From a craftsman bungalow in Portland with a raised front entry to a split-level on a West Hills slope, the stairs in Multnomah County homes come in many shapes. We install stair lifts across all 8 communities in the county: Portland, Gresham, Troutdale, Fairview, Wood Village, Dunthorpe, Maywood Park and Orient.
This page is for the homeowner who is finding the basement or upstairs bedroom harder to reach, and for the adult child trying to help. Below we cover how local houses and hills affect the type of lift you need, and which Multnomah County and Oregon programs can help cover the cost.
Much of Portland's core housing is early-to-mid-20th-century bungalow and craftsman homes. These usually have a raised front entry plus interior stairs to an upper floor or a basement. That means a person can face stairs both getting into the house and moving around inside it.
A single straight run to the second floor or down to the basement is often a good fit for a straight stair lift, which is the simplest type to install. Stairs with a landing or a turn need a curved lift built to match the staircase. During a home visit we measure each flight and tell you which one you have.
The county has real elevation changes, including the extinct volcanic hills of the Boring Lava Field in and near Portland, such as the West Hills (Tualatin Mountains). Many homes, especially in Portland's west-side neighborhoods, sit on sloped lots with several steps up to the entry or split-level stairs inside.
For outside steps, an outdoor stair lift is built to handle the weather. Where a wheelchair user needs to get up a few entry steps, a platform lift may make more sense than a seat. Split-level homes sometimes need two shorter lifts instead of one long one.
The county's housing is a dense mix of single-family homes, townhouses, duplexes, walk-up apartments and low-rise buildings. Townhouses often have narrow, steep interior flights, so we check the stair width and the clearance at the top and bottom before recommending a model.
Homeowners make up 53.7% of households here, so many residents rent. If you rent, talk with your landlord before any installation. Some local programs below serve renters as well as owners.
For older homeowners, a stair lift is often what keeps the upstairs bedroom or the basement laundry within reach.
Veterans have a county office to call: the Multnomah County VSO - Five Oak Building at 209 SW 4th Ave., Portland 97204, (503) 988-8387. They can walk you through which VA benefits apply to your situation.
The median household income in the county was $83,668, and 12.1% of residents live below the poverty line, so families come at this cost from very different places. The one program in our list that explicitly names stair lifts is the Northwest Access Fund loan, which lends up to $60,000 over a maximum 10-year term.
Several local nonprofits fund ramps, handrails and other accessibility or repair work, but their source pages do not name stair lifts. They are still worth a call, especially if you also need a ramp or grab bars. A good first stop is Multnomah County Aging, Disability & Veterans Services at 421 SW Oak St., Suite 510, Portland 97204, (503) 988-3620.
A nonprofit low-interest loan of up to $60,000 with a maximum 10-year (120-month) term for Oregon residents of all ages with disabilities, including seniors with age-related functional limitations. Installation of stairlifts is explicitly covered; call (206) 328-5116.
A lifetime benefit of $6,800 or $2,000, depending on disability rating, for veterans with a VA-documented medical need for home modifications. Stair lifts (listed as stair glides) and porch lifts are excluded from HISA coverage.
Up to $126,526 for FY2026 for veterans with qualifying service-connected disabilities who own or will own a permanent home, usable up to 6 times over a lifetime. The VA source describes ramps and widened doorways but does not mention stair lifts.
Up to $25,350 for FY2026 for veterans whose home needs adaptation for disabilities such as loss of both hands or severe burns. The source describes structural adaptations generally and does not mention stair lifts.
A Medicaid option providing home and community-based attendant services and supports for qualifying Oregon Medicaid recipients. The source does not mention home modifications or stair lifts; the ODDS number is (503) 945-5811.
A free information and referral line for people of all ages, incomes and abilities in Multnomah County, connecting callers to long-term support options and local programs. It does not list a stair lift program itself; call (503) 988-3646 or 855-673-2372.
A HUD CDBG-funded program for low-income renters, homeowners and mobile-home residents with physical disabilities in Gresham, Portland and unincorporated Multnomah County, covering ramps, grab bars, hand rails, roll-in showers and related work. Stair lifts are not named among covered items; call (503) 234-6167.
A critical home-repair program for owner-occupants at or below 50% of HUD Area Median Income, covering structural, plumbing, electrical, roofing and exterior porch, deck and stair repair. It does not mention stair lifts; call (503) 234-6167.
0%-interest repair loans for low-income homeowners in Multnomah and Washington Counties, with work that includes ADA ramps and fall prevention improvements; larger deferred loans are forgiven after 15 years if you stay in the home. Stair lifts are not named; call (503) 287-9529.
A city-funded intake point that screens Portland-area homeowners, including seniors (55+) and people with disabilities, and refers them to partner nonprofits for repair and accessibility work. It does not name stair lifts; call (503) 823-4000.
Older adults
421 SW Oak St., Suite 510, Portland, 97204
Veterans
209 SW 4th Ave., Portland, 97204
Yes. The Northwest Access Fund - Home Modification Loan Program explicitly covers installation of stairlifts, with loans up to $60,000 and a maximum 10-year term. It is a loan, not a grant. Call (206) 328-5116.
The HISA grant specifically excludes stair lifts, which it calls stair glides. The SAH and SHA grants do not mention stair lifts either way. Call the Multnomah County VSO - Five Oak Building at (503) 988-8387 to talk through your options.
Adapt-A-Home (Unlimited Choices) serves renters, homeowners and mobile-home residents with physical disabilities and low income in Gresham, Portland and unincorporated Multnomah County. Stair lifts are not named among its covered items, so ask when you call (503) 234-6167, and get your landlord's approval first.
Hillside homes often need help at the entry as well as inside. An outdoor stair lift can handle exterior steps, and a platform lift may suit someone using a wheelchair. We measure the steps and slope during a home visit before recommending one.
The K Plan source page covers attendant services and supports and does not mention home modifications or stair lifts. For questions, the ODDS number is (503) 945-5811.
Try the ADRC of Oregon - Multnomah County Helpline at (503) 988-3646 or 855-673-2372, or Multnomah County Aging, Disability & Veterans Services at (503) 988-3620. Both can point you toward local programs.
Tell us about the stairs in your home and we will explain which lift fits, what it costs and how installation works.
