State Housing Finance Agency launches Ramp Up Indiana Program

INDIANAPOLIS – The Indiana Housing and Community Development Authority (IHCDA) announced today, in accordance with Indiana Disability Awareness Month, the launch of a new program aimed at providing assistive mobility devices to Indiana homeowners. The program, called Ramp Up Indiana, will provide up to $25,000 each to eligible non-profit organizations in Indiana as part of a non-competitive rolling funding round beginning May 1, 2016. Through this program 150-200 ramps will be built throughout the State of Indiana.

“We are excited at the opportunity to support and further the work already being done by the disability advocacy community here in Indiana,” said Jacob Sipe, Executive Director at IHCDA. “Seeing the great work they do has inspired us to provide additional resources to them for the installation of ramps for qualified homeowners.”

Access ramps for persons with disabilities or limited mobility are one of the most common provisions made by homeowners. However, with an average installation price ranging between $1,000–$1,500 many people are unable to have them installed. This is why Ramp Up Indiana was developed.

“This program will provide not-for-profit organizations throughout the state the ability to apply for funding to assist Hoosier homeowners with accessing their homes,” said Deborah McCarty, Director for the Back Home in Indiana Alliance. “Specifically, this program addresses a need within our state which is to provide access ramps for homeowners with low-to-moderate incomes so they can remain in their homes.”

Eligible applicants for the program are non-profit 501(c)3 or 501(c)(4) entities that can demonstrate an organizational mission or focus related to serving the housing needs of persons with disabilities. Eligible beneficiaries of the pilot program are limited to homeowners at or below 80% of area median income.

The program launch of Ramp Up Indiana comes during Indiana Disability Awareness Month. This year’s theme is “inclusion is within everyone’s ability”, which reminds us that our lives are so much richer when we open our minds and hearts to those who have different perspectives and experiences. Each March, Disability Awareness Month is celebrated to provide awareness of the more than 19% of Indiana’s population which has a disability.