Gates County sits in the far northeastern corner of North Carolina, right on the Virginia line, with Gatesville and Sunbury as its two towns and a lot of farmland, forest and swamp in between. The 1836 Federal-style courthouse in Gatesville is a good reminder of how old much of the building stock here is. Homes went up gradually over more than two centuries, not in rows of postwar tract houses.
That history matters when someone in the family starts struggling with the stairs. Older farmhouses and family homes often have steep, narrow or oddly turned original stairways that were never built to today's code. This page walks through what those homes usually mean for a stair lift and which state, county and VA programs may help cover the cost.
Most homes here are owner-occupied single-family homes and detached houses, with ranch-style and split-level homes mixed in. Each type points to a different kind of lift, so the first step is always measuring the actual stairs.
A long, straight flight in an older two-story house is usually the simplest case for a straight rail. Original stairways that turn at a landing or wind near the top typically need a curved rail built to fit that exact staircase.
Split-level homes tend to have several short flights instead of one long one. Depending on the layout, that can mean a curved rail that follows the turns or separate lifts on each flight. Ranch-style homes may have no inside stairs at all but still have steps at the porch or entry, where an outdoor lift or a platform lift can be the better answer.
The county covers about 340.61 square miles of low-lying, wetland-heavy ground. Gates County is one of four counties, along with Perquimans, Camden and Currituck, that together hold 60% of the Great Dismal Swamp, and the Chowan River runs along its edge.
If a lift is going on a porch or exterior steps, that damp setting is worth planning around, so ask about an outdoor-rated unit and where it will be parked when not in use. The county is also entirely rural per the 2020 Census, which means installers and home service providers, including the Albemarle Commission Area Agency on Aging, cover long distances to reach homes. Getting on the schedule early helps.
Gates County had a 2020 population of 10,478, which places it among the five least populous counties in North Carolina. The median age was 46.9, and 21.0% of residents were 65 or older.
Keep in mind that one VA grant, HISA, specifically excludes stair glides, which is covered in the program list below.
The source we rely on reported a median household income of $35,647 and a poverty rate around 17% (2010 figures), so many households here look at grants and forgivable loans before paying out of pocket. Several programs listed below name accessibility or mobility improvements, which is the category a stair lift falls under.
For someone 60 or older, the state's Housing and Home Improvement Assistance, delivered locally through the Albemarle Commission Area Agency on Aging, is a strong place to start. Lower-income elderly homeowners can also look at the NC Housing Finance Agency's Urgent Repair Program, and permanently disabled homeowners at the Displacement Prevention Partnership.
Veterans should call the Gates County Veterans Services Office before applying for anything, since the office helps veterans apply for VA grants. Other statewide options to ask about include CAP/DA and the Elderly or Disabled Property Tax Homestead Exclusion (G.S. 105-277.1).
Minor repairs for people age 60 or older with no family member or other willing person to do the work, up to $7,000 per individual per program year, and stair lifts are covered under its mobility and accessibility improvements category. Gates County is served through the Albemarle Commission Area Agency on Aging; the state line is (800) 662-7030.
Deferred forgivable home repair loans for eligible residents of the 10-county Albemarle Commission region, which includes Gates County, run in partnership with the NC Housing Finance Agency. The source does not mention stair lifts; call (252) 426-5753 to ask what repairs qualify.
An interest-free deferred loan, forgiven at $5,000 per year, for elderly or special-needs homeowners with household income below 50% of area median income, and it can pay for accessibility modifications such as stair lifts. Apply through a local government or nonprofit partner agency, or call (919) 877-5700.
Help with accessibility modifications, including stair lifts, for permanently physically disabled homeowners who need changes to live safely at home. It is accessed through a local Independent Living Rehabilitation Program office; the agency number is (919) 877-5700.
A deferred loan for major repairs, forgiven between $8,000 and $14,000 per year, for elderly or disabled homeowners at or below 80% of area median income. The source does not mention stair lifts or accessibility work; call (919) 877-5700 for details.
Individualized support for people with significant disabilities who need help to live independently, including home modifications, which is where a stair lift fits. Call (800) 689-9090 to reach the program.
A Medicaid waiver for disabled adults 18 and older who meet an institutional level of care and qualify for one of four long-term-care Medicaid categories. Its home modification service names ramps and grab bars but does not list stair lifts; call (888) 245-0179.
Loans up to $40,000 at 1% for 20 years, plus grants up to $10,000 lifetime for very-low-income homeowners 62 or older in eligible rural areas, with a grant repaid if the home is sold within 3 years. The source does not specifically list stair lifts; call (919) 873-2000.
A lifetime grant of up to $6,800 or $2,000, depending on disability status, for medically necessary home alterations for veterans and service members. It does not cover stair lifts, since stair glides and porch lifts are explicitly excluded; the VA line is (800) 827-1000.
Grants for veterans with qualifying severe service-connected disabilities, up to $126,526 for SAH and $25,350 for SHA in FY2026. The source names ramps and wider doorways but not stair lifts; call (800) 827-1000.
A local nonprofit that makes small health-and-safety repairs for limited-resource, elderly, disabled or veteran homeowners in Gates County, sometimes with an income-based co-payment. Stair lifts are not mentioned in its materials; call (252) 357-0075 to ask.
Not a funding source itself, but it helps veterans and their dependents in Gates County apply for VA grants such as SAH, SHA and HISA. Call (252) 357-1780.
Older adults
512 S. Church St., Hertford, 27944
Veterans
115 Court Street, Gatesville, 27938
Many older Gates County homes have original stairways that were not built to current code, so the lift has to be matched to the stairs. Straight flights usually take a straight rail, while stairs that turn or wind need a curved rail made for that staircase. An in-home measurement is the only way to know for sure.
Yes. The state's Housing and Home Improvement Assistance serves people 60 and older and covers mobility and accessibility improvements, up to $7,000 per individual per program year. In Gates County it runs through the Albemarle Commission Area Agency on Aging at (252) 426-5753.
Not through the HISA grant, which explicitly excludes stair glides and porch lifts. The SAH and SHA grants do not name stair lifts either. The Gates County Veterans Services Office at (252) 357-1780 can help a veteran sort out which VA benefits apply.
Split-level homes usually have several short flights rather than one long one. Depending on how they connect, that may call for a curved rail or a separate lift on each flight. Entry steps outside can be handled with an outdoor or platform lift.
The Displacement Prevention Partnership helps permanently physically disabled homeowners with accessibility modifications, and the Independent Living Rehabilitation Program covers home modifications for people with significant disabilities. Call (919) 877-5700 for the partnership or (800) 689-9090 for ILR.
Gates County is entirely rural, and service providers travel long distances to reach homes. It helps to start applications and schedule an assessment early. Rural location may also help with USDA Section 504 eligibility, which you can confirm with USDA at (919) 873-2000.
Tell us about the stairs in your home and we will explain which lift fits, what it costs and how installation works.
