Pitt County sits on the flat coastal plain of the Inner Banks, with the Tar River, the Neuse River and Contentnea Creek running through or near it. Most people live in and around Greenville, while towns like Winterville, Ayden, Farmville, Grifton, Bethel, Grimesland and Fountain spread out across farm country. The homes range from ranch-style houses and split-levels to townhouses and walk-up apartments.
Flat land does not mean a flat house. A split-level in Winterville, a two-story single-family home in Greenville or a townhouse with bedrooms upstairs can still turn a short flight of stairs into a daily problem. This page walks through which kind of stair lift fits each type of home here, and which local and state programs may help with the bill.
Townhouses and two-story single-family homes usually have one straight run of stairs. That is the simplest install: a rail mounted to the stair treads, not the wall, with a seat that folds up so others can still use the stairs.
Split-level homes are different. You may have two or three short flights with landings in between, and a single straight rail will not cover them. Depending on the layout, that can mean a curved rail that follows the turns, or a separate straight lift on each short flight.
Ranch-style homes often have no inside stairs at all, but the front porch or back door can still have steps. That is where an outdoor stair lift or a vertical platform lift comes in, especially if a wheelchair or walker is part of the picture.
Walk-up apartments are common in Greenville, and many residents rent. A stair lift in a shared stairwell needs the property owner's permission and has to leave enough room for other tenants to pass. Inside a rented townhouse, the landlord still needs to sign off before anything is bolted to the stairs.
If you rent, ask before you plan. Some programs below, like the VA HISA grant, accept rented homes, while others require that you own and live in the house.
Be aware of one firm rule: the VA HISA grant explicitly excludes stair glides and porch lifts. It can still pay for other changes, like grab bars or doorway work, that make the rest of the home safer.
The Pitt County Veteran Services office at 1717 W. 5th Street in Greenville helps veterans file claims and get referred to VA housing grants. Their number is (252) 902-3090.
No program in this county's list names stair lifts as a covered item, and the VA HISA grant rules them out. Several programs do cover home modifications, accessibility improvements or mobility upgrades in general, so it is worth asking each one directly whether a stair lift qualifies in your case.
Where you live inside the county matters. The county's Owner-Occupied Housing Rehabilitation program only serves homes outside the Greenville city limits, and USDA Section 504 help is limited to eligible rural areas. Rebuilding Together Pitt County does not work on mobile homes.
For a starting point on senior services, call the Region P - Eastern Carolina Council of Governments AAA in New Bern at (252) 638-3185. North Carolina also offers the Elderly or Disabled Property Tax Homestead Exclusion (G.S. 105-277.1), which does not pay for equipment but can lower the tax bill for qualifying owners.
A Medicaid waiver for NC Medicaid recipients 18 and older who need a nursing-facility level of care, with Equipment, Modification and Technology services capped at $13,000 over the waiver approval cycle. It lists lifts, ramps and grab bars, but stair lifts are not named, so ask your Case Management Entity; call (888) 245-0179.
Helps people age 60 or older with no one able and willing to do the work, covering mobility and accessibility improvements and minor repairs up to $7,000 per person per program year. Stair lifts are not named; call (252) 974-1800.
Offers home safety assessments, home modifications, classes and health screenings for Pitt County older adults. Stair lifts are not named specifically; call the Greenville office at (252) 752-1717.
Repairs health and safety hazards, including accessibility improvements, for low- or moderate-income homeowners outside the Greenville city limits, with priority for elderly and disabled residents. Stair lifts are not named; call (252) 902-3259.
Provides critical home repairs, accessibility modifications and safety upgrades for homeowners in Pitt or Greene County with income at or below 50% of area median income; mobile homes are not eligible. Stair lifts are not listed individually; call (252) 814-0600.
Offers 1% loans up to $40,000 and grants up to $10,000 for homeowners 62 and older in eligible rural areas with income at or below 50% of area median income. Ramps, grab bars and walk-in tubs are named, stair lifts are not; call (919) 873-2051.
Pays for medically necessary home changes for veterans, up to $6,800 or $2,000 lifetime depending on disability status, in owned or rented homes. Stair glides and porch lifts are explicitly excluded; call (252) 902-3090.
Grants for veterans with qualifying severe service-connected disabilities, up to $126,526 (SAH) or $25,350 (SHA) for FY2026, with ramps and wider doorways as examples. Stair lifts are not named; call (252) 902-3090.
Helps Pitt County veterans and dependents file claims and get referred to VA programs, including housing grants; it does not pay for modifications itself. Call (252) 902-3090.
A Greenville office offering information and referral, peer support, independent living training and advocacy for people with disabilities. It does not mention home modifications or stair lifts; call (919) 833-1117.
Older adults
233 Middle Street, Suite 300, New Bern, 28560
Veterans
1717 W. 5th Street, Greenville, 27834
Not through the HISA grant, which explicitly excludes stair glides and porch lifts. The SAH and SHA grants do not name stair lifts either way, so a veteran with a qualifying disability should ask Pitt County Veteran Services at (252) 902-3090.
The HCCBG Housing and Home Improvement Assistance program serves people 60 and older who have no one able and willing to do the work, up to $7,000 per program year. Stair lifts are not named, so call (252) 974-1800 to ask.
No. The Pitt County Owner-Occupied Housing Rehabilitation program only serves homes outside the Greenville city limits, in unincorporated Pitt County and the other towns.
Split-levels usually have short flights with landings, so one straight rail rarely works. Expect either a curved rail that follows the turns or a separate straight lift on each flight, depending on your layout.
You will need your landlord's permission before anything is installed. The VA HISA grant accepts rented homes, though it excludes stair lifts, while Rebuilding Together and USDA Section 504 require that you own and live in the home.
The Region P - Eastern Carolina Council of Governments AAA at (252) 638-3185, or the Pitt County Council on Aging at (252) 752-1717, which offers home safety assessments and home modifications.
Tell us about the stairs in your home and we will explain which lift fits, what it costs and how installation works.
