Funding Sources for Disability Modifications
| We work with a multitude of different funding sources in Chicago and Northern Illinois and would like to share some of those organizations and options with you. The following is a guide to resources that may be able to help you. Specific details can only be obtained by contacting the individual organization directly. City of Chicago – Mayor’s Office for People with Disabilities (MOPD) Home Mod Program: The HomeMod Program is run by the Mayor’s Office and enables people with disabilities of low to moderate income to have their homes and apartments modified for Mayor's Office for People with Disabilities (MOPD) HomeMod Program: The HomeMod Program is run by the Mayor's Office and enables people with disabilities of low to moderate income to have their homes and apartments modified for accessibility purposes. Eligibility mandates that the person with a disability be a Chicago resident, 59 years of age or younger, with certain income specifications. For more information, please call (312) 743-1523or (312) 744-7833 (TTY) or visit www.cityofchicago.org/disabilitiesCity of Chicago – Home Repairs for Accessible and Independent Living (H-Rail): The City of Chicago through the Department of Housing provides home improvements at no cost to qualified senior citizens age 60 and over, who are residents of Chicago. Homeowners and renters are encouraged to apply. For further information, please call (312) 742-0014 or visit H-Rail @www.cityofchicago.org/disabilities Crime Victims Compensation Program: Sponsored by the Illinois Attorney General’s Office, the victim and or/dependent of a violent crime can apply for financial assistance within one year of the date of injury. Other restrictions may apply. For more information, please call 1-800-288-3368 or visit www.ag.state.il.us/victims/cvc.html Department of Health and Family Services (HFS) The Illinois Healthcare and Family Services (HFS) administers the Medicaid program, providing health care assistance for qualified adults and children. In some cases, Medicaid will a pay for home medical equipment, including lifts that do not require home modifications. www.hfs.illinois.govDivision of Specialized Care for Children (DSCC): Administered by the University of Illinois, this program can provide accessibility modifications for certain individuals under the age of 21 with certain chronic physical disabilities and health impairments. For more information, please call the Chicago office at 312-996-6380 or visit www.uic.edu/hsc/dscc. Individual offices are shown below:
Illinois Department of Human Services: Located through the state serving people with disabilities from ages 18-59. Government funding for home modifications through the Department of Rehab Services Department of Human Services Office of Rehabilitation Services (ORS) is available for qualifying individuals Please visit www.state.il.us/agency/dhs or call any of the following local offices:
Independent Living Centers The Illinois Network of Centers for Independent Living, the statewide association representing the 23 Centers for Independent Living (CILs) in Illinois. INCIL is an authoritative source of information about the accomplishments and needs of Illinois CILs and about issues most critical to promote independent living for all persons with disabilities. For more information, please visit www.incil.org or call one of your local centers:
Landlords: The Fair Housing Act of 1968 states that tenants have the right to make reasonable modifications to their apartments, with the permission of the Landlord, but at the expense of the tenant. Les Turner Foundation: The Les Turner ALS Foundation is the only independent publicly supported non-profit organization in the Chicago-area devoted solely to the treatment and elimination of amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS), better known as Lou Gehrig's disease. For further information, please visit www.lesturneralso.orgLong Term Care Insurance: Some long term care insurance policies may cover various modifications and equipment. Check your individual policy. National Multiple Sclerosis Society – Greater Illinois Chapter: Grants enable recipients with Multiple Sclerosis to obtain funding for home modifications. For information, visit www.msillinois.org Northeastern Illinois Area Agency on Aging The Area Agency plans and coordinates a comprehensive network of services for persons 60+ in the fastest growing areas in the state: DuPage, Grundy, Kane, Kendall, Kankakee, Lake, McHenry and Will Counties For more information, visit www.ageguide.org or call one of the following local offices:
North Shore Home Again Program: Administered by the North Shore Senior Center through a grant from the Illinois Department of Aging and the Suburban Area Agency on Aging, provides home modifications and other services for individuals age 60 or older, whom have entered North Shore Home Again Program: Administered by the North Shore Senior Center through a grant from the Illinois Department of Aging and the Suburban Area Ageny on Aging, provides home modifications and other services for individuals age 60 or older, whom have entered into a nursing facility in the following townships: Evanston, Maine, New Trier, Niles and Northfield, but were not able to return home. Eligibility criteria may apply. For additional details, contact the North Shore Senior Center at (847) 784-6000 or visit www.nssc.org Ramp Up Foundation: This foundation through United Cerebral Palsy can provide almost any type of home modification as long as it is related to accessibility. For further information, please visit www.nssc.org Rebuilding Together RT*MC is part of a national nonprofit program which sponsors National Rebuilding Day across the country on the last Saturday in April. Every year we select a different Chicago neighborhood and south suburb in which to provide free home repair for elderly, disabled, or low income individuals. www.rebuildingtogether-chi.comTownships and Villages: Townships serving many local villages often times have a Disability Coordinator. On occasion, mini-grants are in place with funds available for home accessibility modifications.
Extended Home Living Services has a long history of providing support for veterans. We work directly with the local VA hospitals and also can provide home modifications for the grant programs. The VA has three main grant programs to assist disabled veterans with necessary home modifications Specially Adapted Housing Grant (SAH) Veterans or service members who have specific service-connected disabilities may be entitled to a grant from the Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) for the purpose of constructing an adapted home or modifying an existing home to meet their adaptive needs. The goal of the Specially Adapted Housing (SAH) Grant Program is to provide a barrier-free living environment that affords the veterans or service members a level of independent living he or she may not normally enjoy. The SAH grant is generally used to create a wheelchair accessible home and the grant is currently limited to $60,000. The Specially Adapted Housing Grant is available to veterans or service members who are entitled to compensation for permanent and total service-connected disability due to:
You can apply for the SAH and SHA grants by completing VA Form 26-4555, Veterans Application in Acquiring Specially Adapted Housing or Special Home Adaptation Grant, and submitting it to your local VA regional office. Special Home Adaptation Grant (SHA) Veterans who have specific service-connected disabilities may be entitled to a grant for the purpose of modifying an existing home to meet their adaptive needs. The Special Home Adaptations (SHA) grant is generally used to assist veterans with mobility throughout their homes. This grant is currently limited to $12,000. The SHA grant is available to veterans who have service-connected disability due to military service, entitling them to compensation for permanent and total disability due to:
You can apply for the SAH and SHA grants by completing VA Form 26-4555, Veterans Application in Acquiring Specially Adapted Housing or Special Home Adaptation Grant, and submitting it to your local VA regional office. Home Improvement and Structural Alternations Grant (HISA) Under the Home Improvements and Structural Alterations (HISA) program, veterans with service-connected disabilities or veterans with nonservice-connected disabilities may receive assistance for any home improvement necessary for the continuation of treatment or for disability access to the home and essential lavatory and sanitary facilities. A HISA grant is available to veterans who have received a medical determination indicating that improvements and structural alterations are necessary or appropriate for the effective and economical treatment of his/her disability. A veteran may receive both a HISA grant and either a Special Home Adaptation (SHA) grant or a Specially Adapted Housing (SAH) grant. To apply for a HISA Grant, complete VA Form 10-0103 Veterans Application at http://www.prosthetics.va.gov/HISA.aspHow Can You Learn More About These Veterans Administration Grants? Illinois Warrior Assistance Program: For more information, please call (800) 827-1000 or visit www.homeloans.va.gov/sah.htm or www.va.gov The Illinois Warrior Assistance Program provides confidential assistance for Illinois Veterans as they transition back to their everyday lives after serving our country. Our health professionals are here to help. Please visit www.illinoiswarrior.com Loans / Tax Relief Programs E-Z Access Loan Program: This program offered by the Amalgamated Bank of Chicago targets two specific groups, including individuals with disabilities and businesses that are seeking to comply with requirements of the ADA. The Bank has funds to make loans available at reduced rates. Important features include their willingness to lend as little as $500 over a 12 month period (60 months for larger purchases). Their credit terms are relaxed, i.e., items not often included as income are for this program (social security benefits, disability checks, etc.) For more information, visit www.aboc.comFederal Housing Administration (FHA) Two loan guarantee programs from the Federal Housing Administration, Title 1 and 203K loans have loan size limits. The FHA programs can provide direct loans with below market interest rates (to 1%), higher than normal debt ratio (to 1%), extended terms (to 33 years), low down payments or financed closing costs. These loans can be used for acquisition or rehabilitation. The 203K program will also loan up to 80% of the repaired value of the home, making it useful for a household that chooses to move and make accessibility improvements in the new home. For details, call 312-866-2729. Many people can take advantage of income tax deductions under the federal tax code. To do so, the cost of the modifications must be treated as a medical deduction and be itemized and shown as an expense on federal tax form 1040 "Schedule A". In order for home modifications or equipment to be treated as a tax deduction, they must be certified by a physician as being required for health reasons. For a renter, the cost of accessibility modifications becomes a deduction from taxable income. Homeowners can also deduct modifications cost from income but need to account for any increase in the value of the home. A written opinion from a competent real estate appraiser specifying how much and why the home's value has increased is necessary and an experienced accountant should be contacted. Plans for Achieving Self-Support (PASS) Supplemental Security Income (SSI) allows participants to set aside income for accessibility projects. Without jeopardizing benefits, it is an SSI provision to help individuals with disabilities return to work. For more information, please visit www.ssa.gov/disabilityresearch/wi/pass.htm Ready Access Program / Opportunity Illinois Program The Treasurer's Office and financial institutions work together to assist individuals with disabilities by providing capital to the borrower at a lower rate of interest. The Treasurer's Office deposits state funds with participating financial institutions which then make low-interest Ready Access loans. The funds earn interest for taxpayers and are fully protected against loss. Available through participating financial institutions. Maximum amount is $50,000. Available for up to 5 years at a fixed rate of interest that is below market rate. The Ready Access Program does not provide for medical services, pharmaceuticals, psychological services, therapy and/or therapeutic devices. Illinois financial institutions wishing to participate in the Illinois Treasurer's Ready Access Program should also contact the Treasurer's Office. Illinoisans with disabilities use the Opportunity Illinois interest rate reduction to finance construction projects or purchase equipment that will help them achieve greater mobility and self-sufficiency. For more information, please visit http://www.treasurer.il.gov Reverse Mortgage and Home Equity Loans These alternative methods can be utilized to finance home modifications. A financial advisor can help determine which method is feasible. For more information, contact your financial advisor for advice. Home Equity Loan A home equity loan is a loan that is guaranteed by your home. They can have either fixed or adjustable interest rates. The interest paid is usually tax -deductible. They can be used for vehicle purchases, home improvement or freeing of equity for investment in other real estate or investments. Contact your financial adviser for advice. Reverse Mortgage A reverse mortgage is a special type of loan that enables a senior homeowner, to borrow against the equity of your home and receive cash without selling the home, giving up the title or making monthly payments. Special features include:
This program is SAFE because it is guaranteed by the Federal Government – FHA. This program is SMART because you can lower your monthly debt and increase your monthly retirement income.. The program is EASY because there are no income or credit qualifications.. TechConnect Low Interest Loan Program The TechConnect Low Interest Loan Program has two parts: 1. The Assistive Technology Loan Program provides loans to Illinois residents with disabilities and/or their families on behalf of the person with a disability to purchase assistive technology devices, services, and home modifications. 2. The Telework Loan Program is restricted to Illinois residents with disabilities, 18 years and older. The loan can be used to purchase equipment, services, and home modifications for home-based employment. The equipment is not restricted to assistive technology devices. For more information, please visit www.techconnect.iltech.org | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Credentials
