Van Buren County is farmland dotted with small towns. Paw Paw, the county seat, sits inland near the Van Buren County Courthouse, whose cornerstone was laid September 2, 1901. South Haven, the larger lakeshore city, sits miles away on Lake Michigan. In between are places like Mattawan, Hartford, Bangor, Lawton, Decatur, Lawrence, Gobles, Bloomingdale and Breedsville, plus farmhouses spread across the county's agricultural land.
Many of these homes were built well before single-floor living was the norm. The bedroom is upstairs, the laundry is in the basement, and the nearest single-story home or assisted-living option may be a long drive away. For a lot of longtime owners, a stair lift is the simpler way to keep using the whole house.
Older multi-story homes in towns like Paw Paw and South Haven often have a single straight flight between floors. That is the easiest and usually the quickest stair lift to install, because the rail runs one direction from bottom to top.
Farmhouses can be different. Stairs that turn at a landing, wind around a corner or change direction partway up need a curved rail built to fit that staircase. We measure the stairs in person before recommending either type.
Split-level homes bring their own puzzle. They have several short runs instead of one long flight, so we look at which levels you actually use every day and start there.
Van Buren County also has townhouses, walk-up apartments and low-rise buildings. A townhouse with an interior staircase usually works the same way as a single-family home.
In a walk-up or low-rise building, the stairs may be shared or owned by someone else. In that case, get the building owner or association involved early so the rail placement and stair width can be checked before anything is ordered.
About 482 of the county's 1,090 square miles are water. That includes the Lake Michigan shoreline, the Paw Paw River, the Black River and many inland lakes ringed by homes.
Lake properties often have steps from the house down to a yard, deck or shoreline. An outdoor stair lift is built for weather exposure and can cover those steps. Where the climb is short and a wheelchair is involved, a platform lift may make more sense than a seat.
According to the Census Bureau estimate for July 1, 2025, 22.5% of Van Buren County residents are 65 or older. The owner-occupied housing rate is 80.6% (2020-2024 estimate).
That is a lot of people who own their homes and have lived in them a long time. When the stairs become the main problem, adding a lift is often more practical than selling and moving across miles of farmland to a different home.
None of the local or federal programs below name stair lifts in their published rules, and the VA's HISA benefit specifically excludes stair glides. Several do fund accessibility work, safety repairs or specialized equipment, so it is worth a phone call to ask before you buy.
For older adults, the Region IV Area Agency on Aging is a good first call at (800) 654-2810, or its St. Joseph office at (269) 983-0177. Veterans can start with Van Buren County Veterans Services at 226 E Michigan Avenue in Paw Paw, (269) 657-8200.
Income-based repair help is available through the county's CDBG Home Repair Program, the City of Bangor grant, Lakeshore Habitat for Humanity in South Haven and USDA Rural Development. Details for each are listed below.
A home modification program for Berrien, Cass and Van Buren counties, with an occupational therapist assessment before work is approved. Its published list covers items like handrails, grab bars and lighting but does not mention stair lifts, so call (800) 654-2810 to ask whether one could be considered.
Helps Michigan residents 18 or older who need a nursing-home level of care stay at home, with income and asset limits. Covered services include "specialized equipment," but stair lifts and home modifications are not listed; call (800) 654-2810.
Funds critical health and safety repairs, including accessibility improvements like ramps or handrails, for owner-occupants at or below 80% of area median income ($75,500 or less for a household of 4). Projects under $10,000 are a grant and larger projects are a zero-interest loan forgiven after 5 years; stair lifts are not named, so call (269) 215-4861.
Up to $20,000 for health, safety, code compliance and energy efficiency updates for income-qualified owners in the City of Bangor. The program does not mention accessibility work or stair lifts; call (269) 427-5831 with questions.
Home repairs such as ramps, railings, grab bars and walk-in showers for income-qualified owners of single-family homes in the City or Township of South Haven and other listed areas. Stair lifts are not named; start with the Home Repair Interest Form or call (616) 393-8001.
A disability services organization whose 8-county region includes Van Buren County and which runs a Ramp Up Program. What that program covers is not published, and stair lifts are not listed, so call (269) 985-0111 to ask about funding, loans or referrals.
Loans up to $40,000 at 1% fixed interest and grants up to $10,000 (grants only for owners 62 or older) to repair, improve or modernize homes in eligible rural areas, with very low income limits. Stair lifts are not named, and eligibility depends on your specific address.
A lifetime benefit of up to $6,800 or $2,000 for medically necessary home accessibility changes for enrolled VA patients. The VA explicitly excludes stair glides and porch lifts, so it will not pay for a stair lift; call (269) 657-8200 for other options.
Grants for veterans with qualifying severe service-connected disabilities, up to $126,526 for SAH and $25,350 for SHA. The VA describes changes like ramps and wider doorways but does not name stair lifts; call (269) 657-8200 to start.
A counseling and referral office in Paw Paw that helps veterans and families understand and apply for VA benefits. It does not fund stair lifts itself, but it can route you toward VA programs; call (269) 657-8200.
Older adults
2900 Lakeview Ave., St. Joseph, 49085
Veterans
226 E Michigan Avenue, Paw Paw, 49079
No. The VA's HISA rules exclude removable equipment such as stair glides and porch lifts. Veterans with qualifying disabilities can ask about SAH or SHA grants through Van Buren County Veterans Services at (269) 657-8200, though those programs do not name stair lifts either.
Yes. Lakeshore Habitat for Humanity serves the City and Township of South Haven for owner-occupied single-family homes, with an income limit of $52,880 for a household of 1 and $75,520 for a household of 4. Call (616) 393-8001 or fill out its Home Repair Interest Form.
The Section 504 grants require the owner to be 62 or older. Loans up to $40,000 at 1% are available to qualifying owners of any age, as long as the home is in an eligible rural area and income is within the county's very low limit.
Yes. Stairs that change direction need a curved rail made to fit that staircase. We measure in person so the rail follows your stairs.
The application window opens August 18, 2026. Apply through the online portal at cdbg.dicemi.org or call (269) 215-4861 to ask whether a stair lift could count as an accessibility improvement.
Older adults can start with the Region IV Area Agency on Aging at (800) 654-2810, which runs both the Older Adult Home Modification Program and MI Choice. Veterans should start with Van Buren County Veterans Services in Paw Paw at (269) 657-8200.
Tell us about the stairs in your home and we will explain which lift fits, what it costs and how installation works.
