Aging in Place Critical Home Repair

Everyone deserves the opportunity to age with dignity in their own home and community.   

One in three adults age 60+ will suffer a fall at home resulting in injury. Adaptive home modifications and repairs such as grab bars, railings, improved lighting, zero step entries, and wheelchair ramps can greatly reduce or eliminate many of these mishaps and resulting injuries.

Tacoma/Pierce County Habitat for Humanity works with Pierce County homeowners age 60+ and disabled Veterans of the US Military to create a safe and livable environment where they can age independently in the comfort and stability of their own home by providing both environmental modifications and critical home repairs.

Home Repair 3
Home Repair 1
Home Repair 4

Application Information

If you meet all eligibility requirements below, please complete our general intake form. Projects from general intake are assessed in the order they are received, though you can expect a call or email within one week of submission.

Emergency projects are given priority. If you are without heat or hot water, or you need accessibility modifications in order for someone to return home from a medical facility (e.g. ramp installation or door widening), and you meet all the eligibility criteria listed below, please complete this emergency intake form. We respond to emergency intakes within one business day.

 (updated: April 2023)


We also suggest you check this list of repair resources for other programs that may fit your needs.

 

Eligibility

Requirements

To be eligible for a critical home repair under our Aging in Place program, applicants must meet all of the following criteria:

  • Pierce County resident
  • Own and occupy the home
  • Age 60+ or a disabled Veteran of the US Military
  • Household income below 80% Area Medium Income (see chart below)
  • Willingness to partner by helping with the work in some way if physically able (what Habitat calls “sweat equity”) and paying a portion of the repair costs. Repair recipients will be asked to pay 5-30% of the total repair costs. A $100 down payment is required to begin work.

Eligibility, Homeownership 2

 

What if I don’t meet the eligibility requirements?

See our Home Repair Resources list for providers, which is broken down by repair type and location. Pierce County Human Services also maintains a comprehensive list of Home Repair Options.

If, after contacting these other resources, you are still unable to get the help you need, please email aip@tpc-habitat.org with an explanation of your situation and we will attempt to help where we can.

What types of projects does Habitat do?

Environmental Modifications

Environmental Modifications are physical adaptations to a home necessary to ensure the health, welfare, and safety of the resident and allow them to function with greater independence. Environmental Modifications include, but are not limited to:

  • Access ramps
  • Handrails and walkways
  • Door widening for wheelchair or walker accessibility
  • Minor bathroom modifications for accessibility (e.g., grab bars)
Critical Home Repairs

Critical Home Repairs are essential repairs necessary to ensure the structural integrity and/or ongoing livability of a home. Critical Home Repairs include, but are not limited to:

  • Roof, gutter repair/replacement
  • Repair of structural defects or damage
  • Repair or replacement of HVAC components or hot water heaters
Limitations

Following are examples of work not covered under Aging in Place:

  • Painting (exterior or interior)
  • Cabinetry
  • Fences
  • Work on unoccupied structures like garages or sheds
  • Landscaping, yard work
  • Cosmetic repairs not necessary for health or safety

 

Habitat is unable to provide these services:

  • Electrical
  • Sewer/septic repair
  • Major plumbing modifications or repair (e.g., tub to shower conversions)
  • Major home reconstruction

To reach the Aging in Place team, please email or call us at 253-627-5626 x 129.

Aging Safely at Home

"The work Habitat does to keep older people in their homes is so important. At this stage in their lives – my stage of life – the feeling of vulnerability runs deep. The consideration given to convert what was my no longer working natural gas furnace to a cost-effective, efficient, ecologically sustaining form of heating and cooling was nothing less than a dream come true. "

Jenny

Aging in Place Client, 2022