Home & Vehicle Modification Program
HVMP — the program that actually pays for a stairlift
Provincially funded, run by March of Dimes Canada. It pays for basic changes to a home so someone with a lasting mobility disability can keep living there.
We’re not government benefits experts — this is our understanding of these programs based on public information, and rules can change. Always confirm details directly with the program before applying.
What it covers
Basic modifications that keep someone in their own home: a ramp, a stairlift, a roll-in shower, grab bars, widened doorways. “Basic” is the operative word — this funds what is needed, not what is nicest.
How much
Commonly cited as up to $15,000 lifetime for home modifications, and up to $15,000 every ten years for vehicle modifications.
We could not confirm the $15,000 figure at source. It is cited consistently by third parties but does not appear on Ontario’s own page. Treat it as a working number and confirm with March of Dimes before you plan around it.
Who qualifies
- Permanent Ontario resident
- A substantial impairment expected to last a year or more that restricts mobility and daily activities
- Financial need — see the note below
- You must use up other available funding first. This is a hard rule and it drives the order you apply in.
The income limit is genuinely unclear. Intermediaries state a $60,000 household maximum. Ontario’s page states only that people with income over $35,000 may be required to contribute toward the cost, and gives no maximum. We could not confirm which is operative. If your household income is somewhere between those two numbers, apply rather than assuming you’re out.
How to apply
Get a home assessment from an occupational therapist
No OT? Ask your family doctor, or call Ontario Health at Home at 310-2222 — no area code needed.Submit the March of Dimes application
You’ll need the OT’s assessment and two quotes from vendors. Every business in this directory can quote.Wait — realistically 8 to 10 weeks minimum
Applications landing at the end of a quarter can be delayed or bumped to the next funding period.
Combining it with other programs
Because HVMP requires you to exhaust other funding first, apply to Ontario Renovates before or at the same time, not after. Tax credits are claimed later and don’t interfere. This matters enough that we wrote it up separately — see the order to apply in.