St. Clair County runs along the west bank of the St. Clair River in Michigan's Thumb region, from Port Huron and the Blue Water Bridge down through Marysville, St. Clair, Marine City, Pearl Beach and Algonac. Inland, the county opens up into rural townships around Yale, Capac, Emmett, Ruby and Lakeport. Many families here live in older two-story homes, and the stairs in those homes are often the first thing that gets hard.
This page walks through how the county's housing affects which stair lift makes sense, and which local, state and federal programs may help with the cost. Some programs clearly name stair lifts. Others do not, and we say so plainly so you know who to call before counting on any money.
Port Huron's Olde Town Historic District alone takes in over 100 homes and buildings with preserved historic architecture. Older two-story homes are also common in Marysville, St. Clair, Marine City and Algonac. Staircases in houses like these were not built with lifts in mind, so we measure each one in person before recommending anything.
A single straight run from the first floor to the second is the simplest case, and a straight stair lift mounts to the treads rather than the wall. Stairs with a landing, a turn or a winder at the top usually need a curved lift built to fit that exact staircase.
Across the county you will also find split-level homes, ranch-style homes, townhouses and walk-up apartments. Split-level homes often have several short flights instead of one long one. That can mean more than one lift, or a careful look at which level a person really needs to reach every day.
Ranch-style homes keep most living space on one floor, but steps at the entry can still be a barrier. For those spots, an outdoor lift or a platform lift may be the better fit. In walk-up apartments and many townhouses, renters should talk with the owner before any installation.
According to the 2020 Census, 19.6% of county residents were age 65 or older, and 77.0% of housing units were owner-occupied. That points to many people who own the house they plan to stay in, which is the situation where a stair lift is usually most worth it.
About 39.5% of residents lived in rural areas in 2020. If you live out in a township such as Kimball, Clyde, Berlin, Wales, Emmett or Kenockee, you are farther from the home-service providers based in Port Huron, so it helps to plan the visit and measurements ahead.
Two programs on this page name stair lifts outright: the MI Choice Medicaid Waiver and USDA Section 504 Single Family Housing Repair Loans & Grants. MI Choice is for Michigan residents who meet nursing-facility level of care and Medicaid income and asset limits. The USDA grant is for homeowners age 62 and older in eligible rural areas, and the urbanized Port Huron and Marysville area is likely not eligible.
The VA HISA grant specifically excludes stair glides, so it is not a stair lift source. County options like The Council on Aging and Sunrise PACE do not list stair lifts in their materials, but they are still worth a phone call to ask about your situation.
A state Medicaid home and community-based services waiver that lists stair lifts and elevators among covered environmental modifications, with amounts set by an individual plan of care. Eligibility requires nursing-facility level of care and Medicaid financial limits; call the Michigan Medicare/Medicaid Assistance Program at (800) 803-7174 to confirm current coverage.
A federal rural home repair program that names stairlifts for multi-story homes as a covered modification, with grants up to $10,000 lifetime for homeowners 62 and older and loans up to $40,000 at 1% over 20 years. The home must be in a USDA-eligible rural area with population under 35,000, so check your address against USDA's eligibility map.
A VA grant of up to $6,800 or $2,000 lifetime for medically needed home changes such as entrance access and roll-in showers, but it does not cover stair glides or porch lifts. The St. Clair County Department of Veterans Affairs can be reached at (810) 989-6945.
VA grants to buy, build or modify a home for veterans with qualifying severe service-connected disabilities, with FY2026 maximums of $126,526 for SAH and $25,350 for SHA; the source does not list stair lifts by name. Call the St. Clair County Department of Veterans Affairs at (810) 989-6945.
A county nonprofit program for residents generally age 60 and older that is listed under wheelchair lifts and ramps; stair lifts are not mentioned in its materials. Call (810) 987-8811 to ask about availability and income guidelines.
A county property-tax millage, established in 1979, that funds nearly 30 programs run by 12 agencies for residents age 60 and older; it does not mention stair lifts and is the funding behind other programs rather than a direct grant. Questions go to (810) 989-6371.
A 0% interest deferred loan for emergency home repairs like furnaces and roofs, with no mention of stair lifts, and homes inside Port Huron city limits are excluded. The program currently states no funding is available, so call (810) 982-8541 to check its status.
An all-inclusive care program for people age 55 or older who need nursing-home level of care and live in the service area, which includes St. Clair County; it supplies medical equipment but does not list stair lifts. Call (810) 388-6300 to ask whether a lift could be part of a participant's care plan.
A nonprofit center for independent living offering free advocacy, information and referral for county residents with a disability; it is not a funding source and does not list stair lifts. Reach the office at (810) 987-9337.
Older adults
29508 Southfield Rd., Suite 100, Southfield, 48076
Veterans
200 Grand River, Suite 104, Port Huron, 48060
The MI Choice Medicaid Waiver lists stair lifts among covered environmental modifications for people who meet nursing-facility level of care and Medicaid financial limits. Amounts vary by plan of care, and some regions have waitlists. Call (800) 803-7174 to confirm current coverage.
Not through the HISA grant, which specifically excludes stair glides. The SAH and SHA grants do not list stair lifts by name. Call the St. Clair County Department of Veterans Affairs at (810) 989-6945 to talk through options.
Sunrise PACE serves people age 55 or older who need nursing-home level of care, and USDA Section 504 loans are open to applicants younger than 62. Neither lists stair lifts by name for PACE, so ask the program directly. MI Choice is based on level of care rather than a stated age.
It may help with funding. USDA Section 504 only serves eligible rural areas with population under 35,000, and outlying townships such as Kimball, Clyde, Berlin, Wales, Kenockee and Emmett may qualify. Check your exact address on USDA's eligibility map.
Older homes there often have narrow or turning staircases, so we measure in person. Straight stairs can usually take a straight lift, while stairs with a landing or turn need a curved lift made to fit.
Its listed work covers emergency repairs like furnaces, roofs and wells, not stair lifts, and homes inside Port Huron city limits are excluded. The program also says no funding is currently available. Call (810) 982-8541 to check.
Tell us about the stairs in your home and we will explain which lift fits, what it costs and how installation works.
