Petersburg sits at the fall line of the Appomattox River, 21 miles south of Richmond. The older part of the city climbs up from the river on terraced, sloped ground, and many houses near downtown have steps outside before you ever reach the front door.
Inside, the story is often the same. The Old Town Historic District alone holds about 250 buildings on 190 acres, much of it 19th and early 20th century housing along High Street and Grove Avenue. Those homes were not built with accessibility in mind, and many still have narrow, original staircases. This page explains what that means for a stair lift and where Petersburg residents can look for help paying for one.
A straight staircase with no turns or landings is the simplest case. A straight-rail lift mounts to the stair treads, not the wall, so it usually works in older houses without changing the plaster or trim.
Many of the multi-story houses near High Street and Grove Avenue have stairs that turn, split at a landing or run narrow. Those usually call for a curved rail built to the shape of that one staircase. On a tight stair, we look closely at the width so the seat and footrest can fold up and leave room for others to walk past.
Because the older residential core is built on sloped, terraced ground, a lot of homes have a run of exterior steps from the sidewalk or yard to the porch. For some people, those outside steps are the harder climb.
An outdoor stair lift is made to handle weather and can run along those exterior steps. Where a person uses a wheelchair and cannot transfer to a seat, a platform lift is the option to talk through instead.
Housing in Petersburg includes single-family homes, detached houses, duplexes, townhouses and low-rise buildings. A lift can go in most of these, as long as the stair is inside the household's own space.
About 38.3% of residents are homeowners, so many people here rent. A renter will need the owner's permission before any rail is installed. Some funding programs below also require that you own the home, so it is worth checking that first.
For many of them, the choice is between moving or staying in a house with stairs they already know.
Money is a real factor. The city's poverty rate is about 21.7%, which makes free or lower-cost programs especially important for seniors who cannot pay for an installation out of pocket.
The clearest source of help is the CCC Plus Medicaid Waiver, which names stair lifts among its environmental modifications. It has income, asset and level-of-care rules, so start by calling the Crater District Area Agency on Aging at (804) 732-7020. They serve Petersburg from 23 Seyler Drive and can point you toward a CCC Plus application.
Veterans can call the Petersburg Office – Virginia Department of Veterans Services at (804) 431-3260, at 22 West Washington Street. Be aware that the VA HISA grant does not pay for stair glides. Statewide, it is also worth asking about the Virginia Livable Home Tax Credit (LHTC) and the Assistive Technology Loan Fund Authority (ATLFA). Each program is summarized below.
Virginia's main Medicaid home and community waiver for adults 65+ or under 65 with a qualifying disability who meet nursing-facility level of care, and it lists stair lifts as a covered environmental modification. Apply through the local Department of Social Services, or through your MCO care coordinator once enrolled; the 2026 income limit is about $2,982 a month for a single applicant, with a $2,000 asset limit single or $4,000 for a married couple both applying.
The area agency on aging for Petersburg and nearby localities, serving adults 60+, caregivers and adults with disabilities; it coordinates referrals rather than paying for stair lifts directly, and the source does not list stair lifts. Call the Senior Helpline at (804) 732-7020 or visit 23 Seyler Dr., Petersburg.
A HUD-funded city program for low- and moderate-income residents that lists affordable housing and housing stability as a top priority; the source does not mention stair lifts or a specific home repair program. Ask the city's Department of Planning and Community Development what it currently funds.
Loans up to $20,000 at 1% over 20 years, and grants up to $7,500 for owners 62+, for very-low-income homeowners in USDA-designated rural areas; the source does not list stair lifts, only repairs that remove a health or safety hazard. Not every Petersburg address qualifies, so call (804) 287-1500 to check yours.
A VA grant of up to $6,800 or $2,000 lifetime for medically necessary home alterations, but it does not cover stair lifts, since stair glides and porch lifts are excluded. It can fund permanent changes such as ramps or widened doorways; call (800) 827-1000.
Grants for veterans who own their home and have certain severe service-connected disabilities, up to $126,526 (SAH) or $25,350 (SHA) for FY2026; the source does not list stair lifts and the grants are meant for major remodeling. Call (800) 827-1000.
A Richmond-based center offering information, referral, peer support and advocacy for people with disabilities in Central Virginia; it does not list stair lift funding. Call (804) 353-6503 for help finding other programs.
Older adults
23 Seyler Drive, Petersburg, 23805
Veterans
22 West Washington Street, Petersburg, 23803
Often, yes. Many 19th and early 20th century homes there have narrow, original stairs. A curved or straight rail is chosen based on the shape, and the seat folds up to save space on a tight stair.
The CCC Plus Medicaid Waiver names stair lifts as an example of covered environmental modifications. You must meet nursing-facility level of care plus income and asset limits. The Crater District Area Agency on Aging at (804) 732-7020 can help you start.
No. The VA states HISA excludes stair glides and porch lifts. Veterans can still call the Petersburg Office – Virginia Department of Veterans Services at (804) 431-3260 to ask about other benefits.
You will need the owner's permission for installation. Some programs, such as USDA Section 504 and the VA SAH and SHA grants, require home ownership, while CCC Plus eligibility is based on your needs and income.
Yes. The Crater District Area Agency on Aging serves adults 60 and older in Petersburg. Call (804) 732-7020 and they can refer you to programs like CCC Plus.
Yes, outdoor stair lifts are built for exterior steps. They suit many homes on Petersburg's sloped lots, where there are steps up from the street to the porch.
Tell us about the stairs in your home and we will explain which lift fits, what it costs and how installation works.
