Housing Accessibility Improvement Program (HAIP) Grant
Funded through the State of Alaska Department of Health and Social Services in cooperation with the Alaska Mental Health Trust Authority
HAIP grants fund accessibility improvements to existing homes to mitigate daily functional limitations. Typical improvements are ramps; barrier-free showers; tall toilets; widening doors; stair lifts; and adaptations for those who experience reduced vision, hearing or cognition (e.g., increased lighting, flashing door bells, anti-scald devices, etc.).
Alaska CDC serves road-connected homes in the Kenai Peninsula and Mat-Su Boroughs.
APPLICATION INTAKE DEADLINE is 12/31/2024 or may close as soon as the number of applications received exceeds available funding. Please check our site periodically for updates.
Primary Guidelines
Requested home accessibility improvements must be necessary due to a current related disability or special need of a resident.
HAIP grants assist residents with disabilities of any age that fall under one or more of the categories below:
There is no income limit, but consideration is given to lower-income households that need costly major modifications beyond their means (e.g., ramp, barrier-free shower, stair lift, widening doors/halls, etc.).
Justification for requested improvements will be verified. Home ownership will be verified. For rentals, no assistance will be provided without a landlord’s commitment to cooperate fully with program requirements.
Households must sign a Promissory Note to pay back the entire grant if the intended beneficiary does not live in the home up to three years after the work is done. All households must participate in annual residency reviews during the three-year grant forgiveness period. Tenants and landlords also are required to sign lease agreements to ensure the beneficiary may remain in the home to benefit from the improvements. The lease term is one year for grants less than $2,500 and two years for grants of $2,500 or more.
Funding
This program seeks to meet one costly primary accessibility need per household (such as a ramp or barrier-free shower). Lower-cost improvements (such as grab bars, lever-style faucets and doorknobs, etc.) also may be provided as funding allows after funding a primary need. Most households do not receive the maximum grant award, so more households can be assisted.
The maximum grant available for owner-occupied homes is $20,000, $15,000 for rentals. All grant awards are reduced by program management costs. The average grant award is around $14,000.
Assistance is provided once per property and once per household. Households cannot apply later for additional assistance, even if the maximum grant was not awarded when the property or household was assisted.
Funding for this program is very limited and generally will be allocated to households on a first come, first served basis. In some cases, households might be moved up the wait list, when combining funds from several sources will provide cost savings to the program.
This is not an emergency program. All applicants may wait 1-3 years for assistance.
Restrictions
HAIP grants cannot be used for home repair or maintenance. Assisted Living Homes cannot be served by this program. Upgrades and luxury finishes are not allowed. Improvements are builders grade quality, using materials from readily available local stock. HAIP staff determine eligible improvements and materials.
Other restrictions and guidelines may apply.
Please also see the application packet.
HAIP grants fund accessibility improvements to existing homes to mitigate daily functional limitations. Typical improvements are ramps; barrier-free showers; tall toilets; widening doors; stair lifts; and adaptations for those who experience reduced vision, hearing or cognition (e.g., increased lighting, flashing door bells, anti-scald devices, etc.).
Alaska CDC serves road-connected homes in the Kenai Peninsula and Mat-Su Boroughs.
APPLICATION INTAKE DEADLINE is 12/31/2024 or may close as soon as the number of applications received exceeds available funding. Please check our site periodically for updates.
Primary Guidelines
Requested home accessibility improvements must be necessary due to a current related disability or special need of a resident.
HAIP grants assist residents with disabilities of any age that fall under one or more of the categories below:
- Alzheimer’s Disease and Related Dementia Conditions
- Brain Injury
- Chronic Alcoholism
- Intellectual/Developmental Disability
- Mental Illness
- Other individuals with disabilities and/or special needs (including frail elderly)
There is no income limit, but consideration is given to lower-income households that need costly major modifications beyond their means (e.g., ramp, barrier-free shower, stair lift, widening doors/halls, etc.).
Justification for requested improvements will be verified. Home ownership will be verified. For rentals, no assistance will be provided without a landlord’s commitment to cooperate fully with program requirements.
Households must sign a Promissory Note to pay back the entire grant if the intended beneficiary does not live in the home up to three years after the work is done. All households must participate in annual residency reviews during the three-year grant forgiveness period. Tenants and landlords also are required to sign lease agreements to ensure the beneficiary may remain in the home to benefit from the improvements. The lease term is one year for grants less than $2,500 and two years for grants of $2,500 or more.
Funding
This program seeks to meet one costly primary accessibility need per household (such as a ramp or barrier-free shower). Lower-cost improvements (such as grab bars, lever-style faucets and doorknobs, etc.) also may be provided as funding allows after funding a primary need. Most households do not receive the maximum grant award, so more households can be assisted.
The maximum grant available for owner-occupied homes is $20,000, $15,000 for rentals. All grant awards are reduced by program management costs. The average grant award is around $14,000.
Assistance is provided once per property and once per household. Households cannot apply later for additional assistance, even if the maximum grant was not awarded when the property or household was assisted.
Funding for this program is very limited and generally will be allocated to households on a first come, first served basis. In some cases, households might be moved up the wait list, when combining funds from several sources will provide cost savings to the program.
This is not an emergency program. All applicants may wait 1-3 years for assistance.
Restrictions
HAIP grants cannot be used for home repair or maintenance. Assisted Living Homes cannot be served by this program. Upgrades and luxury finishes are not allowed. Improvements are builders grade quality, using materials from readily available local stock. HAIP staff determine eligible improvements and materials.
Other restrictions and guidelines may apply.
Please also see the application packet.