Maryland Home Modification Grants in 2026: What Families Can Actually Get

If your parent lives in Maryland and needs home modifications to stay safe and independent, there's money available to help — more than most families realize. The challenge is that Maryland's programs are administered through multiple agencies, some at the state level and some at the county level, and they don't always advertise aggressively.

This guide covers the main programs available in 2026, with real eligibility requirements and dollar amounts — not vague summaries.

Maryland Accessible Homes for Seniors (MAHS)

Administered by the Maryland Department of Housing and Community Development (DHCD), this is Maryland's flagship home modification grant for seniors.

What it covers: Accessibility modifications including grab bars, ramps, stairlifts, roll-in showers, wider doorways, and other structural changes that help seniors remain in their homes.

Who qualifies:

• Maryland homeowner age 55 or older
• Household income at or below 80% of Area Median Income (AMI) — roughly $80,000 for a single person in most Maryland counties in 2024; varies by county
• Must be the primary residence

How much: Grants up to $30,000 per household for eligible modifications. This is not a loan — it does not need to be repaid.

How to apply: Through DHCD directly or through your county's participating partner organizations. Visit dhcd.maryland.gov or call 1-800-756-0119. Wait times exist; apply early.

Pro tip: DHCD works with local nonprofits and housing agencies to administer the program at the county level. In some counties, the local partner handles intake and may have slightly different procedures.

Montgomery County: Design for Life Program

Montgomery County has its own home modification program that goes beyond the state's MAHS offering.

What it covers: Ramps, grab bars, stairlifts, bathroom modifications, door widening, and environmental controls. The program also provides an occupational therapy assessment as part of the process — which helps document needs for other programs too.

Who qualifies:

• Montgomery County resident
• Age 60+ or adult with a disability
• Income limits apply; generally up to 80% AMI

How much: Up to $40,000 in modifications per household, depending on documented need. Some funding is grant-based; high-income applicants may qualify for deferred loans.

How to apply: Through the Montgomery County Department of Health and Human Services, Aging and Disability Services division. Call 240-777-3000 or visit aging.montgomerycountymd.gov.

Note: The Design for Life program often has a waitlist. Get on it as early as possible, even before the modifications feel urgent.

Maryland Community Options Waiver

The Community Options Waiver (CO Waiver) is a Medicaid waiver program for adults with disabilities who need institutional-level care but want to remain in the community.

What it covers: Among other services, the CO Waiver can fund home modifications that enable a person to safely stay home instead of moving to a facility. This includes ramps, grab bars, roll-in showers, stairlifts, and environmental modifications.

Who qualifies:

• Maryland resident with a significant disability (not age-restricted, but many participants are seniors)
• Medicaid-eligible (income and asset limits apply)
• Requires nursing-home level of care (assessed by the state)

How much: Modifications are covered as part of a broader care plan, not as a standalone grant with a fixed cap. The CO Waiver covers the full cost of approved modifications.

How to apply: Through the Maryland Department of Health, Developmental Disabilities Administration, or your local Medicaid office. This process involves a functional assessment — it's more intensive than a direct grant application, but the coverage can be comprehensive.

Important: If your parent already receives Medicaid or is approaching Medicaid eligibility, talk to a benefits counselor about the CO Waiver before spending out of pocket on modifications.

VA HISA Grant for Maryland Veterans

Maryland has a significant veteran population — and the VA's Home Improvements and Structural Alterations (HISA) grant is one of the most accessible modification grants available.

What it covers: Medically necessary home modifications including ramps, grab bars, roll-in showers, stairlifts, and more.

Who qualifies:

• Veterans with a service-connected disability: up to $6,800 lifetime
• Veterans with a non-service-connected disability receiving certain VA compensation: up to $2,000 lifetime
• Must have a VA physician's prescription specifying the medical need and required modifications

How to apply: Through your VA primary care provider. Get a prescription that specifies the diagnosis, the functional limitation, and the modifications required. Submit through the VA medical center — Baltimore VA and Washington DC VA both process HISA applications.

Timeline: Typically 4–8 weeks from application to approval.

Stacking Multiple Programs

Here's where Maryland families can make a real dent in modification costs. These programs can often be used together:

Example: A Maryland veteran, age 67, living in Silver Spring, needs a ramp, a roll-in shower, and grab bars throughout the home. Estimated cost: $22,000.

• VA HISA (service-connected): $6,800
• MAHS grant (if income-eligible): up to $30,000
• Design for Life (if in Montgomery County, income-eligible): additional coverage

With MAHS and HISA together, the full project could be covered without out-of-pocket expense.

Non-veteran example: A 70-year-old Silver Spring homeowner at 65% AMI needs bathroom modifications totaling $15,000. MAHS alone could cover it entirely if funds are available.

How to Start

1. Get a home assessment first. An occupational therapist (OT) assessment documents your parent's functional needs and creates the paper trail that most grant programs require. Some programs, like Montgomery County's Design for Life, include an OT assessment in their process.

2. Contact your Area Agency on Aging. Maryland has 19 local Area Agencies on Aging. They know every local program — including small county-level grants that aren't listed online. Find yours at mdoa.maryland.gov.

3. Apply to MAHS early. The waitlist is real. Even if modifications aren't urgent yet, getting the application in sets your place in line.

4. If your parent is a veteran, start the VA process in parallel. HISA and MAHS don't conflict.

Maryland's programs are genuinely useful — but they require some navigation. The payoff is substantial.

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