Home Repair

Ramps & Rails

Ramps & Rails Program

Through our Ramps & Rails program, Palouse Habitat works with very low to low-income residents to install temporary ADA-accessible ramps or make repairs to exterior ramps, steps, and decks to ensure safe access to the home. Habitat offers a hand-up, not a handout. While not required, our program offers the ability to partner with Habitat, including helping with the project and/or donating to help cover the cost of materials.

Our Ramps & Rails program is financed through private donations and relies on volunteer labor to provide safe access to homes for those in need across Latah and Whitman County. The ramps are issued at no cost with the expectation they are returned to Habitat when they are no longer needed. 

Your support keeps our program running. Whether you donate time, money, or resources, you’re making homes safer and lives better. Join us in continuing to provide safe access to the homes of Whitman and Latah County and give back today!

Palouse Habitat for Humanity adheres to federal fair housing policy. We consider all applications, and we do not discriminate based on race, color, religion, sex, handicap, family status, or national origin.

Donate Volunteer

Apply for a Ramps & Rails Project

The first step is to fill out the online Ramps & Rails Inquiry form. If you can not access the form online, please call the Palouse Habitat office at 208-883-8502 for assistance.

Submit an Inquiry Form

Once we receive your application, we will give you a phone call to discuss the project and determine if we can help.  We will also schedule a site visit to assess the project. As we are only performing exterior work the homeowner does not have to be present during the site visit. However, any site conditions such as but not limited to access codes and dogs need to be communicated.

If accepted, you will fill out a Partnership Agreement and Scope of Work form with Palouse Habitat for Humanity.  This form will define the scope of work and outline the conditions of the partnership.

If you are having issues with the form, need to schedule a pickup request, or have any other inquiries please call the office at 208-883-8502.

Program FAQ’s

Do I have to own a home to qualify?

Our Ramps & Rails projects mostly cover homes, mobile homes, or dwellings where the person owns the home.  We have done projects for renters, but we require permission from the landlord. Please be prepared to explain the homeowner’s name, contact info, and relationship to you.

Do you only work on homes?

Our Ramps & Rails projects mostly cover homes, mobile homes, or dwellings such as apartments/condos where the person owns the home. We have worked on vehicle wheelchair ramps as well.

Do you do other work besides ramps?

The Ramps & Rails project focuses on accessibility issues including wheelchair ramps, steps, porches, and railings.  At this time, we do not cross the threshold for interior projects. We do not do work requiring a licensed contractor (roofs, plumbing, electrical). Be advised that some structures, such as mobile homes, can have specific requirements for working on or near.

Do I have to be low income to qualify?

Our program is focused on providing safe accessibility for low- and very low-income residents. However, we have worked with others on a case-by-case basis. Once you submit the inquiry form, our staff will contact you to review our requirements and your needs. The question regarding what constitutes “income” can be a confusing one. Please call the Habitat office at 208-883-8502 if you have any questions.

Are there other requirements to qualify?

Palouse Habitat for Humanity adheres to federal fair housing policy.  We consider all applications, and we do not discriminate based on race, color, religion, sex, handicap, family status or national origin. Palouse Habitat for Humanity is a Christian ministry, but there is no requirement to participate in any religious activities or beliefs to participate in this program.

What geographic areas does your program cover?

We serve Latah and Whitman counties. Communities where we have completed Home Repair projects include Bovill, Deary, Helmer, Kendrick, Moscow, Potlatch, Princeton, and Viola in Idaho and Endicott, Colfax, Ferdinand, Garfield, Malden, Palouse, Pullman, Rosalia, St. John, and Tekoa in Washington State. We will consider requests for assistance from adjacent counties that do not have a Habitat program on a case-by-case basis. 

How long will it take to get the project done?

When filling out the inquiry form, please let us know if there is a deadline or timeframe we need to know about that would affect this project.  Depending on the availability of volunteers and materials, we have assisted in quick projects to allow people to be released from the hospital after an injury or health incident.  But we work mostly with volunteers and can not guarantee a particular timeline.

How do I know how much the project will cost me?

The ramp components have been purchased thanks to private donors and several grants. The ramps are available at no cost but must be returned when they are no longer needed. For recipients who are not low-income, a donation is expected to help cover the costs associated with installing the ramp or help purchase more ramp-building materials. There is also the opportunity to invest some of your own “sweat equity” by helping the project by some other means, which could include recruiting family members to help, providing lunch for volunteers, or helping with the installation if you are able. 

I am requesting help on behalf of a family member/friend/neighbor/client. How does this work?

Initial inquiries often come from family members, friends, neighbors, care providers, and others who know the individual in need. Our inquiry form asks for information for both the recipient and the person inquiring on their behalf. 

When will I hear from you about my request?

Please fill out our online form to start the process. You should expect to receive a phone call within 2-4 days. If you do not hear from us, please contact the Habitat office at 208-883-8502.  We do contact you by phone – be aware that it may be Palouse Habitat contacting you about your ramp if you don’t recognize a phone number. Be sure to check your voicemails as well in case we leave a message.

What happens if I don’t need the wheelchair ramp anymore?

Please contact the Habitat office at 208-883-8502 if you no longer need the wheelchair ramp we installed. Many ramp components can be re-purposed for our next project. Our Ramps & Rails team will come and remove the ramp as soon as our team is available.

Past Projects

Callie, Ryan, and her mother celebrate the ramp installed at their Pullman home.

Callie and Ryan’s Ramps & Rails Story

Callie, a professor at Washington State University, moved to Pullman, Washington, last summer. Her boyfriend, Kyle, has Spinal Muscular Atrophy and uses a powerchair to get around. They had hoped that they would be able to make the move to Pullman together. But when looking for a place, they soon realized that there is limited accessible housing in Pullman. Because of this, they had to begin dating long distance until they could install a ramp making their home accessible for Kyle. When they looked into installing a ramp, they couldn’t find anyone to build it for less than $8,000, and with the purchase of a new wheelchair-accessible vehicle as well as other expenses, that was out of their budget. When Callie contacted us about building a ramp at their new home our Ramp & Rails Crew went to work. Because of Palouse Habitat for Humanity’s Ramp & Rail Crew and the Moscow Central Lions Club, Kyle was able to move to Pullman sooner than expected and they were able to be together again.

Our Ramps & Rails Crew working on a ramp for a couple about to move into their home.

A ramp recipient testing out his newly installed ramp in St. John, WA.

Our Ramps & Rails Crew installed a large aluminum ramp in Moscow, ID.

• “Thank you, Palouse Habitat, for taking your time and expertise to build the railing for my front steps. I’m so grateful to have this new safety feature at my home. I’ve been enjoying ‘running’ up and down the steps and using my railing. I think Habitat is a wonderful program, thank you,” Margretta, Ramps & Rails recipient.

Support Ramps & Rails

On average, each aluminum ramp costs $2500, is expected to last ten years, and serves an average of five households. However, our current supply of aluminum ramps is not enough to meet demand so we have adapted a modular wooden ramp system to continue serving families in need. Your support will help us purchase aluminum ramps, lumber, and other materials needed. Thank you for helping us provide safe access to homes for our neighbors.

If you can help, please visit our online donation page to make a gift to help Palouse Habitat purchase additional ramp components. In the Other Information, write us a note if you want your support designated for the Home Repair program.

Thank You to Our Partners