Residential Rehabilitation Assistance Program for Persons with Disabilities (RRAP — Disabilities)

Canada Mortgage and Housing Corporation (CMHC) offers financial assistance to allow homeowners and landlords to pay for modifications to make their property more accessible to persons with disabilities. These modifications are intended to eliminate physical barriers, imminent safety risks and improve the ability to meet the demands of daily living within the home.

Who Can Apply?

Homeowners and landlords may qualify for assistance if the property is eligible. Your property may be eligible for RRAP-D if the property:

• is occupied, or is intended to be occupied, by a low-income person with a disability;
• is rented and the rents are less than established levels for the area; or
• is owned and the house is valued below a certain amount; and
• meets minimum standards of health and safety.
  

Eligible Modifications

Modifications must be related to housing and reasonably related to the occupant’s disability. Examples of eligible modifications are ramps, handrails, chair lifts, bath lifts, height adjustments to countertops and cues for doorbells/fire alarms.
All work required to bring your home up to minimum standards of health and safety must be completed in order to receive RRAP-D assistance. If the cost for modifications is more than the maximum forgivable loan available, the owner will be required to cover the additional cost.

Ineligible Modifications

Therapeutic care, supportive care, and portable aid equipment, such as walkers and wheelchairs, are not eligible for funding.
Modifications carried out before the RRAP for Persons with Disabilities loan is approved in writing are not eligible.

Financial Assistance

Assistance is in the form of a fully forgivable loan and does not have to be repaid if you adhere to the terms and conditions of the program. Landlords must enter into an agreement that establishes the rent that can be charged during the life of the agreement and restricts occupancy of the self-contained rental unit(s) to households with incomes below a set CMHC level. Homeowners must agree to continue to own the house during the loan forgiveness period, which could be up to five years.
The loan amount you could receive varies according to the three geographic zones and if you are a homeowner or landlord:

If you are a homeowner, go to the Renovation Programs Pre-Application Tool for more information specific to your geographic area.

Other Assistance Available

Financial assistance is also available to bring the structure and systems of a home up to a minimum standard of health and safety. Applicants may be eligible to receive the maximum assistance available under both programs, subject to meeting the eligibility criteria for each program.

Home Adaptations for Seniors' Independence (HASI)

The Home Adaptations for Seniors’ Independence (HASI) program offers financial assistance for minor home adaptations that will help low-income seniors to perform daily activities in their home independently and safely.

Who Can Apply?

Homeowners and landlords may qualify for assistance if:

• The occupant is 65 years of age or over and has difficulty with daily living activities due to loss of ability brought on by aging.
• The total household income is at or below the program income limit for the area.
• The home is a permanent residence.

Eligible Adaptations:

Adaptations should be minor items related to loss of ability. The adaptations must:

• Be permanently installed or fixed to the dwelling.
• Improve access to basic facilities within the home.
• Increase the physical safety for the resident. Examples of eligible adaptations are handrails in hallways, easy-to-reach work and storage areas in the kitchen, lever handles on doors and grab bars in the bathroom.

Ineligible Adaptations:

Supportive care and portable aids, such as walkers and household appliances, are not eligible. Repairs, alterations or adaptations not related to the resident’s loss of ability are not eligible under this program.
Work carried out before the HASI application has been approved in writing by CMHC is not eligible.

Financial Assistance

Financial assistance is available in the form of a forgivable loan of up to $3,500. The loan does not have to be repaid provided the homeowner agrees to continue to live in the home for six months (the loan forgiveness period). Where assistance is provided for adaptations for a rental unit, the landlord must agree not to increase the rents as a result of the adaptations.
Access the Renovation Programs Pre-Application Tool for more information specific to your geographic area.

Other Assistance Available:

If extensive modifications are required to improve accessibility, such as wider doorways and increased space for wheelchair manoeuvring, you may be eligible for financial assistance through the Residential Rehabilitation Assistance Program for Persons with Disabilities. CMHC also offers financial assistance to create secondary or garden suite for low-income seniors or adults with a disability.

Contact CMHC

To find out how to apply for financial assistance or for more information about these programs please call CMHC toll free at 1-800-668-2642.

http://www.cmhc-schl.gc.ca/en/co/prfinas/prfinas_003.cfm