Most people in Winkler County live in one of two towns, Kermit, the county seat, or Wink, which grew up around the Hendrick oil field after its discovery on July 16, 1926. Much of the housing in both towns went up during the oil booms, so a lot of it is older, modest, single-story oil-town construction rather than multi-story suburban tract housing.
That shapes what a stair lift job looks like here. Instead of a long staircase to a second floor, the steps that cause trouble are often a split-level run inside the house or the steps up to the front door. This page walks through how those homes match up with different lift types, and which programs Winkler County families can look into to help with the cost.
The local housing mix includes single-family homes, detached houses, ranch-style homes, walk-up apartments and low-rise buildings. In many of the older ranch-style and single-story houses, the only steps are at the entrance. Split-level houses add a short run of stairs between living areas, and stair setups still vary from house to house.
A short, straight run with no turns is usually a fit for a straight stair lift, which is the simplest to install. If the stairs turn or have a landing partway, a curved rail built to that staircase is the usual answer. When the problem is getting from the yard or carport into the house, an outdoor lift or a platform lift can be the better fit, especially for someone who uses a wheelchair.
Winkler County covers 841 square miles of arid dune-field country near the New Mexico border, and the region records some of the hottest daily highs in the continental United States in spring and summer. Any lift mounted outside has to stand up to that sun and heat, so outdoor-rated equipment matters for entry steps.
Outside of Kermit and Wink the county is very thinly settled, at about 9.3 people per square mile. Homeowners out in the rural parts of the county can be a long drive from installers and home-modification contractors based in town. If you live outside town, plan ahead and ask about scheduling for the measuring visit and the install.
About 13.0% of residents are 65 or older, and 85.5% of households own their homes. Because most people own, the decision to install a lift usually rests with the family rather than a landlord.
If a veteran in your family needs a lift, read the VA program entry below carefully, because the main VA home alteration grant does not cover stair glides.
Incomes and housing costs in Winkler County have long risen and fallen with oil booms and busts. For seniors on fixed incomes, or families whose work rides those cycles, paying out of pocket for a home modification can be hard to plan for.
Several programs are worth checking. STAR+PLUS, the Amy Young Barrier Removal Program and USDA Section 504 all fund home modifications or repairs, but none of their sources names stair lifts specifically, so approval depends on the individual case. The Winkler County Senior Citizens Center in Kermit and the Permian Basin AAA in Odessa are good first calls to sort out which one fits.
A Texas Medicaid waiver for residents 21 and older who meet nursing-facility level of care, with an income limit of 300% of the SSI federal benefit rate and a $2,000 asset limit for a single applicant. It covers minor home modifications, but stair lifts are not listed by name and are decided case by case by the member's service coordinator; call (877) 782-6440.
A one-time state grant of up to $22,500 per household for accessibility modifications, open to tenants or homeowners in a household with a person with a disability and income at or below 80% of Area Median Family Income. Stair lifts are not named in the source, and coverage of Winkler County should be confirmed before applying.
Low-income rural homeowners with household income at or below 50% of area median income can get loans up to $20,000 at 1% fixed over 20 years, and those 62 and older who cannot repay a loan can get grants up to $7,500, with a $27,500 combined cap. Repairs must remove a health or safety hazard, and stair lifts are not named, so approval is case by case.
A lifetime VA grant of $6,800 for service-connected disabilities (or non-service-connected with a combined rating of 50% or more) and $2,000 for other eligible disabilities, for medically necessary fixed alterations. It does not cover stair lifts, since stair glides and porch lifts are explicitly excluded; ask a VA provider about VA Prosthetics instead.
An information and referral point for Winkler County residents 60 and older and their caregivers, with meals and connections to regional home-repair resources, but no stair lift funding listed. Call the senior center in Kermit at (432) 586-3631 or the Permian Basin AAA in Odessa at (432) 563-1061.
Older adults
2514 Kermit Highway, Odessa, 79764
Veterans
202 Henry O. Flipper St, San Angelo, 76903
Not through the HISA grant. HISA explicitly excludes stair glides and porch lifts. A prescribed stair lift is pursued through VA Prosthetics, which was not verified for this county, so ask your VA provider. Workforce Solutions Permian Basin in San Angelo is listed as a veterans contact at (325) 795-4245.
Yes, possibly. STAR+PLUS is open to Texas residents 21 and older who meet nursing-facility level of care and Medicaid rules. The Amy Young Barrier Removal Program is based on a household member having a disability and on income, not on age.
The Amy Young Barrier Removal Program accepts tenants as well as homeowners. USDA Section 504, by contrast, is only for homeowners who live in the home.
A short straight run is usually the simplest stair lift to install. If the steps turn, a curved rail is made for that staircase. For entry steps outside, an outdoor or platform lift is often the better choice.
Yes, but expect a longer drive, since the rural parts of the county are very sparsely settled and most contractors work out of town. Plan the measuring visit and install ahead of time.
Start with the Winkler County Senior Citizens Center at (432) 586-3631 or the Permian Basin AAA at (432) 563-1061 for referrals. If the person may qualify for Medicaid, call STAR+PLUS at (877) 782-6440.
Tell us about the stairs in your home and we will explain which lift fits, what it costs and how installation works.
