Rolette County runs along the Manitoba border, from dry rolling hills in the south up to the lake-dotted Turtle Mountain plateau in the north, where the land tops out at 2,195 feet. Homes in Rolla, Belcourt, Dunseith, East Dunseith, Rolette, St. John, Shell Valley and Green Acres reflect that change in ground, and many of them have more steps than their owners would like.
This page walks through what the county's homes and terrain mean for a stair lift, and which local, tribal, state and federal offices to call about paying for one. Most of the funding routes here need a phone call to confirm, so we list who to ask and what each office actually handles.
The northern part of the county, where Belcourt and the Turtle Mountain Indian Reservation sit, is hillier and higher. Homes built into or near the Turtle Mountains are more likely to have raised entries, split-level layouts or basement stairs.
A raised front entry often calls for an outdoor lift or a platform lift rather than an indoor chair. Basement stairs in an older, smaller house are usually a single straight run, which is the simplest and lowest-cost lift to fit.
Much of the county's housing is single-family homes and detached houses, most of them older and modest in size. A straight staircase in one of these homes can usually take a standard straight rail.
Split-level homes are different. Each short flight may need its own straight lift, or a curved rail if you want one chair to travel through a turn or landing. Townhouses and walk-up apartments can also take a lift, though in a walk-up the stairway may be shared space, so the building owner has to agree before anything is mounted.
That second figure matters, because veterans have their own grant and referral channels on top of the general ones.
Roughly 43.9% of residents own their home. Several of the grant programs below require that you own, or will own, the home where the lift goes, so renters should check with the landlord and the program before applying.
The median home value here is about $98,539 (late 2024), median household income is $57,355, and roughly 23.5% of residents live at or below the poverty line. For many families, paying fully out of pocket is a stretch, so program-funded routes are worth chasing first.
None of the sources we reviewed name stair lifts as a covered item. That does not rule them out. It means you should ask directly, and for programs like USDA Section 504 you may need to explain the lift as removing a safety hazard.
Good first calls are the ND Aging and Disability Resource Link at (855) 462-5465, the Mountain Lakes Human Service Zone office in Rolla at (701) 477-3141, and, for veterans, the Rolette County Veterans Service Office at (701) 477-5265. The state Aging Services Division in Bismarck can be reached at (701) 328-8910.
A state Medicaid waiver for people 65 and older, or 18-64 with a Social Security disability determination, who need nursing-facility level of care. The sources we could check do not list stair lifts or home modifications, so ask when you apply through the ADRL at (855) 462-5465 or the Mountain Lakes Human Service Zone.
A no-cost intake and referral line for North Dakota seniors, adults with disabilities and caregivers, and the front door for the HCBS waiver. It does not list stair lifts as a benefit; call (855) 462-5465.
The county office at 210 2nd Avenue NE in Rolla that handles Medicaid (including the HCBS waiver), SNAP, heating assistance, child care assistance and TANF. It is not a funding source itself and does not list stair lifts; call (701) 477-3141.
A federal grant of up to $126,526 (FY2026 cap) for veterans who own or will own the home and have a qualifying service-connected disability. The VA describes general adaptations but does not name stair lifts; call (800) 827-1000.
A federal grant of up to $25,350 (FY2026 cap) for veterans with qualifying disabilities such as loss of use of both hands, severe burns or certain breathing injuries. Stair lifts are not named; call (800) 827-1000.
The local office in Rolla, staffed by Veteran Service Officer Diane Arstein, that helps veterans and families apply for VA programs, including housing grants. It does not list stair lifts itself; call (701) 477-5265.
Rural repair loans up to $40,000 and grants up to $10,000 for very-low-income homeowners, with grants limited to applicants 62 or older; these figures could not be re-confirmed recently. Stair lifts are not named, so a lift would need to be justified to the local Rural Development office as fixing a safety hazard.
A federal tribal housing grant for enrolled members living in the tribal service area with income at or below 150% of HHS poverty guidelines, with Category A repairs up to $7,500 and Category B renovations up to $60,000. Stair lifts are not named; contact the Turtle Mountain Band tribal housing office to ask whether one qualifies.
Tribal in-home support in the Belcourt area covering homemaker, chore, personal care and transportation services for Medicaid-enrolled people. Home modifications and stair lifts are not listed; call (701) 477-5333 to ask about related programs.
A Minot-based Center for Independent Living offering information, referral, skills training and advocacy for North Dakotans with disabilities. It does not list stair lift funding; call (701) 839-4724 to confirm service area and current programs.
Older adults
600 E Boulevard Ave, Dept 325, Bismarck, 58505
Veterans
102 2nd Street NE, Rolla, 58367
Yes, possibly. The North Dakota Medicaid HCBS waiver also covers adults 18-64 who have a Social Security disability determination and need nursing-facility level of care. Start with the ADRL at (855) 462-5465.
The sources we could check do not name stair lifts or home modifications as a covered waiver benefit. Ask directly when you apply through the Mountain Lakes Human Service Zone office in Rolla at (701) 477-3141.
Call the Rolette County Veterans Service Office at (701) 477-5265, located at 102 2nd Street NE in Rolla. They are the local channel for VA housing grants such as SAH and SHA.
Yes. Section 504 grants are limited to homeowners 62 or older, while the loans have no such age limit. Both require very low income and that you live in the home.
The BIA Housing Improvement Program serves enrolled members in the tribal service area with income at or below 150% of poverty guidelines. Contact the Turtle Mountain Band tribal housing office to ask if a stair lift fits a repair or renovation category, and the Turtle Mountain Aging Agency at (701) 477-5333 for in-home support.
Each short flight can take its own straight lift, or a curved rail can carry one chair through the turns. If the front entry is raised, an outdoor or platform lift may be the better fit for that part of the house.
Tell us about the stairs in your home and we will explain which lift fits, what it costs and how installation works.
