Tri-County Independent Living’s Board and staff is excited to announce our newest program, our Residential Ramp Loan Program. Humboldt County has long been without any resource for assistance with procuring and installing residential mobility ramps for lower income people with disabilities. There simply has been no one to turn to for help for years. That is changing.
TCIL will bring together two needs of the disability community and marry them with one solution. TCIL has purchased lightweight aluminum high quality, ADA compliant, free-standing ramp modules. For community members who require installation of a ramp in order to access their homes, TCIL will be able to provide loaner ramps through its Residential Ramp Loan Program to eligible clients. Partnering with Community Access Project of Eureka (CAPE) and Express Employment Professionals, local community members with disabilities will be hired at fair market wages to label and install the ramps gaining employment skills and experience while providing much-needed ramps to other community members with disabilities, all under the supervision of a general contractor.
To be eligible to participate in the program:
the site must be in the greater Eureka – McKinleyville – Fortuna area and be able to accommodate a simple ADA compliant installation; the site must be residential and the loan request made by an occupant, and the client must:
- require 100% full-time and permanent use of a wheelchair, walker or crutches for their mobility. TCIL will only provide loaner ramps when they are essential for the individual to achieve and/or maintain an independent lifestyle,
- create, with the assistance of the TCIL Assistive Technology Coordinator or a TCIL Independent Living Specialist, an Independent Living Plan which includes a plan for obtaining the client’s own ramp to replace the loaned ramp as soon as is possible
- actively work towards the goals in his or her Independent Living Plan, and
- be financially eligible to participate in the program. You qualify if you currently participate in any of the following public assistance programs:
- Low Income Home Energy Assistance Program (LIHEAP)
- Women, Infants, and Children (WIC)
- CalFresh/SNAP (Food Stamps)
- CalWORKs (TANF) or Tribal TANF
- Head Start Income Eligible (Tribal Only)
- Supplemental Security Income (SSI)
- Medi-Cal for Families (Healthy Families A & B)
- National School Lunch Program (NSLP)
- Bureau of Indian Affairs General Assistance
- Medicaid/Medi-Cal (under age 65)
- Medicaid/Medi-Cal (age 65 and over)
- Or if you fall within the income categories below:
Size of Household: 1 -2; Annual Gross Income does not exceed: $34,000
Size of Household: 3; Annual Gross Income does not exceed: $42,040
Size of Household: 4; Annual Gross Income does not exceed: $50,080
Size of Household: 5; Annual Gross Income does not exceed: $58,120
Size of Household: 6; Annual Gross Income does not exceed: $66,160
Size of Household: 7; Annual Gross Income does not exceed: $74,200
An additional $8,040 will be added to the annual gross income for each additional member of the household Household income may be adjusted for Clients making monthly or regular payments toward medical/health carerelated expenses.
Ramp Loan Process
A TCIL employee or its representative will conduct an on-site assessment of the client’s needs and their physical living environment, and will conduct the financial assessment to determine if the client qualifies financially.
For participation in the Ramp Program, the client will need to produce a signed statement from his/her doctor which confirms that the client requires 100% full-time and permanent use of a wheelchair, walker or crutches for his or her mobility.
This program will operate on funding provided by TCIL and grants it receives. Priority will be given to 100% wheelchair users and applicants in the most financial need.
After we determine you are eligible and the site is found to be suitable, we will work with you to form a plan for you to purchase or acquire your own ramp. TCIL is dedicated to the independence of individuals with disabilities and looks forward to providing this much-needed service as a bridge while you save, fund-raise and move towards greater independence.
TCIL will arrange the installations. It is the intention, as much as possible, for the work to be performed by people with disabilities under the supervision and mentorship of the general contractor or his employees. When the time comes, TCIL will arrange for removal of the ramp. Clients are not required to contribute monetarily toward the cost of the project; however, donations to assist with the expenses are greatly appreciated and will be accepted.
The ramps will be loaned for as long as it is needed or 1 year, whichever comes first. Clients will be able to submit a renewal request.
Check TCIL’s website for the program launch date, expected to be in midOctober and for more information about the program. Applications for the program will be able to be downloaded from the TCIL website or from our office as soon as the program is launched