Ramsey County is Minnesota's smallest county by area, just 170 square miles, and it has been described as completely urbanized since the 1990 census. Its 15 cities run from St. Paul and Roseville to Shoreview, White Bear Lake, North Oaks and Gem Lake, and much of the housing dates to the era when farmland turned into small villages.
That history shows up on the stairs. Many older Twin Cities bungalows and two-story homes put the bedrooms and bathrooms on the upper floor, which is one of the most common reasons a family starts asking about a stair lift. This page walks through how local homes affect the choice of lift and where Ramsey County residents can look for help paying for one.
Many of the county's cities were incorporated in the late 19th and early 20th centuries. North St. Paul incorporated in 1887, New Brighton in 1891 and White Bear Lake in 1921. The result is an inner-ring suburb and urban-core housing stock that is, on average, older than what you find in exurban Minnesota counties.
In a bungalow or two-story home, the question is usually simple: can the owner keep using the bedroom and bathroom upstairs? A straight stair from the main floor to the second floor is often a fit for a straight stair lift. If the staircase turns at a landing or curves, a curved lift built to that stair is the usual answer.
The county's housing also includes duplexes, triplexes, townhouses and walk-up apartments. Shared or multi-unit stairs bring their own questions about who owns the stairway, so we look at that during the in-home visit.
Ramsey County sits at the core of the Minneapolis-Saint Paul metro area with relatively flat terrain and no significant topographic barriers. That means hills are rarely the problem. The steps are usually the ones built into the house itself.
Front entry steps, back stoops and stairs down to a lower level can all be barriers. Outdoor stair lifts are made for exterior steps, and a platform lift can be a better option for someone who uses a wheelchair and cannot transfer to a seat.
The county has about 530,100 residents. About 60.6% of households own their home.
Median household income was $81,004 in the 2023 estimate, and the poverty rate is approximately 11.9%-12.3%. For a meaningful share of local seniors, that points toward income-qualified help, such as Medicaid waivers, the county's home-repair programs or nonprofit support, rather than paying the full cost out of pocket.
Because the whole county is made up of incorporated cities, federal rural-only programs such as USDA Section 504 are generally not available here. The main local channels are Ramsey County's own grant and loan programs, the Metropolitan Area Agency on Aging and MCIL.
For people who qualify medically and financially, the Minnesota Elderly Waiver (EW) and the CADI Waiver both list home modifications as a covered service. Veterans have separate VA grants, though the HISA grant specifically excludes stair glides. The program list below gives each option and the number to call.
The state's own list of programs also includes the Alternative Care (AC) Program, the Minnesota Housing Fix Up Loan (Accessibility Loan) and the Minnesota Housing Rehabilitation Loan Program (RLP). Ask the Senior LinkAge Line at (800) 333-2433 which of these fits your situation.
The Metropolitan AAA is at 2365 N. McKnight Rd., Suite 3, North St. Paul 55109. Call (651) 641-8612 for help finding aging services in the metro area.
Veterans and their families can reach Ramsey County Veterans Services at 90 Plato Blvd W, Suite 210, St. Paul 55107, or by phone at (651) 266-2545.
A Medicaid waiver for Minnesota residents 65 and older who need nursing facility level of care; home modifications are a covered service, set through the person's care plan. The 2026 limits for a single applicant are $2,982 a month in income and $3,000 in assets, and openings can be waitlisted; call the Senior LinkAge Line at (800) 333-2433.
A Medicaid waiver for Minnesota residents under 65 at enrollment who need nursing facility level of care; its home and vehicle modifications benefit includes installation of lifts and ramps. Call (800) 333-2433 to ask about eligibility.
Older Americans Act funding for older adults, generally age 60 and up, in the seven-county Twin Cities metro area, with home modification listed among supportive services and funds passed to local providers. Call (651) 641-8612 for a referral.
A grant for low-to-moderate income Ramsey County homeowners administered by Slipstream, Inc.; the source allows mobility modifications for disabled or elderly occupants but does not name stair lifts. Call (800) 525-6214.
A companion deferred loan, secured by a lien, for low-to-moderate income Ramsey County homeowners; mobility modifications are allowable, though stair lifts are not named. Call (800) 525-6214.
A Twin Cities center for independent living offering home modification and equipment services to residents with disabilities; stair lift coverage was not confirmed in the source. Call (651) 646-8342 to ask what is available.
A VA grant of up to $6,800 or $2,000 lifetime for medically necessary structural changes, available to homeowners and renters. It does not cover stair lifts, since the VA excludes stair glides and porch lifts.
A VA grant of up to $126,526 for FY2026 for veterans with qualifying severe service-connected disabilities, usable up to 6 times over a lifetime. The source does not list stair lifts among covered improvements; Ramsey County Veterans Services at (651) 266-2545 can help with questions.
A VA grant of up to $25,350 for FY2026 for veterans with qualifying permanent service-connected disabilities, usable up to 6 times over a lifetime. Stair lifts are not named among covered improvements; ask Ramsey County Veterans Services at (651) 266-2545.
Older adults
2365 N. McKnight Rd., Suite 3, North St. Paul, 55109
Veterans
90 Plato Blvd W, Suite 210, St. Paul, 55107
The CADI Waiver is for Minnesota residents under 65 at enrollment who need nursing facility level of care, and it covers home and vehicle modifications, including installation of lifts. Call (800) 333-2433 to start.
The HISA grant does not; the VA excludes stair glides from it. The SAH and SHA grants do not name stair lifts in the source, so call Ramsey County Veterans Services at (651) 266-2545 to ask how they apply to your case.
Generally no. The county has been fully urbanized since the 1990 census, so rural-only programs such as USDA Section 504 usually do not apply. County programs, the Metropolitan Area Agency on Aging and MCIL are the main local options.
No. It is not an entitlement, and enrollment slots can be waitlisted. It is worth applying early through the Senior LinkAge Line at (800) 333-2433.
Yes. The Ramsey County Critical Repair Grant and Residential Rehab Deferred Loan programs require a lead-risk assessment for homes built before 1978. Call (800) 525-6214 for details.
The Metropolitan AAA in North St. Paul, reachable at (651) 641-8612, directs Older Americans Act funding for home modification to local providers and can point you to one.
Tell us about the stairs in your home and we will explain which lift fits, what it costs and how installation works.
