Escambia County stretches across about 953 square miles of flat south Alabama coastal plain, with five towns: Atmore, Brewton, East Brewton, Flomaton and Riverview. Most of the county is rural, with 65.3% of residents living outside urban areas, and most homes here were built years ago. Only 6 residential building permits were issued in 2025.
That older housing stock matters when someone starts having trouble with steps. Older rural homes in this area are less likely to have step-free entries or other accessibility features already built in. This page walks through how local home styles affect stair lift choices and which programs a resident can call about paying for one.
The county has about 17,053 housing units, and very little new construction is adding to that number. Many families are living in the same single-family homes and detached houses they have had for a long time. Those homes were rarely planned with a wheelchair or walker in mind.
Flat land does not always mean a flat entry. Plenty of houses still have a few steps up to the porch or front door, and that short climb can be the hardest part of the day. A stair lift or platform lift at the entry is often where we start the conversation.
A straight staircase with no turns is the simplest job. The rail runs in one line along the steps, and it is usually the most affordable type to install.
Split-level homes are different. You often have short runs of stairs with landings between levels, so the choice comes down to a curved rail that follows the turns or separate straight lifts on each run. We measure each flight before recommending either one.
Townhouses tend to have narrow, steep interior stairs, so the width of the stairway and the swing of the seat at the top need a close look. In walk-up apartments, the stairs may be shared, and the building owner has to agree before anything is mounted.
Escambia County has been part of federally declared disaster areas after Hurricane Frederic in 1979 and Hurricane Ivan in 2004. Seasonal heavy wind and rain are part of life here, and they make outdoor steps slick and home upkeep harder for older residents.
If the lift is going outside on porch or entry steps, it needs to be an outdoor-rated model built to handle wet weather. For someone who uses a wheelchair, a vertical platform lift at the entry can replace the steps entirely. Ask us how to cover or secure an outdoor unit before a storm.
For many families, that means a parent who wants to stay in the home they know, and in some cases a veteran who may qualify for VA housing help.
Veterans can start with the Alabama Office of Veterans' Affairs - Escambia County Satellite Building at 8600 Highway 31 in Atmore, phone (251) 368-4223. Staff there can help with VA paperwork before you contact the national VA line.
Cost is a real question here. The median household income is $48,225 and the poverty rate is about 20%, so many families look for help before paying out of pocket.
None of the programs below list stair lifts by name in their published materials. Some cover home repairs or adaptations in general, and some cover in-home care instead. The best approach is to call each one, describe the stairs and the person's needs, and ask directly whether a stair lift can be included.
Other statewide options worth asking about include the Alabama Community Transition (ACT) Waiver, the Alabama Ability Loan Program (STAR / Southern Disability Foundation), VA Benefits for Veterans (HISA + Prosthetics) and the Alabama Senior / Disabled Homestead Exemption (H-2 / H-3).
This Medicaid waiver pays for approved in-home services such as personal care, homemaker help, respite care and meals for people 65+ or disabled adults at risk of nursing facility placement; stair lifts and home modifications are not listed among its services. Call (334) 242-5000.
Run jointly by Alabama Medicaid and the Alabama Dept. of Rehabilitation Services (ADRS) for adults 18+ with qualifying diagnoses, it has included Environmental Accessibility Adaptations and Assistive Technology, but stair lifts are not listed by name. Confirm current terms with an ADRS waiver case manager or call (334) 242-5000.
The Area Agency on Aging for Mobile, Baldwin and Escambia counties offers referrals, meal delivery, health classes, legal counseling and prescription assistance for seniors (generally 60+) and caregivers; no stair lift or home modification program is listed. Call (251) 706-4680, or reach the South Alabama Regional Planning Commission/AAA office at 110 Beauregard Street, Suite 207, Mobile, at (251) 433-6541.
These grants help veterans and service members with qualifying service-connected disabilities adapt a home, with FY2026 limits of up to $126,526 (SAH), $25,350 (SHA), $50,961 (TRA, SAH-eligible) and $9,100 (TRA, SHA-eligible); ramps are named as an example, but stair lifts are not listed. Call (800) 827-1000.
Very-low-income homeowners in USDA-eligible rural areas can get repair loans up to $40,000 at 1% fixed interest, and those 62 or older can get grants up to $10,000 lifetime; stair lifts are not listed by name. Call (800) 414-1226 and confirm your address is in an eligible area.
This program funds housing rehabilitation for low- and moderate-income homeowners through competitive awards to local governments, so it is only available if Escambia County or a city such as Brewton, Atmore or Flomaton holds an active award; stair lifts are not listed. Call the CDBG Division at (334) 242-0492.
Older adults
110 Beauregard Street, Suite 207, Mobile, 36602
Veterans
8600 Highway 31, Atmore, 36502
The Alabama Medicaid Elderly and Disabled (E&D) Waiver does not list stair lifts or home modifications among its services. The SAIL Waiver has included Environmental Accessibility Adaptations for adults with qualifying diagnoses, so it is worth asking an ADRS waiver case manager. Both can be reached through (334) 242-5000.
The Area Agency on Aging generally serves people 60 and older. The SAIL Waiver serves adults 18+ with qualifying diagnoses, and the E&D Waiver covers disabled adults as well as people 65+. USDA Section 504 repair loans have no age rule, though its grants require the applicant to be 62 or older.
Start with the Alabama Office of Veterans' Affairs - Escambia County Satellite Building at 8600 Highway 31 in Atmore, (251) 368-4223. They can help you look into the VA Specially Adapted Housing (SAH), Special Home Adaptation (SHA) and Temporary Residence Adaptation (TRA) Grants, which require a qualifying service-connected disability.
Usually, yes. Split-level homes have short flights with landings, so the options are a curved rail that follows the turns or a separate straight lift on each run. We measure every flight before suggesting which fits.
Escambia County is largely rural and is expected to fall in USDA-eligible territory, but you should confirm your address with USDA's address lookup tool. The program is for very-low-income homeowners who live in the home. Call (800) 414-1226.
Only if Escambia County or your city, such as Brewton, Atmore or Flomaton, currently holds an active ADECA CDBG Housing Rehabilitation award. Ask your county or city office, or call the CDBG Division at (334) 242-0492.
Tell us about the stairs in your home and we will explain which lift fits, what it costs and how installation works.
