West Point sits where the Mattaponi and Pamunkey rivers meet to form the York River, and it is the largest town in King William County. Beyond West Point and Central Garage, the county spreads across about 286 square miles of the Middle Peninsula, and all of it is classified as rural.
This is a county where a courthouse built in 1725 is still in use, and where plenty of homes went up long before anyone wrote accessible-design rules. If stairs in one of those homes have become hard for you or a parent, this page covers what kind of lift tends to fit and which local and state programs can help with the cost.
King William County has a deep stock of colonial-era and early-20th-century buildings, including the King William Training School, Sharon Indian School and Sweet Hall on the National Register of Historic Places. Much of the older housing here predates modern accessible-design standards, so stairways can be narrow, steep or turn partway up.
A straight staircase with no landing usually takes a straight stair lift, which is the simplest to fit. Stairs that turn, wind or stop at a landing need a curved rail built to the exact shape of the staircase, so we measure every step before quoting.
Most housing in the county is single-family and detached houses, with some townhouses and low-rise buildings. About 80.2% of residents own their homes, which matters because owners can usually approve a rail mounted to the stair treads without asking a landlord.
Townhouses often have a straight inside flight that suits a standard lift. In low-rise buildings or homes with a short run of entry steps, a platform lift can be a better answer when a wheelchair has to come along.
With the whole county rural, many homes sit on larger lots with porch steps or a raised entry. The inside staircase is only part of the problem if getting from the driveway to the front door is hard too.
Outdoor stair lifts are built with weather-resistant parts for exposed steps, and they can be paired with an indoor unit. Habitat for Humanity's repair program also lists deck and stairs work, which can help when outdoor steps need fixing before anything is mounted on them.
About 19.2% of King William County residents are 65 or older, so a lot of families here are working through the same question of staying on two floors. Planning before a fall gives you time to apply for grants, which can take a while to process.
If that includes your parent, the VA programs below are worth checking alongside the state grants.
The clearest funding path is the Virginia Housing accessibility grants, which list chairlifts as an eligible modification and pay up to $10,000 per program for income-qualified households. You apply through an accepted agent, and the Middle Peninsula Satellite Center for Independent Living serves King William County.
Rural homeowners 62 or older on a low income can also look at the USDA Section 504 program, and veterans have the HISA and SAH grants. Statewide, Virginia also offers the Virginia Livable Home Tax Credit (LHTC) and the Assistive Technology Loan Fund Authority (ATLFA). For local guidance, call Bay Aging at (804) 758-2386.
A Medicaid waiver for older adults and people with disabilities who would otherwise need nursing-facility care, with an Environmental Modifications and Assistive Technology benefit. The source does not mention stair lifts, so ask the managed care organization care coordinator during the assessment.
Non-repayable state grants of up to $10,000 per program, and installing chairlifts is listed as an eligible modification. Income limits are 80% of area median income for veterans and service members with disabilities and 60% for homeowners and renters; call (877) 843-2123 or apply through a Center for Independent Living.
A lifetime VA grant of up to $6,800 for veterans with a service-connected disability and up to $2,000 for other eligible veterans, requiring a VA physician's prescription and VA Form 10-0103. The source does not mention stair lifts; the Richmond VA Medical Center Office is at (804) 675-6546.
VA grants for veterans with severe service-connected disabilities: SAH up to $126,526, SHA up to $25,350, and TRA up to $50,961 or $9,100 for a family member's home (FY2026). The source gives ramps and wider doorways as examples and does not name stair lifts.
Repair loans up to $40,000 at 1% over 20 years, plus grants up to $10,000 lifetime for homeowners 62 or older with income at or below 50% of area median income. King William County is USDA rural-eligible; listed repairs include ramps, grab bars and walk-in tubs, with no stair lift mention.
The county's Area Agency on Aging runs weatherization, Indoor Plumbing Rehabilitation and Community Development Block Grant home rehabilitation programs. Stair lifts are not mentioned, but staff can point you to other help; call (804) 758-2386.
Reduced-cost repairs such as roofs, plumbing, HVAC and deck or stairs work for owner-occupants with income at or below 60% of area median income (max $66,180) who have lived in the county at least 1 year. Stair lifts are not listed; call (804) 569-6108.
A disability services and advocacy center for King William and six nearby counties, and an accepted agent for filing Virginia Housing grant applications. It is not a direct funding source; call (804) 684-5607 or TTY (757) 827-8800.
Older adults
5306 Old Virginia St., Urbanna, 23175
Veterans
1201 Broad Rock Blvd. Room 1M-169B, Richmond, 23249
Yes. The Virginia Housing accessibility grants list installing chairlifts as an eligible modification, up to $10,000 per program, for households under the income limits. Apply through an accepted agent such as the Middle Peninsula Satellite Center for Independent Living at (804) 684-5607.
The USDA Section 504 program offers grants up to $10,000 lifetime to homeowners 62 or older in rural areas, and King William County qualifies as rural. Household income must be at or below 50% of area median income, and stair lifts are not named in its list of repairs.
Usually, yes. Much of the county's older housing predates accessible-design standards, so stairs may be narrow or turn at a landing, which often calls for a curved rail. We measure the staircase in person to confirm the fit.
The CCC Plus Waiver includes an Environmental Modifications and Assistive Technology benefit, but the source does not mention stair lifts or give a dollar cap. A managed care organization care coordinator confirms what is covered during the assessment.
The Richmond VA Medical Center Office at (804) 675-6546, 1201 Broad Rock Blvd., Richmond 23249, handles VA benefits such as HISA. Veterans with disabilities may also qualify for the Granting Freedom grant through Virginia Housing at (877) 843-2123.
Bay Aging serves King William County from 5306 Old Virginia St., Urbanna 23175. Call (804) 758-2386 to ask about its housing programs.
Tell us about the stairs in your home and we will explain which lift fits, what it costs and how installation works.
