From South Boston and Halifax out to Clover, Cluster Springs, Riverdale and Mountain Road, much of Halifax County's housing is rural. Older farmhouses and traditional multi-story homes common to the rural Piedmont South sit alongside ranch-style houses, split-level homes, townhouses and some manufactured homes.
Many of the older and multi-story houses here were built without a main-floor bedroom or a step-free entry. When the bedroom and full bath are upstairs, the staircase becomes the main thing standing between a family member and staying at home. This page covers which kind of lift tends to fit local homes and which programs may help with the cost.
A traditional farmhouse or two-story home often has one straight staircase from the front hall to the bedrooms. That is the simplest case for a straight stair lift, which mounts to the stair treads rather than the wall.
Split-level homes usually have short runs of stairs between levels, so a lift may only need to cover a few steps. Staircases with a landing, a turn or a curve need a curved lift built to the shape of those stairs, which takes more measuring and more lead time.
Ranch-style homes may have no interior stairs at all, but the front or back steps can still be a problem. In those cases an outdoor stair lift or a platform lift at the entry is worth discussing, especially for someone who uses a wheelchair.
Halifax County sits in the Piedmont of south-central Virginia, with the Dan River running through it. About 78.2% of residents live in rural areas, and only 21.8% live in towns such as South Boston and Halifax.
That spread-out geography means longer drives to contractors and medical providers. It helps to start early: get the stairs measured, gather any doctor's notes, and apply for funding before a hospital discharge forces a rushed decision.
Roughly 24.2% of Halifax County residents are 65 or older, and 64.1% are homeowners. Owning the home matters, because most grant programs and permanent installations require the owner's approval.
Veterans have their own set of benefits to check, and the Virginia Department of Veterans Services - Emporia Office at (434) 829-6386 is the nearest listed office for help with VA claims.
Median household income in the county is $52,013, and the poverty rate is 17.3%. For many families, grants, waivers and nonprofit help will matter more than paying out of pocket.
The clearest fit is the Virginia Housing Accessibility Grants, which name chairlifts as an eligible modification and offer up to $10,000 per grant. Call (877) 843-2123 to ask about the Owner-Occupied Modification or Granting Freedom grants.
Medicaid CCC Plus waiver members can ask their care team whether a lift could be approved under Environmental Modifications or Assistive Technology, since the regulation does not name stair lifts in either. Other statewide options to ask about include the Virginia Livable Home Tax Credit (LHTC) and the Assistive Technology Loan Fund Authority (ATLFA). The Lake Country Area Agency on Aging at (434) 447-7661 is a good first call for seniors 60 and older who want help sorting through options.
Provides up to $5,000 per calendar year for home or vehicle modifications for Medicaid CCC Plus waiver members, with listed items such as ramps, grab bars, wider doorways and bathroom changes. Stair lifts are not named in the regulation, so confirm with DMAS or your MCO whether one could be approved.
Covers up to $5,000 per calendar year for specialized equipment in a CCC Plus waiver member's plan of care. Stair lifts are not listed, though one could potentially qualify if medically justified and approved by the waiver care team.
The Area Agency on Aging for seniors 60 and older in Halifax, Mecklenburg and Brunswick Counties. Its listing does not mention home modification or stair lift programs, so call (434) 447-7661 to ask about referrals and options counseling.
Pays up to $6,800 or $2,000 lifetime, depending on eligibility, for medically necessary home alterations for veterans. HISA specifically excludes stair glides, though a VA Medical Center may be able to provide one through other prosthetics authority.
Offers up to $126,526 (FY2026 maximum) for veterans who own or will own the home and have a qualifying severe service-connected disability. The VA's examples are ramps and wider doorways and do not name stair lifts, so confirm with a VA housing adaptation specialist.
Provides up to $25,350 (FY2026 maximum) for veterans with certain service-connected disabilities who own or will own the home. Stair lifts are not named among the example adaptations, so check your specific case with the VA.
Statewide grants of up to $10,000, one per household every five years, that explicitly list chairlifts and ramps as covered modifications, with income limits of 80% or 60% of area median income depending on the grant. Call (877) 843-2123 to reach Virginia Housing.
An energy-efficiency and safety program for low-income households in Halifax and Charlotte Counties that does not list stair lifts. Call (434) 404-3455, since TCCAA may be able to refer you to other home-repair resources.
Older adults
1105 West Danville St., South Hill, 23970
Veterans
1746 East Atlantic Street, Emporia, 23847
Yes. The Virginia Housing Accessibility Grants list chairlifts as an eligible modification, with up to $10,000 per grant. Call (877) 843-2123 to check income eligibility.
Possibly, but it is not guaranteed. The CCC Plus waiver's Environmental Modifications and Assistive Technology benefits each allow up to $5,000 per year, yet neither names stair lifts, so ask DMAS or your MCO whether one can be approved.
No. HISA excludes stair glides and other removable equipment. A VA Medical Center may still be able to furnish a stair glide through its prosthetics service, and the Emporia office of the Virginia Department of Veterans Services at (434) 829-6386 can help with VA questions.
The Lake Country Area Agency on Aging serves people 60 and older. The Virginia Housing Owner-Occupied Modification grant lists no age requirement, only an income limit of 60% of area median income.
A single straight run is usually the most direct case, since a straight lift mounts to the treads. Stairs with a landing or a turn need a curved lift measured to that staircase.
For seniors 60 and older, the Lake Country Area Agency on Aging at (434) 447-7661 is a good starting point for options counseling. For funding that names chairlifts, call Virginia Housing at (877) 843-2123.
Tell us about the stairs in your home and we will explain which lift fits, what it costs and how installation works.
