Home Modification Resources

Below you will find resources to aid in modifying your home.

For individuals with disabilities

• Independent Living Center: Title VII Part B

  • In Massachusetts, federal money from Title VII Part B funding is made available to many of the Independent Living Centers (ILC) in Massachusetts for the purchase of equipment and services to assist people to maintain or achieve independence. For more information, please contact a regional ILC or contact MassAbility at (617)-204-3628

• Acquired Brain Injury (ABI) and the Moving Forward Plan (MFP) Waiver Program

  • This program caters to Commonwealth residents who have spent 90 days or more in a skilled nursing facility or rehabilitation hospital. It falls under the ABI (Acquired Brain Injury) and MFP (Moving Forward Plan) Waiver for individuals with Acquired Brain Injuries, Mobility Issues, and other disabilities. MassAbility Case Managers conduct outreach to determine eligibility, and evaluations/approvals are carried out through UMass Medical Center. Home Modifications can be approved to facilitate transition and independent living. Consumers approved for these waivers have a $50K lifetime limit for accessibility adaptations to their living area. For more information, please contact a Rosa Rodriguez at [e-mail] or contact MassAbility at (617)-204-3628.

• Demonstration Home Modification Grant

  • This program operates as a "Demonstration" (Demo) Grant, offering transitional services to Commonwealth residents hospitalized in a skilled nursing facility for 60 days or more. Designed for accelerated transition within one year, Demo Home Modifications also come with a $50K limit. For more information, please contact a Rosa Rodriguez at [e-mail] or contact MassAbility at (617)-204-3628.

• Home Modification Loan Program

  • The Home Modification Loan Program provides low- and no-interest loans to modify the homes of elders, adults and children with disabilities.  Such home modifications allow individuals with disabilities to remain in their homes and live independently in their communities.  Any homeowner who has a disability or has a household member who has a disability, or rents to an individual with a disability may apply for this loan.  Contact: Susan Gillam at 1-866-500-5599 or via email at [e-mail] or visit the website for more information www.mass.gov/mrc/hmlp.

• The Massachusetts Assistive Technology Loan Program (ATLP)

  • The Massachusetts Assistive Technology Loan Program (ATLP) provides low-interest loans to qualified people with disabilities and their families to purchase assistive technology devices and services that will help them lead more independent lives. If you are not financially eligible for home modifications under the HMLP, you may be able to apply to the ATLP. Contact: Adam CostelloLeonidas Tonevski at 1-800-244-2756 ext.428 or 431 TTY 1-800-564-9700 or www.massatloan.org

• Mass Housing, Home Improvement Loan Program

  • Mass Housing is the state's affordable housing bank. They lend money at rates below the conventional market to support affordable rental and home ownership opportunities for low- and moderate-income residents of Massachusetts.  The Home Improvement Loan Program provides funds to make general, non-luxury improvements to your property, which include necessary home modifications.  www.masshousing.com 617-854-1000

For MassAbility job-seekers with disabilities

• Vocational Rehabilitation Program

  • The Rehabilitation Technology Department’s Adaptive Housing Program at MassAbility serves participants with disabilities who are pursuing vocational/employment goals with needs for home modification. Contact: Eugene Blumkin (617)-590-5680 or [e-mail]

For children with disabilities 

• Catastrophic Illness in Children Relief Fund (CICRF)

  • The Catastrophic Illness in Children Relief Fund was established by legislation in 2000 to help families bear the excessive financial burdens associated with the care of children with special health care needs and disabilities. For more information, call Division for Special Health Needs Community Support Line at 1-800-882-1435 or go to www.mass.gov/eohhs/gov/departments/dph/programs/family-health/cicrf

For older adults with disabilities

• Rebuilding Together

  • Rebuilding Together is a nonprofit organization, using community resources and volunteers to provide free home modifications and repairs for elders and individuals with disabilities. www.rebuildingtogether.org  The following communities in Massachusetts have local Rebuilding Together chapters:
    • Boston: 617-971-0058
    • Worcester: 413-283-6709
    • Haverhill: 978-469-0800

For veterans with disabilities

• Department of Veterans Affairs

  • Veterans with service disabilities can receive funds to modify their homes.  The Specially Adapted Housing Program allows veterans with a service related disability to receive a grant of not more than 50% of cost of specially adapted housing units or to a max of $60,000. The funds may be used to build, buy or modify a home. For more information call 800-827-1000.

• Homes for Our Troops

  • Homes for Our Troops is a non-profit, non-partisan, 501 (c)(3) organization founded in 2004.  The organization assists severely injured Servicemen and Women and their immediate families by raising donations of money, building materials and professional labor and then coordinating the process of building a new home or adapting an existing home for accessibility.  (Toll free) 1-866-7-TROOPS www.homesforourtroops.org

Geographically-specific Home Modification Resources

• U.S. Housing and Urban Development; Community Development Block Grant Program (CDBG)

  • The Massachusetts Community Development Block Grant Program is a federally funded program designed to help small cities and towns meet a broad range of community development initiatives.  Some communities may choose to use these funds for home modifications or home repairs. Visit https://www.hud.gov/states/massachusetts  to see if your community receives CDBG funding or contact your city/town’s Housing or Community Development Office.

• U.S. Department of Agriculture, Rural Development; Home Improvement Loans and Grants

  • Low income rural homeowners may receive funds to make substantial home repairs, or to remove health and safety hazards.  The Home Repair Program also provides funds to make a home accessible to someone with disabilities.  Homeowners 62 years and older are eligible for grants, other low income families and individuals may receive loans at a 1% interest rate.  Contact the state office at 413-253-4300 a regional office: Western MA 413-585-1000 ext. 4., Central MA and the North Shore 508-829-4477 ext. 4., Southeastern MA, Cape and Islands 508-295-5151.

Organizations that support people with disabilities

These organizations offer a range of resources and may or may not have resources specifically related to home modifications.

• Department of Developmental Services (DDS)

  • Individuals eligible for services for the Department of Developmental Services may be eligible to receive adaptive housing services through the Family Support Program.  For more information contact your regional DDS office or visit www.mass.gov/dds.

• Muscular Dystrophy Association at www.mda.org

  • Greater Boston - Boston [phone]
  • Central Mass. - Westboro [phone]
  • Northeast - Beverly [phone]

• Multiple Sclerosis Society, Greater New England Chapter

  • www.nationalmssociety.org/Chapters/MAM [phone]

• Spina Bifida Association of Greater New England

  • www.sbagreaterne.org. [phone]

• United Cerebral Palsy (UCP)

  • Berkshires www.ucpberkshire.org
  • Pittsfield [phone]
  • North Adams [phone]
  • Metro Boston www.ucpboston.org 
  • Watertown [phone]

• Amyotrophic Lateral Sclerosis (ALS) Association of MA

  • www.als.org/massachusetts [phone] or [phone]

• American Heart and Stroke Association

  • www.heart.org [phone] ​​​​​​
  • www.strokeassociation.org

• American Parkinson’s Disease Association

  • www.apdama.org/wcms [phone]

• Brain Injury Association of Massachusetts

  • ​​​​​​​www.biama.org [phone] or [phone]​​​​​​​

Other useful resources for modifying your home

• NE Index, Information on Disabilities Exchange

  • Search for contractors and many other providers of services to people with disabilities. For a list of home modification contractors, click on " Search for a Program or a Service" go to "Browse by selecting a program type" and select "home modification." Please note that NE Index, MRC or Providers of the Home Modification Loan Program cannot recommend contractors. The NE Index can be used as a resource similar to the Yellow Pages.

• Massachusetts Consumer Affairs

  • Check the record of a contractor, file a complaint and get advice on resolving a consumer problem. This site also has information on Home Improvement. 

• National Consumer Law Center

  • ​​​​​​​Basic information for consumers on the most critical consumer issues.

• Adaptive Environment

  • Human Centered Design Adaptive Environments provides consultation services about accessibility and universal design in a wide range of built environments including but not limited to public buildings, schools, offices, urban design, transportation, healthcare settings, public space, cultural facilities and a wide range of residential design. Services range from analysis of existing conditions and strategic planning to working collaboratively on design teams for both new construction and renovation. They specialize in clarifying legal and code requirements for accessibility but also on recommending best practices from a universal design perspective, drawing on an extensive knowledge of international design solutions. [phone]

• The Accessible Housing Registry

  • Finding accessible rental housing: Mass Access is a free program that matches people with disabilities with vacant, accessible apartments. [phone] or [phone]. V/TTY [phone].