Downtown Laredo still carries the look of its founding in 1755 as a Spanish colonial settlement on the Rio Grande, with Spanish Colonial-era architecture and an older, historic building stock. Beyond the city, Webb County spreads across 3,376 square miles of thornscrub and ranch country, with smaller communities such as Rio Bravo, El Cenizo, Bruni, Mirando City and La Presa.
That mix of old city blocks, newer subdivisions and remote ranch land shapes what kind of stair lift a home needs. Below we walk through the local home styles, what each one usually calls for, and the state, county and veteran programs that Webb County families can look into to help with the cost.
The 2020 Census counted 84,763 housing units in Webb County, and 94.1% of residents live in urban areas, mostly in the Laredo metro. So most homes that need a lift are inside the Laredo footprint, not out on a ranch.
Across the county we see single-family homes, townhouses, low-rise buildings, split-level homes and ranch-style homes. A townhouse with one straight staircase is usually the simplest job, since a straight rail goes in quickly and costs less than a custom curve.
Split-level homes are different. They often have short flights broken up by landings or turns, which can mean a curved rail built to fit, or a lift on just the flight that matters most. Older homes in the historic downtown can have narrow or uneven stairs, so we measure carefully before recommending anything.
A ranch-style home may have every room on one floor and still have steps at the front door, the back porch or the carport. For those spots an outdoor stair lift, built to handle the weather, or a platform lift for a wheelchair can solve the problem without moving out.
Outside the Laredo urban core, development is sparse and isolated. When the nearest single-story home or assisted-living option is a long drive away, adapting the house you already own is often the most practical path.
Webb County is young compared with much of the country. The 2020 Census recorded a population of 267,114 with a median age of 30.6 and 10.4% of residents age 65 or older, which still adds up to tens of thousands of older residents.
About 63.7% of residents are homeowners. Owning the home matters, because it lets you install a lift without asking a landlord, and several of the programs below are written for homeowners. Renters in townhouses or low-rise buildings should get the owner's written permission first.
Texas has several Medicaid waivers with a home modifications benefit, a state grant for people with disabilities, and local home repair help through the South Texas Development Council in Laredo. None of the program descriptions we reviewed name stair lifts specifically, so ask each office directly whether a lift can count as a modification.
Veterans have their own route through VA housing grants, and the Webb County Veterans Service Office at 1110 Victoria St, Suite 108, Laredo, 78040, can help with paperwork at (956) 523-4399. Homeowners in smaller rural communities may also want to check the USDA Section 504 program. Each program is summarized below.
A statewide Medicaid waiver for members age 21 and up with a qualifying disability, or age 65 and up, with a $7,500 lifetime limit for minor home modifications plus $300 per yearly plan of care for repair and maintenance. Stair lifts are not listed by name; call (800) 964-2777 to ask.
A statewide Medicaid waiver for Texans with an intellectual disability or related condition diagnosed before age 22, offering $10,000 plus $300 per yearly plan of care for minor home modifications. Stair lifts are not mentioned in the program description.
A statewide waiver for Texans with deafblindness plus another qualifying disability before age 22, with a $10,000 lifetime maximum plus $300 per yearly plan of care. The description does not mention stair lifts.
A statewide Medicaid waiver for Texans with an IQ of 69 or below, or an approved related condition with IQ 75 or below, with a $7,500 lifetime limit plus $300 per yearly plan of care. Stair lifts are not listed by name.
State funds for home repair and modification for older Texans, passed to local Area Agencies on Aging such as South Texas Development Council, so Webb County residents apply locally rather than to HHSC. Stair lifts are not itemized in the description.
Based in Laredo, this program offers repairs or modifications of homes occupied by older individuals that are essential for health and safety. Stair lifts are not named; call (956) 722-3995 to ask whether yours qualifies.
One-time grants of up to $20,000 for homeowners or tenants with disabilities whose household income does not exceed 80% of Area Median Family Income, usually applied for through a local partner organization. Stair lifts are not listed by name; TDHCA can be reached at (512) 475-3800.
Repair loans and grants for homeowner-occupants in USDA-designated rural areas, with grants limited to applicants age 62 or older with very low income. Laredo itself likely does not qualify as rural, but smaller communities may, and stair lifts are not mentioned in the source.
Federal grants for veterans with qualifying service-connected disabilities, with FY2026 caps of up to $126,526 for SAH and up to $25,350 for SHA, usable up to six times over a lifetime. Stair lifts are not mentioned by name; the Webb County Veterans Service Office at (956) 523-4399 can help you apply.
Older adults
307 W. Nopal St., Carrizo Springs, 78834
Veterans
1110 Victoria St, Suite 108, Laredo, 78040
Several Texas Medicaid waivers, including STAR+PLUS, include a minor home modifications benefit. STAR+PLUS allows a $7,500 lifetime limit plus $300 per yearly plan of care. The program descriptions do not name stair lifts, so ask your plan directly at (800) 964-2777.
Yes, possibly. STAR+PLUS covers members age 21 and up with a qualifying disability, and the Amy Young Barrier Removal Program offers one-time grants of up to $20,000 for persons with disabilities who meet the income limit.
The South Texas Development Council Area Agency on Aging runs a Residential Repairs program out of Laredo for repairs or modifications essential to an older person's health and safety. Call (956) 722-3995 to ask about eligibility and whether a lift fits the program.
USDA Section 504 repair loans and grants serve homeowners in designated rural areas, and grants require the applicant to be 62 or older with very low income. Eligibility depends on your exact address on the USDA map, and Laredo itself likely does not qualify.
Start with the Webb County Veterans Service Office at 1110 Victoria St, Suite 108, Laredo, 78040, phone (956) 523-4399. They can help with VA housing grants such as SAH and SHA for veterans with qualifying service-connected disabilities.
Often, yes. Many single-story homes have steps at the entry, porch or carport, and an outdoor stair lift or a platform lift can handle those without major changes to the house.
Tell us about the stairs in your home and we will explain which lift fits, what it costs and how installation works.
