These programs work anywhere in California. Some are paid through Medi-Cal or the VA, so they come with paperwork and medical requirements. Others are free phone lines that point you to local help. If you don't know where to start, call your Area Agency on Aging or 211 first and ask about home modification help in your county.
Medi-Cal options that can pay for home modifications
If you have Medi-Cal, these are the main ways it can pay for physical changes to a home. Each one has its own rules, and none of them is automatic. You usually need a doctor's order and an assessment first.
Medi-Cal Community Supports: Environmental Accessibility Adaptations (Home Modifications)
Run by: Your Medi-Cal managed care plan (rules set by the California Department of Health Care Services)
Who it serves
Medi-Cal managed care members statewide, where their plan offers this Community Support
What work it does
Ramps and grab bars to get in and out of the home, widening doorways for a wheelchair, stair lifts, making a bathroom wheelchair accessible (for example a roll-in shower), electrical or plumbing changes needed for medical equipment, and personal emergency response systems (PERS) for people who are alone much of the day.
Who qualifies
Medi-Cal members at risk of needing a nursing facility. You need an order from your doctor or another health professional. The plan normally also wants a physical or occupational therapy evaluation, a home visit, and when possible two itemized bids. Renters need written permission from the owner.
Cost to you
Paid by your plan if approved. DHCS sets a lifetime limit of $7,500, with exceptions if you move or your condition changes a lot. Physical work must be done by a California-licensed contractor.
How to apply
Call the member services number on your Medi-Cal plan card and ask for the Community Support called "Environmental Accessibility Adaptations" or "home modifications." Not every plan offers every Community Support, so use the DHCS search tool to check yours. DHCS says assessment and approval should happen within 90 days of the request.
Medi-Cal must use regular benefits first when they meet the need. Portable ramps and shower chairs, for example, may come through the durable medical equipment benefit instead.
Last verified Oct 2026
Home and Community-Based Alternatives (HCBA) Waiver
Run by: California Department of Health Care Services, through local Waiver Agencies
Who it serves
Statewide; each county or ZIP code is assigned a Waiver Agency
What work it does
Care management by a nurse and social worker, plus waiver services that include Environmental Accessibility Adaptations (home modifications), assistive technology and personal emergency response systems.
Who qualifies
Medi-Cal members at risk of nursing home or other institutional placement. The waiver reached capacity and has used a waiting list since July 12, 2023. Some groups, such as people leaving a health facility after 60+ days, get priority for open slots.
Cost to you
Services in your care plan are paid through the waiver once you are enrolled.
How to apply
Find the Waiver Agency for your county on the DHCS page, ask them for an application, and get on the waiting list. DHCS's HCBA line is (833) 388-4551.
Run by: California Department of Aging and DHCS, through local MSSP sites
Who it serves
Counties that have an MSSP site
What work it does
Ongoing care management. MSSP can also buy services you can't get elsewhere, including minor home repair and adaptations such as ramps, safety and security items, and personal emergency response systems.
Who qualifies
People 60 or older who have Medi-Cal and who would otherwise qualify for nursing facility care. You must live in a county with an MSSP site and can be in only one waiver program at a time. For rentals, the landlord must give written permission.
Cost to you
Paid by the program for enrolled participants.
How to apply
Find your local MSSP site through the California Department of Aging page, or ask your Area Agency on Aging (1-800-510-2020) to connect you.
Regional Center services for people with developmental disabilities
Run by: California Department of Developmental Services (DDS), through 21 regional centers
Who it serves
People served by a California regional center
What work it does
Environmental accessibility adaptations: ramps, grab bars, widened doorways, bathroom changes, and specialized electrical or plumbing work needed for the person's needs.
Who qualifies
Regional center clients whose Individual Program Plan (IPP) includes the change, when no one else, such as a landlord, is responsible for making it. General home improvements are not covered.
Cost to you
Funded through the regional center when approved in the IPP.
How to apply
Ask your regional center service coordinator to add the modification to the IPP. If you aren't connected to a regional center yet, find yours on the DDS site.
In-Home Supportive Services (IHSS) (related help, not home modifications)
Run by: California Department of Social Services, through county IHSS offices
Who it serves
All California counties
What work it does
Does not pay for construction. IHSS pays for in-home help, such as personal care and household tasks, so a person can stay safely at home. We list it because many people who need a ramp or grab bars also qualify for IHSS.
Who qualifies
California residents who are aged, blind or disabled, have a Medi-Cal eligibility determination, live in their own home, and turn in a Health Care Certification form (SOC 873).
Cost to you
Authorized hours are paid by the program. You hire and supervise your own provider.
How to apply
Fill out form SOC 295 and send it to your county IHSS office. A county social worker will visit your home to assess your needs.
The VA has two separate kinds of help. HISA is a smaller medical benefit through VA health care. SAH and SHA are larger housing grants for specific service-connected disabilities.
VA Home Improvements and Structural Alterations (HISA)
Run by: U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs, Prosthetic and Sensory Aids Service
Who it serves
Veterans and service members nationwide, including California
What work it does
Medically needed changes to your main home: getting in and out (including permanent ramps), roll-in showers and other bathroom access, lowered sinks or counters, and plumbing or electrical work needed for home medical equipment. It does not cover portable ramps, stair glides, porch lifts, spas, decks or routine repairs.
Who qualifies
Veterans and service members with a medical need documented by a VA physician.
Cost to you
Lifetime benefit of up to $6,800 for a service-connected need (or for any need if you are rated 50% or more service-connected), or up to $2,000 in other cases. These are the VA's published amounts as of Oct 2026.
How to apply
Get a prescription from your VA physician, then send VA Form 10-0103 with an itemized estimate (labor, materials, permits, inspections) and a color photo of the area. Renters also need a signed, notarized OK from the owner. Contact the Prosthetics office at your VA medical center.
VA Specially Adapted Housing (SAH), Special Home Adaptation (SHA) and Temporary Residence Adaptation (TRA) grants
Run by: U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs
Who it serves
Veterans and service members nationwide
What work it does
Buying, building or changing a permanent home to fit a disability, such as adding ramps or widening doorways. TRA helps change a family member's home where you are living for a while.
Who qualifies
Veterans and service members with certain service-connected disabilities, for example loss or loss of use of limbs, blindness in both eyes, certain severe burns, or certain breathing injuries (the exact list differs between SAH and SHA). For SAH and SHA, you or a family member must own or plan to own the home.
Cost to you
Grant. The VA lists FY 2026 maximums of $126,526 (SAH) and $25,350 (SHA). You can use the grant up to six times over your lifetime.
How to apply
Apply online, by mail or in person. The VA's how-to-apply page has the steps.
Run by: USDA Rural Development, California State Office
Who it serves
Eligible rural areas of California (check an address on the USDA eligibility map)
What work it does
Grants must be used to remove health and safety hazards. Loans can repair, improve or modernize a home.
Who qualifies
Homeowners who live in the home, can't get affordable credit elsewhere, and have income under the county limit. Grants are only for homeowners 62 or older with very low income.
Cost to you
California is in a pilot with higher limits: grants up to $10,000 and loans up to $40,000, with combined help up to $50,000. Loans are 1% fixed for 20 years. Grants must be repaid if you sell within 3 years.
How to apply
Applications are taken year-round through your local Rural Development office. The state office email is sm.rd.ca.sfhdirect@usda.gov.
Run by: Rebuilding Together (independent local nonprofits)
Who it serves
Each affiliate covers its own area. The national directory lists California affiliates in the East Bay, Kern County, Long Beach, Mountain Communities (San Bernardino mountains), Los Angeles (City of Angels), the Peninsula, Petaluma, Sacramento, San Diego, San Francisco, Silicon Valley and Solano County.
What work it does
Free home repairs and safety changes. Many affiliates run a "Safe at Home" program with grab bars, rails and ramps. Services differ by affiliate.
Who qualifies
Usually low-income homeowners, often older adults, people with disabilities and veterans. Each affiliate sets its own rules.
Cost to you
Generally no cost to eligible homeowners. Confirm with your local affiliate.
How to apply
Find your nearest affiliate in the national directory and apply on that affiliate's website.
Run by: California Department of Aging and 33 local Area Agencies on Aging
Who it serves
Every California county
What work it does
Information and referral for older adults and adults with disabilities. A good first call to find local home repair, home safety, meal and caregiver programs.
Who qualifies
Older adults, adults with disabilities and their families or caregivers.
Cost to you
Free to call.
How to apply
Call 1-800-510-2020 to reach the AAA for your area, or pick your county on the Department of Aging's map. The home page of this site lists each county's number.
Run by: California Department of Rehabilitation and 28 independent nonprofit centers
Who it serves
Every region of California
What work it does
Centers run mostly by people with disabilities. Their core services include information and referral, advocacy, help finding accessible housing, assistive technology, and help moving out of a nursing home or avoiding one. Some run their own home access or modification programs, so ask.
Who qualifies
People with any kind of disability.
Cost to you
Core services are free.
How to apply
Find your local center through the Department of Rehabilitation directory or the State Independent Living Council's locator. DOR's line is 1-916-558-5775 (TTY 1-916-558-5778).
A free referral line and website for local help with housing, utilities, health care and other needs. Ask for home repair or home modification programs near you.
Run by: Ability Tools, with regional partner agencies
Who it serves
California
What work it does
Lets people try or borrow assistive technology and get reused equipment. In 2026 Ability Tools announced new regional device lending and reuse centers (CRIL in the north, CCATC in the central region, and CART and Rolling Start, Inc. in the south). It does not do construction.
Who qualifies
Californians with disabilities, older adults and their families.
Cost to you
Check with Ability Tools or your regional center; we could not confirm current fees.
How to apply
Start at abilitytools.org, which links to the device lending library.
Run by: California Public Utilities Commission rules; offered by PG&E, SCE, SoCalGas and SDG&E
Who it serves
Customers of those utilities
What work it does
Does not pay for construction. It gives you extra gas and electricity at your utility's lowest residential rate if you rely on life-support equipment (including motorized wheelchairs) or have certain conditions. The CPUC also describes outage notices and, at PG&E and SDG&E, a free service that marks appliance dials for people with low vision.
Who qualifies
People who rely on qualifying life-support equipment or have qualifying conditions, such as life-threatening illness, MS, scleroderma, paraplegia or quadriplegia, or a compromised immune system.
Cost to you
Lowers your bill. There is no fee to enroll that we know of; check with your utility.
How to apply
Contact your utility and ask for Medical Baseline.
CSLB contractor license check: Look up any California contractor's license status, bond, workers' comp and complaint disclosures. You can also check a home improvement salesperson's registration.
NAHB CAPS directory: Finds Certified Aging-in-Place Specialists (CAPS). CAPS is a training credential from the National Association of Home Builders, not a state license, so check the CSLB license too.