Hudspeth County covers about 4,571 square miles of Chihuahuan Desert in the Trans-Pecos region, and most people live in a handful of small communities. Sierra Blanca is the county seat, Fort Hancock is the largest community, and Dell City is the only incorporated city. Nearly every home here sits in a rural setting.
That shapes how a stair lift project goes. Homes are mostly single-family ranch and farmhouse styles, along with detached houses and manufactured homes, so the stairs that cause trouble are often porch and entry steps rather than a tall indoor staircase. This page walks through what fits these homes and where to look for help paying for it.
Of the county's 1,107 housing units, 833 are occupied, and most of those are owned by the people living in them. The housing is described as older, single-family ranch and farmhouse-style homes, not multi-story urban buildings. That matters, because a one-story ranch home usually needs a lift at the front or back door, not inside.
When there is an indoor staircase, a straight run is the simplest and quickest to fit. Stairs that turn or have a landing call for a curved lift built to the exact shape of the steps. We measure first and then tell you which one your stairs need.
Entry steps on ranch-style and manufactured homes are often the real barrier. An outdoor stair lift is built for weather exposure and runs along the porch or deck steps. For desert conditions, ask about covers and how the unit handles sun and dust.
Where steps are short and a wheelchair is involved, a platform lift can be the better choice. It carries the person and the chair together. The right answer depends on the height of the steps, the space at the top and bottom, and how the person gets around day to day.
Hudspeth County is part of the El Paso metropolitan area, but the urban core is far from most homes in the county. Installers, contractors and medical providers are often a long drive away. Plan for that when you schedule a measurement visit and any follow-up service.
It helps to gather what you can before the visit: photos of the steps, a rough count of stairs, and any paperwork from a doctor about mobility needs. Fewer trips back and forth means the job moves faster.
The county has historically had high poverty rates, so many families look for help instead of paying the full cost out of pocket. Several programs serve Hudspeth County residents, and they are listed below with what each one does.
For older adults, the Rio Grande Area Agency on Aging is a good first call, since it lists minor home repairs or modifications among its in-home services. Medicaid members enrolled in STAR+PLUS HCBS may have home modifications in their service plan. Statewide, the Amy Young Barrier Removal Program (AYBR) and the Community Living Assistance and Support Services (CLASS) Waiver are also worth asking about.
Veterans have their own options. Note that the VA HISA grant specifically excludes stair glides and porch lifts, so check the SAH and SHA grants and talk with the Texas Veterans Commission El Paso Office at (915) 564-7852, located at 5001 North Piedras Street, El Paso 79930-4210.
Serves people age 60 and older and their families in Hudspeth and nearby counties with care coordination and in-home services, including minor home repairs or modifications; stair lifts are not named, so coverage has to be confirmed with a care coordinator. Call (915) 533-0998.
A Medicaid managed care benefit for eligible adults 65 and older, or 21 and older with a qualifying disability, that lists home modifications as a covered service. Stair lifts are not named, so approval depends on medical need and the member's service plan with their health plan.
A lifetime VA grant of up to $6,800 or $2,000, depending on disability status, for medically needed structural changes to a home. It does not cover stair lifts, since stair glides and porch lifts are excluded. Call (800) 827-1000.
VA grants for veterans with certain severe service-connected disabilities, up to $126,526 for SAH and $25,350 for SHA in FY2026, used to buy, build or adapt a home; stair lifts are not specifically listed. Call (800) 827-1000.
A nonprofit serving people with disabilities of any age in Hudspeth and nearby counties with advocacy, skills training, peer counseling and rehabilitation technology referrals; stair lift funding is not listed. Call (915) 591-0800.
Older adults
1100 N. Stanton St., Suite 610, El Paso, 79902
Veterans
5001 North Piedras Street, El Paso, 79930-4210
The Rio Grande Area Agency on Aging serves people 60 and older. For younger adults with a disability, Volar Center for Independent Living serves all ages, and STAR+PLUS HCBS includes adults 21 and older with a qualifying disability who meet its criteria.
No. The VA's HISA program excludes removable equipment such as stair glides and porch lifts. Veterans with severe service-connected disabilities can ask about the SAH and SHA grants at (800) 827-1000 or the Texas Veterans Commission El Paso Office at (915) 564-7852.
Often the problem in a ranch-style home is the porch or entry steps. An outdoor stair lift or a platform lift can handle those, and we can tell you which fits after measuring the steps.
Manufactured homes are common in Hudspeth County, and their entry steps can usually be served by an outdoor lift or a platform lift. The details depend on the steps and the space around them.
For an older adult, start with the Rio Grande AAA at (915) 533-0998, located at 1100 N. Stanton St., Suite 610, El Paso 79902. For a person with a disability, Volar Center for Independent Living is at (915) 591-0800.
STAR+PLUS HCBS lists home modifications as a benefit, but stair lifts are not named. Whether one is approved depends on medical necessity documentation and your health plan's service plan.
Tell us about the stairs in your home and we will explain which lift fits, what it costs and how installation works.
