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Last updated: 23 October 2026
Need a ramp, grab bars, wider doors, or a shower you can use more safely? Maryland has a state program called Accessible Homes for Seniors. It may help eligible households pay for changes that make it easier for an older adult to stay at home. It is not a general remodeling fund.
Bottom Line
Start with the official Accessible Homes page or call Maryland Department of Housing and Community Development (DHCD) Special Loan Programs at 301-429-7409. Maryland lists the application as open. Help may be a repayable deferred loan or, for qualifying homeowners who cannot get a loan, a grant of up to $15,000. Ask which applies before signing.
Start Here
- Write down the access problem: for example, “I cannot step into my tub safely” or “I need a ramp to enter my home.”
- Find your local housing contact, or call Maryland Access Point at 1-844-627-5465 for help finding an office and filling out forms.
- Ask whether your household should be screened for a loan, a grant, or both. Get the current application, income chart, and contractor instructions.
| Your situation | Possible path | Important limit |
|---|---|---|
| Household meets loan income rules | Deferred accessibility loan | Money is borrowed and must be repaid under the signed terms. |
| Senior homeowner is below the grant income test and cannot qualify for a loan | Accessibility grant | Up to $15,000; being low income alone does not secure a grant. |
| You rent, need a major roof repair, or the home has unsafe structural conditions | Another housing or disability route | Accessible Homes may not fit. Ask about the right separate program. |
Who May Qualify?
This is a Maryland state program, not a Baltimore-only or county-only grant. DHCD administers the financing. Local housing agencies and Maryland Access Point offices help residents find and submit applications. The state repair-program directory identifies it as a special accessibility program.
- Age: at least one person living in the home must be 55 or older. The homeowner does not always have to be that person.
- Residence: the home generally must be owned and lived in as the main residence. Seniors living with relatives may be reviewed case by case.
- Condition: DHCD says the house must be structurally sound and free of health and safety hazards. A dangerous roof or serious code problem may need a different repair route first.
- Financial and legal checks: household income matters. Outstanding federal or state tax liens, open bankruptcy, or foreclosure are listed as obstacles.
The state also has different income tests for loans and grants. Retirement or disability alone is not enough. If mobility problems are part of a wider disability need, our Maryland disability help guide explains other places to ask.
Income rules need a careful check
For loans, DHCD says household income cannot exceed 80% of the statewide or Washington, D.C., metropolitan-area median used by the program. The dollar amount varies. Use the household-size income chart linked on the official program page and ask which regional limit applies to your address.
For grants, DHCD requires income below 50% of area median income, a need for accessibility work, and inability to qualify for a loan. A homeowner above that grant test may still wish to ask about loan eligibility.
Important for multigenerational homes: DHCD’s program page says that, when a senior lives in a relative’s home, income from all people who occupy the home as their main residence is considered. A 2026 Department of Aging memo describes the owner’s income for this case instead. These statements do not fully agree. Ask DHCD which current household-income rule controls your arrangement, and request the answer in writing. Do not leave anyone’s income off an application based on the older memo.
How the Grant and Loan Differ
The word “assistance” can hide a debt. Under the listed loan terms, repayment is deferred until sale, transfer, or refinance of the property. DHCD lists terms of up to 30 years. It says the total loan can reach up to 110% of property value after taking existing mortgages into account. That describes a financing ceiling, not a cash award or a promise that your project will receive that amount.
The Department of Aging’s 2026 eligibility chart describes Accessible Homes loans as zero-interest. Before signing, still ask DHCD for the exact interest, security or lien, closing costs, and repayment triggers in the proposed agreement. The program page says closing costs are included in the loan, which means they may increase what you owe.
The state program page now lists grants up to $15,000 for senior homeowners who meet its stricter rules. Older documents may list a higher figure. Confirm the current ceiling with DHCD before applying.
| Ask the office | Why it matters |
|---|---|
| Is this a grant or loan? | A grant has different repayment rules from a debt secured against your home. |
| What causes repayment? | Selling, transferring, or refinancing may make a deferred balance due. |
| What costs are added? | Closing costs and any other approved charges affect the total obligation. |
| Can another program also pay? | The office must confirm any funding combination and prevent duplicate payment for the same work. |
For a wider explanation of repair financing, see our Maryland home repair guide. This page stays focused on the Accessible Homes program.
Which Accessibility Jobs May Be Covered?
DHCD gives examples of work that makes a home more accessible or usable for the resident. The request should describe a real barrier to safe daily life, not a wish for a newer-looking kitchen or bathroom.
| Home problem | Possible change | What to confirm |
|---|---|---|
| Unsafe bathing | Accessible shower or grab bars | Whether the proposed layout and fixtures are necessary and approved. |
| Steps block entry | Ramp or another approved access change | Space, permits, slope, and safe placement. |
| Door is too narrow | Wider doorway or lever handles | Which doorway is needed for safe movement. |
| Cannot use upstairs facilities | First-floor bathroom or laundry addition | The state says additions are reviewed case by case. |
A walk-in tub, stairlift, full bathroom remodel, or other costly item is not automatically approved simply because it might help. Ask the office to review the exact work. For broader safety changes, see our home safety guide.
Maryland’s Department of Disabilities has a separate home modifications resource with equipment, design, funding, and disability-rights leads. It can help if the senior does not meet Accessible Homes rules.
How to Apply Without Wasting Time
- Get the current application. Use the form linked on DHCD’s Accessible Homes page, or ask the county housing office or Maryland Access Point for a copy. DHCD lists submission by email or mail with supporting documents.
- Explain the specific barrier. Include which room or entrance is unsafe, who needs the change, and how it affects daily life. If a caregiver is helping, say who will answer follow-up questions.
- Prepare basic records. Ask for the official checklist. Common items worth gathering include household income records, identification, ownership or occupancy proof, mortgage details, and photos of the access problem. Do not treat this list as a complete agency requirement.
- Ask about an assessment. Find out whether staff need to inspect the house and approve a written work plan before contractor bids are accepted.
- Submit and keep copies. Save the application, attachments, delivery proof, and any case number. DHCD says it will review a completed application and contact applicants about next steps.
If you cannot travel or complete the paperwork alone, ask your local MAP counselor about application help or an in-home appointment. For local aging contacts, our Maryland aging directory can help you choose the right county office.
Do not begin construction because you expect reimbursement. Ask DHCD whether work performed before written approval will be ineligible. Get the answer before paying a deposit.
Who Selects the Contractor and Pays?
Do not confuse submitting an application with approval to hire a builder. The state may need an inspection, agreed work description, bids, contractor records, and signed loan or grant papers. The exact steps should come from the office handling your case.
A Frederick County program FAQ describes an inspection and written work list, followed by homeowner requests for contractor bids. It says the homeowner hires the contractor and payments are checked against approved progress. This county explanation may not reflect every current DHCD procedure statewide. Ask your own administering office which bidding, inspection, and payment steps apply.
DHCD lists contractor records for its separate rehabilitation program. Do not assume that checklist automatically applies here. Ask which records Accessible Homes requires.
Before hiring anyone, use the Maryland Home Improvement Commission to check licensing. Do not sign a contract that differs from the program-approved scope. Do not let a contractor pressure you to claim an award you have not received.
Reality Checks and Common Mistakes
- “Open” does not mean immediate money. DHCD’s page lists applications as open, but approval, actual funding, reviews, and contractor schedules still need confirmation. No reliable completion time is promised.
- A grant is not the default. The grant has an income test and a separate rule requiring that the homeowner cannot qualify for a loan.
- The house must be suitable. Serious structural or safety defects can make this particular program a poor starting point.
- Family homes need extra care. The state sources differ on whose income counts when the older resident lives with relatives. Resolve that with DHCD first.
- One job should not be paid twice. Do not assume this aid can be stacked with Medicaid, a local grant, or tax help for the same invoice. Ask each administrator to approve the plan.
- Property decisions matter. Before agreeing to a deferred loan, ask what happens on refinancing, sale, transfer, or death. For legal or estate questions, seek qualified advice.
If you already applied, the DHCD repair-program page has a client inquiry route. Ask for written status information.
If You Are Denied or the Work Cannot Wait
Ask the office to explain the reason in writing. Was it household income, title, home condition, missing records, financing, funding, or contractor approval? Ask whether there is a chance to submit missing proof, a formal review process, or a new application later. Do not assume a fixed appeal deadline; request the current procedure from the decision letter or DHCD.
If the problem is a failing roof, wiring, plumbing, or structural hazard rather than an access change, DHCD’s Housing Rehabilitation Program is a more relevant program to check. Its terms and approval rules are separate. Our covered repairs guide helps you describe the difference.
If you rent, ask your housing provider about disability-related changes and consent. The Maryland disability housing rights resource explains why renters may have accommodation or modification rights, but it does not turn this homeowner program into a renter grant.
If a doorway, stair, or bathroom poses danger right now, seek immediate safety help rather than depend on a loan timetable. Call emergency services for life-threatening danger, or ask 211 and local aging staff about temporary help. Our emergency repair guide explains other starting points.
Phone Scripts You Can Use
Special Loan Programs: 301-429-7409
“I live in Maryland with someone age 55 or older. We need [ramp/shower/grab bars]. Is Accessible Homes accepting applications for this work, and should we ask about a loan or a grant?”
County housing office
“Can you give me the current Accessible Homes application, income chart, document list, and steps for an approved contractor? May I get help filling it out?”
DHCD: family household question
“The senior lives in a relative’s home. Whose income will you count? The Department of Aging memo and the DHCD page use different wording. May I have the current rule in writing?”
Resumen en Español
Maryland tiene el programa Accessible Homes for Seniors para adaptar viviendas donde vive una persona de 55 años o más. Puede ayudar con rampas, barras de apoyo, duchas accesibles y puertas más anchas. La ayuda puede ser un préstamo que se paga después o, para ciertos propietarios que no califican para un préstamo, una subvención de hasta $15,000. Se revisan los ingresos, la propiedad y el estado de la casa.
Llame a DHCD al 301-429-7409 o a Maryland Access Point al 1-844-627-5465. Pida el formulario vigente y confirme qué ingresos familiares cuentan, sobre todo si la persona mayor vive con familiares. No contrate obras antes de recibir las instrucciones del programa. Si rechazan la solicitud, pida la razón por escrito y pregunte cómo presentar más documentos o buscar otra ayuda.
Frequently Asked Questions
Is Accessible Homes for Seniors a free grant?
Not always. Maryland mainly offers deferred accessibility loans, which must be repaid under their terms. Grants of up to $15,000 are listed for qualifying senior homeowners who need accessibility work, earn below 50% of area median income, and cannot qualify for a loan.
Does a Maryland resident have to be 65?
No. The state lists at least one resident age 55 or older. Other income, ownership, home condition, and legal requirements still apply.
Can the program pay for a walk-in shower or ramp?
DHCD lists accessible showers, ramps, grab bars, lever handles, and wider doorways as examples. An individual project still needs review and approval; no listed item is guaranteed.
Can a senior living with adult children apply?
Possibly. DHCD considers seniors living with relatives case by case. Official state documents differ on whose income is counted, so ask DHCD to confirm the current rule for your household in writing.
Should I pay a contractor before approval?
No. First ask DHCD about inspections, bids, contractor approval, and written permission to start. Do not assume work already done will be paid for later.
About This Guide
This guide uses official federal, state, local, and other high-trust nonprofit and community sources mentioned in the article.
Editorial note
This guide is produced based on our Editorial Standards using official and other high-trust sources, regularly updated and monitored, but not affiliated with any government agency and not a substitute for official agency guidance. Individual eligibility outcomes cannot be guaranteed.
Corrections
Please note that despite our careful verification process, errors may still occur. Email info@grantsforseniors.org with corrections and we will respond within 72 hours.
Disclaimer
This article is for informational purposes only and is not legal, financial, medical, tax, disability-rights, immigration, or government-agency advice. Program rules, policies, and availability can change. Readers should confirm current details directly with the official program before acting.
Last updated: 23 October 2026 · Next review: 21 January 2027
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