Does someone in your home have a disability? Getting around your own house shouldn’t be a daily struggle. The Amy Young Barrier Removal Program may be able to help pay to fix that. It’s a Texas program that funds accessibility changes, and it’s open to both homeowners and renters.
What Is the Amy Young Barrier Removal Program?
This program is run by the Texas Department of Housing and Community Affairs (TDHCA). It pays for home modifications that remove barriers and hazards for people with disabilities. That could mean building a ramp, widening a doorway, or making a bathroom safer and easier to use.
The money comes from the State Housing Trust Fund, which Texas sets aside every two years. TDHCA doesn’t hand out grants directly. Instead, it works with local nonprofits and city or county governments, who administer the program in their area.
How Much Can I Get?
The program offers one-time grants of up to $22,500 per household. This money doesn’t need to be paid back.
Who Is Eligible?
To qualify, your household needs to meet these requirements:
- At least one member of your household has a disability
- You’re a homeowner or a renter in an area with a local provider
- Your household income doesn’t exceed 80% of the Area Median Family Income (AMFI) for your area, as set by HUD
Keep in mind that this program isn’t available everywhere in Texas. Whether you can get help depends on whether a local provider serves your specific city or county.
How Do I Apply?
You don’t apply to TDHCA directly. Instead, TDHCA connects you with a local provider that runs the program in your area. Here’s how to find one:
- Visit the TDHCA Help for Texans page
- Select “Home Repair / Accessibility Modifications” as the type of help you need
- Check the box for “Show only Home Modification for Accessibility providers”
- Enter your city or county
- You’ll get a list of local organizations that may be able to help
Once you find a provider, you’ll apply through them directly, not through the state. Keep in mind that some providers may be at capacity and unable to help everyone who calls, so it’s worth reaching out to more than one if your area has multiple options.
If there’s no provider available in your area, check with your local city or county government about other home repair assistance they might offer.
Frequently Asked Questions
It’s naturally to have some questions about this program. Here are some common ones.
No. TDHCA doesn’t accept applications from individuals. All funding goes through local nonprofit and government providers, so you’ll need to find and apply through one in your area.
If no AYBR provider serves your city or county, check with your local government for other repair assistance programs. You can also try Texas 2-1-1 to find additional resources.
No. Both homeowners and renters can qualify for this program, as long as someone in the household has a disability and your income falls within the limit.
Relief Recap
Living somewhere that’s hard to move around in shouldn’t be permanent, especially when help exists to fix it. If you’re not able to find an Amy Young Barrier Removal Program provider in your area, check out our Texas resource page for more housing and accessibility programs across the state.
