Establishes Senior Home Modification Grant Program to fund accessibility modification to homes of low-income senior citizens.

2026-2027 Regular Session Introduced by Brian Bergen

Creates a grant program to fund eligible low-income seniors’ home accessibility modifications (ramps, wider doors, safety upgrades) to help them stay safely at home.

Bill Summary: A-5412 (Session 222) – New Jersey

Purpose and intent

Establishes the Senior Home Modification Grant Program to fund accessibility modifications to the homes of low-income senior citizens.

Aims to enhance safety, accessibility, and independence for older adults who wish to remain in their homes.

Key provisions and changes

Program creation: Creates the Senior Home Modification Grant Program within the appropriate administering agency (to be specified in the bill or by administration rules).

Eligibility:

Target population: low-income senior citizens (specific income thresholds to be defined in the statute or by regulation).
Applicants must be homeowners or have a primary residence where modification is sought (eligibility criteria to be detailed in implementing rules).

** Modifications covered**:

Accessibility enhancements such as ramps, widened doorways, bathroom safety modifications (e.g., grab bars, non-slip flooring), and other reasonable modifications to improve mobility and safety.
Limitations on types of improvements and potential requirements for professional installation or inspections to ensure safety and code compliance.

** grant structure**:

Financial assistance provided as grants (non-repayable awards) to cover eligible modification costs.
Possible caps on grant amounts, annual funding limits, and per-household maximums (specific figures to be determined by the bill or subsequent regulations).

Application process:

Defined procedures for applying, including documentation of income, residency, and home ownership.
Deadlines, review timelines, and criteria for grant approval.
Potential need for home assessments to determine appropriate modifications.

Administration and oversight:

Establishes governance for program administration, including who administers grants (state or designated agency) and reporting requirements.
Requires periodic reporting on program funding use, outcomes, and accessibility improvements achieved.

Funding and appropriation:

Details on funding sources (state budget allocations, federal funds, or other appropriations) and any earmarks or matching requirements.
Fiscal accountability provisions to ensure proper use of funds and compliance with program goals.

Coordination:

May require coordination with aging services, housing departments, or home modification contractors to streamline delivery and ensure quality work.

Who would be affected

Low-income senior citizens seeking to modify their homes for accessibility.

Homeowners or primary residents of eligible homes.

Contractors and service providers specializing in home accessibility modifications.

Local communities and aging services networks that administer or refer potential applicants.

Procedural and timeline aspects

The bill would create a new grant program with implementation steps to be carried out after enactment.

Specific deadlines for grant applications, approval timelines, and reporting periods would be set by the administering agency or through subsequent regulations.

Possible phased rollout or pilot period before full program expansion, depending on funding and administrative capacity.

If you’d like, I can tailor this summary to include assumed program mechanics (e.g., anticipated grant caps, eligibility thresholds) or compare it to similar existing programs in New Jersey.