Two Harbors grew up as an iron-ore shipping port between Burlington Bay and Agate Bay, and its older core still has the multi-story homes you expect in a century-old Lake Superior port town. Up the North Shore in Silver Bay and inland around Finland, houses sit on land the county describes as rolling mountains and hills, heavily wooded, and dotted with lakes and ponds.
That mix of older stairs, hilly lots and long winters is what we think about first when someone in Lake County asks about a stair lift. This page covers how local homes affect the kind of lift that fits, and which state, regional and VA programs a family can call about paying for one.
Many homes in the Two Harbors core were built with bedrooms and bathrooms upstairs and no single-level option. The 2020 census counted 1,750 housing units in Two Harbors, and a good share of them are older multi-story houses sitting alongside newer construction.
If the staircase runs in one straight line from bottom to top, a straight stair lift is usually the simplest fit. Older houses often have a landing, a turn or a narrow winding section, and those need a curved lift with a rail built to the shape of that staircase.
Lake County covers about 2,991 square miles, and 29% of that is water. The highest point, Stony Tower Hill, reaches 2,301 feet, and many homes sit on sloped lots with steps up to the door.
Harsh winters on the North Shore add ice and snow to those entry steps. For a long run of outdoor stairs, an outdoor-rated stair lift is one option. When a wheelchair has to come along, a platform lift is usually the better match for the entrance.
As of the 2020 census, Lake County had a median age of 50.6, with 27.9% of residents age 65 or older. About 74.6% of residents are homeowners, which means many people are making their own decisions about changing the house they already live in.
In Two Harbors, 38.4% of households are single-person. For someone living alone in a multi-story home, getting safely between floors is often the deciding question about whether staying put is practical.
Housing across the county includes single-family homes, townhouses, low-rise buildings and walk-up apartments. A stair lift is most common in a single-family home or townhouse where the owner controls the staircase.
In a walk-up apartment or low-rise building, the stairs are often shared, so the building owner has to agree before anything is installed. We look at stair width, the landing at each end and nearby outlets before recommending a model.
Most of the programs below cover home modifications or accessibility in general, but the sources we reviewed do not name stair lifts specifically. That means calling and asking directly is the right next step. One program, the VA HISA grant, clearly excludes stair glides.
For people age 60 and up, the Arrowhead Area Agency on Aging in Duluth, (218) 722-5545, can point you to services in the region.
A Minnesota DHS waiver for people age 65+ who need nursing-facility level of care, with "Home Modifications" listed as a covered service, though the source does not name stair lifts specifically. Lake County residents apply through county Long-Term Care Consultation intake, and you can call (800) 333-2433.
The Duluth-based agency serving Lake County and the 7-county Arrowhead region for people 60+ and their caregivers; it works as a counseling and referral hub, and its page does not list a stair lift benefit. Call (218) 722-5545.
Builds modular wood ramps on a sliding fee scale with a $150 down payment for people with disabilities in its 10-county area, including Lake; the Ramp Project does not mention stair lifts. Call (800) 390-3681 to also ask about its Assistive Technology and Veterans' Services programs.
A free statewide information and referral service that connects callers to funding such as HCBS waiver funds, Medical Assistance and VA benefits; it does not specifically name stair lifts. Call (866) 333-2466.
Offers occupational therapy including age-in-place home assessments for seniors and people with vision loss in the Duluth and northeastern Minnesota region; cost, eligibility and stair lift coverage are not listed. Call (218) 624-4828 to confirm current services.
Repair loans for very-low-income rural homeowners, plus hazard-removal grants for those age 62+ who cannot repay a loan; the source does not name stair lifts. Call the USDA Rural Development Minnesota office at (651) 602-7800.
A forgivable loan of up to $37,500 for low-income homeowners that can fund accessibility modifications for a household member with a disability, though stair lifts are not named. Call (651) 296-8215 or work with a participating Rehab Loan Lender to confirm.
VA grants of up to $126,526 (SAH) or $25,350 (SHA) for FY2026 to adapt a home for veterans with qualifying severe service-connected disabilities; stair lifts are not named among examples. Call the Lake County Veterans Service Office at (218) 834-8326.
Pays up to $6,800 or $2,000 lifetime for permanent alterations like entrance ramps and roll-in showers, and it does not cover stair glides or porch lifts. Call (800) 827-1000.
Provides claims help and benefit counseling for Lake County veterans and dependents, and is the local contact for filing VA claims; it is not a grant itself. Call (218) 834-8326 or visit 616 3rd Avenue, Two Harbors.
Older adults
424 W. Superior Street, Suite 507, Duluth, 55802
Veterans
616 3rd Avenue, Two Harbors, 55616
Usually, yes. A straight staircase takes a straight lift, while stairs with a landing or turn need a curved rail made to fit. Older port-town homes often have turns, so we measure in person before recommending one.
The Minnesota Elderly Waiver lists Home Modifications as a covered service, but the source we reviewed does not name stair lifts. It is for people 65+ who need nursing-facility level of care, and slots are limited. Call (800) 333-2433 or start with Lake County Long-Term Care Consultation intake.
No. The VA program page lists stair glides and porch lifts as excluded removable equipment. HISA covers permanent changes like entrance ramps and roll-in showers. Veterans can ask the Lake County Veterans Service Office at (218) 834-8326 about SAH and SHA grants instead.
The Arrowhead Area Agency on Aging serves people 60 and older, at (218) 722-5545. USDA Section 504 grants start at age 62 for very-low-income homeowners. Access North and Disability Hub MN serve people with disabilities regardless of a stated age.
If the only stairs are outside, an outdoor-rated stair lift or a platform lift may fit better than an indoor model. Platform lifts make sense when a wheelchair is involved. Lake County winters are harsh, so we plan for snow and ice at the entrance.
Shared stairways belong to the building owner, so you need their permission first. Townhouses and single-family homes are simpler because the owner controls the staircase.
Tell us about the stairs in your home and we will explain which lift fits, what it costs and how installation works.
