Sussex County Habitat for Humanity in Delaware won a one million two hundred forty-eight thousand dollar federal grant to help older homeowners stay in their homes through targeted home modifications. The Older Adults Home Modification Program, or OAHMP, award from the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development will fund approximately one hundred eighty home improvements aimed at making homes safer, more accessible, and more usable for residents aged sixty-two and older.

What the Program Does

OAHMP is a HUD program that funds nonprofit organizations to provide low-cost, high-impact modifications to the homes of older low-income Americans. The program focuses on keeping seniors safely in their own homes rather than forcing moves to assisted living or nursing care, which are both more expensive and often less preferred by older adults themselves.

Typical modifications include grab bars in bathrooms, no-step or ramped entries, improved lighting throughout the home, handrails on stairways, lever-style door handles that require less grip strength, and fall-prevention work in kitchens and bathrooms. Larger projects can include bathroom remodels with roll-in showers and widened doorways that allow for wheelchair or walker access.

Each modification is relatively inexpensive compared with the cost of a serious fall or a move to a care facility. A five hundred dollar grab bar installation can prevent a fall that would otherwise lead to a hip fracture, months of rehabilitation, and often permanent loss of independence.

Why the Program Matters

Delaware, like many states, has an aging population. Sussex County in particular attracts retirees drawn by its coastal communities and lower cost of living. Many of those residents bought homes decades ago that were not designed with aging in mind. A two-story colonial with narrow doorways and a bathtub-only bathroom can become hazardous as mobility declines.

Most older homeowners prefer to age in place, continuing to live in the homes and neighborhoods they know rather than relocating to assisted living or moving in with family. Nationwide surveys consistently show seventy to eighty percent of older adults express that preference. Home modifications are one of the most cost-effective ways to make aging in place possible.

How Habitat for Humanity Delivers the Work

Habitat for Humanity builds its reputation on new home construction, but many affiliates also operate home repair and modification programs. The Sussex County affiliate has worked since 1991 to make housing safer, healthier, and more affordable for low-income families in the area. Its program menu includes affordable homeownership opportunities, critical home repairs, accessibility modifications, energy efficiency upgrades, and financial literacy coaching.

For the OAHMP grant, Habitat combines professional contractor work with volunteer labor where appropriate. Complex projects involving electrical, plumbing, or structural changes typically use licensed tradespeople. Simpler modifications such as grab bar installations, minor carpentry, and interior hardware replacements can be done by trained volunteers under supervision.

Occupational Therapy Integration

One distinctive feature of OAHMP is its integration of occupational therapy professionals into the modification process. Before work is scheduled, an occupational therapist visits the home and assesses both the physical environment and the homeowner's specific needs. A therapist might spot risks that a contractor would miss, such as unsafe patterns of kitchen use, inadequate lighting in transition spaces, or small furniture placement issues that contribute to falls.

The therapist's assessment guides the scope of work. Rather than installing standard packages of modifications on every home, each project is tailored to the specific resident's mobility, vision, cognition, and daily routines. The result is better-targeted spending and higher-impact modifications.

Wraparound Services

HUD's OAHMP grants also support wraparound services beyond the physical modifications themselves. Habitat counselors can connect homeowners to nutrition programs, transportation services, emergency response systems, and other local resources that help older adults manage daily life. When a grant-funded project discovers a homeowner who is also struggling with food insecurity or social isolation, the program can make referrals rather than leaving the homeowner to fend for themselves.

Eligibility

OAHMP targets low-income homeowners aged sixty-two and older. Income limits generally follow HUD low-income definitions, which cap eligibility at eighty percent of area median income. Applicants must own their homes, occupy them as primary residences, and live within the service area of the Habitat affiliate running the program.

The program began taking applications in fall 2023 and has rolled through the initial grant over the following cycles. As the grant continues to support projects, Sussex County Habitat for Humanity accepts applications, prioritizes those with the highest health and safety risks, and schedules modifications in the order that best fits available crews and contractor availability.

Supporting Delaware's Senior Infrastructure

Delaware supports senior homeowners through several other channels alongside OAHMP. The Delaware State Housing Authority administers the Emergency Home Repair Program, which funds critical repairs to owner-occupied homes. USDA Rural Development offers Section 504 grants for very low-income elderly homeowners in rural areas to remove health and safety hazards. Local Area Agencies on Aging across Delaware can connect older adults to additional resources, including Medicaid-funded home and community-based services.

For homeowners whose needs extend beyond the OAHMP scope, layering programs can address more of the home. A household might use OAHMP for accessibility modifications, the Emergency Home Repair Program for a furnace replacement, and a state energy assistance program for weatherization. Taken together, the package can transform an aging home into one that safely supports aging in place.

How to Apply

Delaware residents interested in the program can contact Sussex County Habitat for Humanity directly, or for homes in other parts of the state, the neighboring Habitat affiliates that also received OAHMP funds. Applications typically start with a phone or online intake, followed by an in-home assessment if the household meets basic eligibility. An occupational therapist's visit schedules after the initial assessment, and construction follows once the scope is finalized.

Looking Ahead

HUD has continued to expand OAHMP funding nationwide, recognizing that targeted home modifications represent a highly cost-effective strategy for supporting older Americans. For every dollar spent on modifications, studies suggest savings of several dollars in avoided medical costs, emergency services, and long-term care. That return on investment has made OAHMP one of the more durable pieces of the federal senior housing portfolio.

HUD Grant Backs Home Modifications for Delaware Seniors