From the denser streets of Kalamazoo and Portage out to Vicksburg, Schoolcraft, Richland, Climax and Augusta, Kalamazoo County covers about 580 square miles along the Kalamazoo River and Portage River. The homes here run from single-family houses and split-level homes to townhouses, row houses and walk-up apartments, and each one puts stairs in a different place.
Local nonprofits such as Milestone Senior Services and Community Homeworks list ramps, handrails and stair and porch railing repairs as core services. That tells you stepped entries and multi-level homes are a known problem in this county. This page walks through what that means for a stair lift and where to look for help paying for one.
A single-family home with one straight flight to the bedrooms is usually the simplest job. A straight rail runs from the bottom step to the top, and the chair folds up when nobody is using it.
Split-level homes are different. They often have several short runs of steps between levels, so you may need more than one straight lift or a curved rail that follows the turns. We measure each run before recommending either.
Townhouses and row houses tend to have long, narrow stairs between walls. Width at the tightest point matters more than length, so that is the first thing we check.
About 54.5% of county residents own their homes, which means many people here rent. If you live in a walk-up apartment or a rented townhouse, talk to the owner before any rail goes on the stairs.
Entry steps are their own question. Many homes here have a stepped porch or front entry, which is why local programs put so much work into ramps and railings. An outdoor stair lift or a platform lift can be an option where a ramp will not fit, and we can look at both on the same visit.
As of the 2020 census, 78.4% of county residents lived in urban areas, mostly the City of Kalamazoo and Portage, and 21.6% lived in rural areas. That split affects which programs you can use.
USDA Section 504 repair loans and grants only serve USDA-eligible rural addresses. The City of Kalamazoo and Portage are generally not eligible, while outlying townships may qualify, so check your exact address with USDA's Rural Development property eligibility tool. City-focused help, such as Community Homeworks, works mainly in the City of Kalamazoo.
The Kalamazoo County Veterans Service Office at 311 E. Alcott St., Kalamazoo 49007, can be reached at (269) 373-5361 and is a good first call.
Be clear about one point: the VA HISA grant specifically excludes stair glides and porch lifts. The larger SAH and SHA grants do not name stair lifts either, so ask the VA directly before you plan around them.
None of the programs below lists stair lifts by name as a covered item. Some cover related work, like ramps, handrails or general accessibility changes, and some can point you to other help.
A practical order: call the aging services intake line to ask about MI Choice, check your address for USDA Section 504 if you live outside the city core, and call the nonprofits about current funding. The Region IIIA AAA office in Jackson is at (517) 267-9901. Statewide options also include MI Coordinated Health and the MSHDA Property Improvement Program (PIP).
A Medicaid waiver for people 65 and older, or 18 and older with a disability, who need nursing-facility level care and qualify financially; stair lifts are not listed, so confirm any coverage with your MI Choice care coordinator. The listed phone is (269) 373-5173.
In-home services for older adults in Kalamazoo County after a needs and financial assessment, with possible waitlists; stair lifts are not listed, but it can serve as an intake point to MI Choice or local home-repair programs. The listed phone is (269) 373-5173, and it is worth confirming when you call.
A lifetime grant of up to $6,800 or $2,000 for medically necessary home alterations for veterans in VA health care; stair glides and porch lifts are excluded, so it does not cover stair lifts. Call (269) 966-5600.
Grants for veterans with specific severe service-connected disabilities, up to $126,526 for SAH and $25,350 for SHA in FY2026; ramps and wider doorways are named examples, but stair lifts are not listed. Call (269) 966-5600.
1% loans up to $40,000 and grants up to $10,000 for very-low-income homeowners in USDA-eligible rural areas, with grants limited to people 62 and older; stair lifts are not listed among the example accessibility improvements.
Home repair and accessibility work such as grab bars, handrails, entry ramps and tub-to-shower conversions for seniors within about 60 miles of Kalamazoo, depending on funding; stair lifts are not listed. Call (269) 382-0515.
Wheelchair ramp construction for residents with a mobility disability; new applications are suspended except for Portage residents, and stair lifts are not listed. Call (269) 345-1516.
Critical repairs for income-qualified homeowners, mainly in the City of Kalamazoo and county-wide as funding allows, including stair and porch railings, handrails and treads for safety; stair lift installation is not listed. Call (269) 998-3275.
Free short-term loans of assistive devices, typically for 14 to 45 days, for Michigan residents with disabilities; stair lifts are not listed among loanable devices, so call (800) 578-0280 to ask about current inventory.
Older adults
200 W. Michigan Ave., Suite 102, Jackson, 49201
Veterans
311 E. Alcott St., Kalamazoo, 49007
No. The HISA benefit specifically excludes removable equipment such as stair glides and porch lifts. The Kalamazoo County Veterans Service Office at (269) 373-5361 can talk through other VA options.
Stair lifts are not listed for MI Choice. The program is funded through an individual care plan, so ask your assigned care coordinator about a stair lift directly. The listed phone is (269) 373-5173.
Possibly. Disability Network Southwest Michigan has suspended new Ramp Up applications, but Portage residents are the exception because dedicated funding remains. Call (269) 345-1516.
Generally not. The City of Kalamazoo and Portage are usually not USDA-eligible, while outlying townships may be. Check your exact address with USDA's Rural Development property eligibility tool.
USDA Section 504 grants are limited to people 62 and older, though loans have no such age rule. MI Choice can serve adults 18 and older with a disability who meet its other requirements.
The MATP device loan program lends equipment free for about 14 to 45 days, but stair lifts are not listed among its devices. Call (800) 578-0280 to ask what is available now.
Tell us about the stairs in your home and we will explain which lift fits, what it costs and how installation works.
