Alberta raises home accessibility grants to $12,000 a year
The province is putting $24 million toward higher RAMP grants for low-income Albertans with mobility challenges, citing rising renovation costs.
Why it matters
The higher grants could make it easier for Albertans with mobility challenges to remain safely in their own homes as renovation costs rise.
The Government of Alberta has increased the maximum grant available through the Residential Access Modification Program (RAMP), which helps low-income Albertans with mobility challenges pay for home accessibility upgrades. The per-person annual maximum rises from $7,500 to $12,000, while the 10-year cap increases from $15,000 to $24,000.
The province says the boost responds to rising costs for accessibility modifications and is funded through a $24-million allocation from the Canada-Alberta Aging with Dignity agreement. Eligible applicants, including wheelchair users and seniors who use walkers, can use the grants for upgrades such as ramps, stair lifts, wider doorways, flooring changes, bath lifts and bathtub door inserts.
Minister of Assisted Living and Social Services Nathan Neudorf said the change aims to help more people afford modifications so they can stay safely and independently in their communities. Jacob McGregor, chair of the Premier's Council on the Status of Persons with Disabilities, welcomed the funding increase. A parent of a RAMP grant recipient, Lisa Hennessey, described a home lift funded through the program as life-changing for her family.
Compiled by the Alberta Daily Desk — an AI-written summary of reporting from the credited sources below, produced and reviewed under our editorial policy.