department of Medical Assistance Services and the Department for the Aging, can cover home modifications of up to about $5,000 per person, such as ramps and grab bars, to help people remain in their homes rather than in a facility. Separately, Older Americans Act funds flow through Virginia's local Area Agencies on Aging to support home modifications and repairs that help seniors stay independent. Your local Area Agency on Aging is an excellent first call to learn what is available where you live.

The Virginia Livable Home Tax Credit

For homeowners who plan their own accessibility work, Virginia offers a Livable Home Tax Credit, administered by the state Department of Housing and Community Development with about $1 million set aside each year. It rewards modifications such as accessible entrances and widened doors and hallways. Because the credit has a limited annual pool, it is wise to check current availability and work with a qualified tax or housing professional when claiming it.

Veterans Benefits for Home Modifications

Veterans have additional federal options. The VA offers grants such as Specially Adapted Housing, Special Home Adaptation, and HISA that can fund ramps, grab bars, and accessibility alterations. If you or your spouse is a veteran, it is worth asking the VA about these programs before planning your modifications.

Where to Start

The programs above each have their own income limits, deadlines, and application processes, and some are funded on a first-come, first-served basis. The most practical first step is to contact the organizations that can point you to local help:

• Your local Area Agency on Aging
• The Virginia Department of Housing and Community Development for EHARP and the Livable Home Tax Credit
• Your local USDA Rural Development office for the Section 504 program

Starting early is wise, since some programs have waiting lists or limited annual funding. Even a modest investment in ramps, grab bars, and a safer bathroom can make a big difference in whether a senior can safely stay in the home they love.