A lot of Gregg County's housing went up fast. The East Texas Oil Field was discovered near Kilgore in October 1930, and by 1940 the population had grown by more than 500%. Many of the older homes in Longview, Kilgore, Gladewater and the smaller towns date to that pre-WWII building rush.
Those homes are now often owned by the same families who have lived in them for decades. The 2020 count found 53,212 housing units in the county, and 58.9% were owner-occupied. For most people asking about a stair lift here, the question is how to make a long-held home work, not whether to move out of a rental.
The county's housing mix includes single-family homes, ranch-style homes, duplexes, townhouses and low-rise apartments. Each one points to a different kind of lift. A straight staircase in a two-story single-family home or townhouse usually takes a straight rail, which is the simplest install.
Stairs that turn at a landing or wrap around a corner need a curved rail built to that exact staircase. Older homes from the oil boom years sometimes have narrow or turning stairs, so we measure before recommending anything.
Ranch-style homes often put the problem outside rather than inside. A few entry steps at the front porch or back door can be the hardest part of the day, and an outdoor lift or a platform lift may be the better answer there.
Gregg County sits in the East Texas Piney Woods and covers about 276 square miles. Summers are hot and winters are mild, which matters if the lift will sit outdoors on a porch or deck. Outdoor models are built for exposure to the weather, while indoor models are not.
Interstate 20 runs through the county, so in-town addresses in Longview and Kilgore are easy to reach. Rural addresses off the main roads can take more planning for equipment and scheduling, so tell us where the home is when you call.
About 15.7% of Gregg County residents are 65 or older. That is a meaningful share without being a majority, so adult children are often the ones calling on behalf of a parent.
If the person who needs the lift served, it is worth checking VA benefits before paying out of pocket, though not every VA program covers stair lifts.
Several local, state and VA programs help with home modifications here, but none of the sources we reviewed name stair lifts as a covered item. The VA HISA benefit explicitly excludes stair glides. That means the right move is to call each program and ask directly before you count on it.
Most of the city programs are limited to Longview city limits. Residents of Kilgore, Gladewater, White Oak and the other towns should start with the Area Agency on Aging of East Texas, which serves Gregg County and can screen you for whatever housing-repair help is currently funded.
Statewide, you can also ask about the Amy Young Barrier Removal Program (AYBR) and the Community Living Assistance and Support Services (CLASS) Waiver. Details for each program we found are listed below.
A CDBG-backed city program for residents 62 or older who meet HUD low-income guidelines and live in the home within Longview city limits; renters need written owner approval. It covers items like grab bars, safety railings and temporary ramps, but stair lifts are not listed, so call (903) 237-1201 to ask.
Repair help capped at $15,000 per address for low-to-moderate income homeowners in Longview city limits who are 60 or older or disabled at any age, including repairs where disrepair limits disabled accessibility. Stair lifts are not named, so call (903) 236-0900 to ask.
A forgivable loan up to $30,000 for low-to-moderate income Longview households whose homes have code violations or critical energy-conservation needs, and it can include accessible improvements for people with disabilities. Stair lifts are not itemized, and enrollment status should be confirmed by calling (903) 237-1204.
An information, referral, benefits counseling and care-coordination service for adults 60 and older in its 14-county region, which includes Gregg County, with its main office at 3800 Stone Road in Kilgore. It does not list stair lifts, but it is the best first call for housing-repair referrals at (800) 442-8845.
A statewide Texas Medicaid waiver for people 21 and older who meet nursing-facility level of care, with minor home modifications, adaptive aids and medical equipment among its listed services. Stair lifts are not named; ask your STAR+PLUS service coordinator, dial 2-1-1, or call (877) 782-6440.
A VA benefit for enrolled patients with a medically necessary need, with a $6,800 or $2,000 lifetime maximum depending on disability status, for permanent changes like entrance access and roll-in showers. It does not cover stair lifts, because the VA explicitly excludes stair glides.
VA grants for veterans with qualifying severe disabilities, with FY2026 caps of up to $126,526 for SAH and up to $25,350 for SHA, usable up to 6 times over a lifetime. Stair lifts are not named in the source, so call Gregg County Veterans Services at (903) 237-2674 for help applying.
Older adults
3800 Stone Rd., Kilgore, 75662
Veterans
100 East Methvin Street, Suite 157, Longview, 75601
The OAHMP, the Habitat for Humanity Critical Home Repair Program and the HOME Rehabilitation Program are all limited to Longview city limits. Outside Longview, start with the Area Agency on Aging of East Texas at (800) 442-8845, whose main office is at 3800 Stone Road in Kilgore.
The HISA benefit will not, since the VA explicitly excludes stair glides. The SAH and SHA grants do not name stair lifts either way, so a qualifying veteran should ask Gregg County Veterans Services at (903) 237-2674, 100 East Methvin Street, Suite 157, Longview.
Habitat for Humanity's Critical Home Repair Program serves disabled individuals of any age in Longview city limits. The STAR+PLUS HCBS Waiver starts at age 21 for people who are Medicaid-eligible and meet nursing-facility level of care.
If there are steps at the front or back entry, an outdoor lift or platform lift can handle those. With hot summers, an outdoor-rated model is the right choice for a porch or deck.
The City of Longview OAHMP accepts renters who are 62 or older and meet income guidelines, with written approval from the owner. Call (903) 237-1201 to ask about current funds, since the window opens in August and stays open until the money runs out.
Tell us about the stairs in your home and we will explain which lift fits, what it costs and how installation works.
