On August 22, the Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD) awarded more than $3.7 million to two nonprofit organizations and a local housing authority to enable low-income elderly persons to remain in their homes through low-cost, low barrier, high impact home modifications.

The grants were awarded through HUD’s Older Adults Home Modification Program (OAHMP), which supports programs at organizations and housing authorities that make safety and functional home modifications to meet the needs of low-income elderly homeowners. These investments will enable older adults to remain in their homes—to “age in place”—rather than move to nursing homes or other assisted care communities.

The grantees, which are experienced in providing services to seniors, will deliver home modification services to more than 525 senior families in both urban communities and communities with substantial rural populations.

According to HUD, the modifications will reduce older adults’ risk of falling, improve general safety, increase accessibility, and improve their functional abilities in their home. The awards total roughly $1.25 million per awardee; this is the second round of funding this year for OAHMP, in addition to the grants announced on April 9, 2024.

Properties participating in HUD’s Multifamily Housing programs have certain procedures to approve and pay for certain in-unit modifications (through the reasonable accommodation request process, which are paid for through the property’s Reserve for Replacement account once approved).

However, a housing provider may refer a resident to home modification programs funded through OAHMP for additional modification requests, such as requests that are deemed cost-prohibitive, or for modifications that fall outside of the reasonable accommodation process.