Stevens County has four towns: Morris, Hancock, Chokio and Donnelly. Most people here live in a detached house, often a two-story farmhouse or a postwar Morris bungalow where the only way to the bedrooms is a staircase. Of the county's 4,182 housing units, 866 date to 1939 or earlier.
That age shows up on the stairs. Narrow treads, steep rises and landings built long before anyone thought about accessibility are common here, and a stair lift is usually far less disruptive than reworking a 1920s stairwell. This page covers how local homes affect the kind of lift you need and which programs can help with the cost.
Another 1,857 homes in the county were built between 1940 and 1979, so roughly two-thirds of the stock predates modern accessibility codes. Detached houses alone account for 3,059 units, plus 152 attached, about 77% of everything here.
A single straight flight in a farmhouse or bungalow is the simplest case. The rail mounts to the stair treads, not the wall, so plaster walls and older framing are rarely a problem. If the staircase turns at a landing or winds at the top, a curved rail built to that exact stair is the usual answer.
Split-level homes in the county often have two short runs, one up and one down. Each run may need its own lift, so we look at which levels you actually use day to day before recommending anything.
Townhouses and walk-up apartments, which are concentrated in Morris (589 units sit in buildings of 10 or more), bring a different question: who owns the stairs. A lift inside your own unit is one thing. A shared stairwell or an entry outside the building usually needs the owner's or association's approval first.
The county covers 575 square miles of gently rolling land, with the Pomme de Terre River running south through the center. Residents split almost evenly, 52.0% urban and 48.0% rural, and many farmsteads and small towns are a 15-to-30-minute drive from services in Morris along U.S. Highway 59 and Minnesota State Highways 9, 28 and 329.
When the closest care is that far away, staying safely at home matters more. For porch or entry steps, an outdoor-rated lift built to handle the weather is one option. Where a wheelchair needs to come along, a vertical platform lift is often a better fit than a seat on a rail.
About 15.8% of the county's 6,581 residents are 65 or older, and 60.6% of households own their home. Owners can generally install a lift without asking anyone, which makes staying put a realistic plan.
If that includes someone in your family, the county's Veterans Service Office in Morris is the place to sort out which VA benefits apply.
The median value of an owner-occupied home here is $202,800, so a lift is a real share of what the house is worth, and a clear written quote matters. Most local stairs suit a straight rail, which keeps the job practical.
For people on Medical Assistance, the Elderly Waiver or CADI Waiver can cover home modification installation. Veterans have their own grants, though one of them excludes stair lifts. The programs below explain who to call and what each one actually covers.
A Medicaid home modification benefit that covers home modification assessment and installation, funded per assessed need as the most cost-effective option, which can include a stair lift. Elderly Waiver serves people 65+ and CADI serves adults with disabilities; apply through Stevens County Human Services at 400 Colorado Ave in Morris or call (800) 333-2433.
A free statewide information and assistance service for seniors, Medicare beneficiaries and caregivers. It does not list stair lifts itself but can point you to the right program; call (800) 333-2433, 8:00am-4:30pm weekdays.
An Area Agency on Aging serving 21 counties in Northwest and West Central Minnesota with services for older adults, caregivers and people with disabilities; its materials do not mention stair lifts or home modifications. Call (218) 745-6733 to confirm it serves Stevens County and what it can offer.
A nonprofit serving people with disabilities in West Central Minnesota, with Stevens County named as a service county, and it runs a Temporary Ramps program. Stair lift funding is not listed; call the Fergus Falls office at (218) 998-1799.
An energy program covering insulation, air-sealing and furnace or water-heater work for qualifying households in Stevens County, with priority to elderly and disabled residents. It does not list stair lifts or mobility changes; call (218) 405-3025.
A lifetime grant of $6,800 or $2,000 for medically necessary home modifications for qualifying veterans. Stair glides are specifically not covered, so do not count on it for a stair lift; questions go to (320) 208-6555.
A grant of up to $126,526 (FY2026) for veterans who own or are about to own a home and have qualifying service-connected disabilities such as loss of use of multiple limbs. Stair lifts are not listed in its materials; call (320) 208-6555.
A grant of up to $25,350 (FY2026) for veterans with disabilities such as loss of use of both hands, severe burns or respiratory injuries, with a variant of up to $9,100 for those living temporarily in a family member's home. Stair lifts are not listed; call (320) 208-6555.
Free help for county veterans and families applying for VA benefits, at 400 Colorado Avenue Suite 101 in Morris. It is a referral point, not a funding source; call (320) 208-6555 for hours and an appointment.
Older adults
111 South Civic Center Drive, Oklee, 56742
Veterans
400 Colorado Avenue Suite 101, Morris, 56267
In most cases, yes. About two-thirds of the county's homes predate modern accessibility codes, and the rail attaches to the treads rather than the walls. A turning or winding staircase needs a curved rail made for that stair.
It can through the Elderly Waiver or CADI Waiver, which cover home modification assessment and installation as Environmental Accessibility Adaptations. You apply through Stevens County Human Services in Morris or start with the Senior LinkAge Line at (800) 333-2433.
The Elderly Waiver is for people 65 and older, but the CADI Waiver serves adults with disabilities and uses the same home modification benefit. Freedom Resource Center at (218) 998-1799 also serves people with disabilities in Stevens County.
No. The HISA grant specifically excludes stair glides and porch lifts. The SAH and SHA grants do not list stair lifts either, so talk to the Stevens County Veterans Service Office at (320) 208-6555 before counting on VA money.
Distance is the main challenge here, since many farmsteads are a 15-to-30-minute drive from services in Morris. That is a good reason to make the house itself work, including outdoor-rated lifts for entry steps that face Minnesota winters.
Often, but a shared stairwell or entry usually needs the building owner's or association's approval first. A lift on stairs inside your own unit is a simpler conversation.
Tell us about the stairs in your home and we will explain which lift fits, what it costs and how installation works.
