Alexandria's Old Town is known for its historic town houses, cobblestone streets and red brick sidewalks. Those town houses were built with stairs between every floor, and that is often the first thing a family notices when a parent starts having trouble getting to the bedroom or the laundry.
Alexandria is an independent city on the western bank of the Potomac River, bordering Washington, D.C., and it is not part of any county. Its homes run from detached houses and townhouses to row houses, walk-up apartments and low-rise buildings. This page walks through what each of those means for a stair lift and which local and state programs may help with the cost.
A historic town house usually stacks its rooms on several floors, so a person who wants to stay in the home has to climb. If the staircase runs in one straight flight from bottom to top, a straight stair lift is the simplest fit. The rail mounts to the treads, not the wall, which matters in older homes where you may not want to disturb original plaster or trim.
Many older town houses have a turn, a landing or a winder partway up. In that case the lift needs a curved rail that is bent to match that exact staircase. We measure on site before recommending one or the other, since the shape of the stairs decides the type of lift more than anything else.
Row houses and townhouses often have steps up to the front door as well as stairs inside. An outdoor stair lift can handle exterior steps, and it is built to stand up to weather. Alexandria has hot, humid summers and mild-to-cool winters, so an outdoor unit should have a cover and weather-rated parts.
For someone who uses a wheelchair and cannot transfer to a seat, a platform lift may be the better answer. Detached houses with more yard space sometimes have room for one at a side or back entrance.
Walk-up apartments and low-rise buildings are a different situation. If you rent, the landlord has to approve any lift on a shared or private staircase, and the Office of Housing's rental program described below may be worth a call first.
The city has a population of 156,788, and 12.6 percent of residents are 65 or older.
Only 42.0 percent of households own their home. That means many people looking at a lift are renters, and the right path to funding depends on whether you own or rent.
None of the local programs listed below name stair lifts outright, so the honest answer is that coverage is decided case by case. The Home Rehabilitation Loan Program funds safety and accessibility improvements for owners, and the Rental Accessibility Modification Program funds accessibility work for renters. Ask each office directly whether a lift would count.
Older homeowners on a limited income can also contact Rebuilding Together DC - Alexandria, and anyone 60 or older can start with the Alexandria Division of Aging & Adult Services at (703) 746-5999. Its office is at 4850 Mark Center Drive, 9th Floor, Alexandria 22311.
At the state level, Virginia also has the Virginia Livable Home Tax Credit (LHTC) and the Assistive Technology Loan Fund Authority (ATLFA). Ask about both when you talk with the aging office.
The VA HISA grant does not pay for stair lifts. Its rules exclude removable equipment such as portable ramps, porch lifts and stair glides. The Specially Adapted Housing and Special Home Adaptation grants cover home modifications for accessibility for veterans with certain service-connected disabilities, though stair lifts are not specifically named.
For help with a VA application, the Springfield Office of the Virginia Department of Veterans Services is at 6564 Loisdale Ct, Suite 301, Springfield 22150, and can be reached at (703) 417-9090.
The city's Area Agency on Aging serves adults 60 and older, with emphasis on low-income residents and those at risk of institutionalization, and its Independent Housing services include home modification programs. Stair lifts are not specifically mentioned; call (703) 746-5999.
Provides up to $50,000 per rental unit for accessibility work such as ramps, bathroom rehabilitation, doorway widening and exterior improvements for low- and moderate-income renters with a physically disabled household member. Stair lifts are not named; call (703) 746-4990.
A 0% interest loan of up to $135,000 for construction costs, deferred 99 years or until sale or relocation, for owner-occupants below 80% of AMI ($91,840 for one person up to $152,160 for six, 2025 limits). It funds safety and accessibility improvements but does not name stair lifts; call (703) 746-3091.
This Medicaid waiver includes Environmental Modifications and Assistive Technology for people 65 and older, or under 65 with a disability, who need nursing facility or hospital level of care and meet income and asset limits. Stair lifts are not named and decisions are case by case; call Cover Virginia at (833) 522-5582.
Pays for medically needed home access improvements, up to $6,800 or $2,000 lifetime depending on disability status. It does not cover stair lifts, since stair glides and porch lifts are excluded.
Provides up to $126,526 (FY2026) to buy, build or modify a home for accessibility for veterans with qualifying service-connected disabilities. Stair lifts are not specifically named.
Provides up to $25,350 (FY2026) to buy, build or modify a home for veterans with qualifying disabilities such as loss of use of both hands or certain severe burns. Stair lifts are not specifically named.
A free home modification program for Alexandria residents 62 and older with household income at or below 80% of AMI, covering items like grab bars, assistive technology and other safety modifications. Stair lifts are not named; call (202) 800-6032.
A community resource and advocacy center run by and for people with disabilities in Northern Virginia. Stair lifts are not mentioned; call (703) 525-3268.
Older adults
4850 Mark Center Drive, 9th Floor, Alexandria, 22311
Veterans
6564 Loisdale Ct, Suite 301, Springfield, 22150
In most cases, yes. A straight lift fits a single straight flight, and a curved lift is built for stairs with a turn or landing. The rail attaches to the stair treads, so an on-site measurement tells us which type the home needs.
The Rental Accessibility Modification Program offers up to $50,000 per rental unit for accessibility work for low- and moderate-income renters with a physically disabled household member. Stair lifts are not named in the program, so call the Office of Housing at (703) 746-4990 to ask, and get your landlord's approval first.
Not through the HISA grant, which excludes stair glides and porch lifts. The SAH and SHA grants cover accessibility modifications for veterans with certain service-connected disabilities, but stair lifts are not specifically named. The Springfield Office of the Virginia Department of Veterans Services at (703) 417-9090 can help you sort out eligibility.
The CCC Plus waiver covers people under 65 who have a disability and need nursing facility or hospital level of care. The Alexandria Division of Aging & Adult Services serves adults 60 and older, and Rebuilding Together DC - Alexandria serves homeowners 62 and older with qualifying income.
The Alexandria Division of Aging & Adult Services at (703) 746-5999 is the city's information and referral line for older adults. It can point you toward the housing and home modification programs that fit your situation.
Yes, outdoor stair lifts are made for exterior steps. Because Alexandria summers are hot and humid, we recommend a weather-rated unit with a cover.
Tell us about the stairs in your home and we will explain which lift fits, what it costs and how installation works.
