March of Dimes Funding

Funding criteria

HVMP - How to Apply

Applications

Please download, print and fill out the following application based on your request type. We encourage you to review the HVMP - What We Fund page on the website or contact us at 1-877-369-4867.

Each application type is available below in regular and large print, as well as in French (PAHV - Programme d'adaptation des habitations et des véhicules).

To Apply for Devices and Adaptation:

HVMP Application for Home Adaptations and Devices - English

HVMP Application for Home Adaptations and Devices - English large print

PAHV Demande d'adaptations et d'appareils pour l'habitation - française

PAHV Demande d'adaptations et d'appareils pour l'habitation - française en gros caractères

To Apply for Construction/Structural Home Modification:

HVMP Application for Home Modification (Construction) - English

HVMP Application for Home Modification (Construction) - English large print

PAHV Demande d'adaptation d'une habitation (construction) - française

PAHV Demande d'adaptation d'une habitation (construction) - française en gros caractères

To Apply for Vehicle Modifications, Adaptations and Devices:

HVMP Application for Vehicle Modifications - English

HVMP Application for Vehicle Modifications - English large print

PAHV Demande d'adaptation d'un véhicule - française

PAHV Demande d'adaptation d'un véhicule - française en gros caractères

Verification of Disability

Please download, print and fill out the following Verification of Disability Form, available in regular and large print, as well as in French (PAHV - Programme d'adaptation des habitations et des véhicules).

HVMP Verification of Disability Form - English

HVMP Verification of Disability Form - English large print

PAHV Vérification d'un handicap - française

PAHV Vérification d'un handicap - française en gros caractères

Email Address:

[email protected]

HVMP - Eligibility Criteria

An eligible Applicant must:

• Be a permanent Ontario Resident. Temporary residents and visitors (e.g. tourists, students, foreign workers on a work permit, etc.) are not eligible.
• Be in financial need, income of under $60,000
  • Under 18 is the Applicant's Parent(s)/Guardian(s)' combined income
  • Over the age of 18 is the Applicant and Applicant's Spouse/Life Partner's combined income
  • Applicants (and their spouses / life partners/ guardians if applicable) with an annual income over $35,000 are required to contribute towards the cost of the modification(s).
• Have a permanent ongoing or recurring disability that impedes mobility and results in substantial restrictions in activities of daily living (eating, bathing, toileting, transferring, and mobility) and/or getting in and out of your home to access essential medical care or community services
• (For Construction Projects Only) be a homeowner who meets the program eligibility criteria who is applying for a modification to their home or be a homeowner who is applying for a modification to their home on behalf of a family member who meets the program eligibility criteria.
  • If you are a homeowner applying on behalf of a family member, you must include written consent for the requested modification(s).

The HVMP provides funding for basic and essential solutions directly addressing physical barriers within a home explicitly related to an applicant's disability and current mobility restrictions as recommended by an Occupational Therapist.

To find an Occupational Therapist (OT), ask your family doctor or contact Ontario Health at Home at 310-2222 (no area code required) who can recommend publicly funded OT services in your community. You can also find more information online about Finding an OT at: https://otontario.ca/find-an-ot/.

We understand each person's situation is unique, if you have question about your eligibility, please call us at 1-877-369-4867 before you apply.

HVMP - Resource Documents

Low-Cost and No-Cost Home Modifications for Seniors and People with a Disability

Our needs and abilities can change as we age, making our homes less accessible. If you are getting older or have a disability, you may want to make some modifications to your home.

The Canada Mortage and Housing Corporation, with contributions from March of Dimes Canada, has identified over 50 low-cost or no-cost modifications to make your home more accessible. These simple modifications can improve safety and accessibility for everyone, including seniors and people with disabilities.

Explore the range of low-cost or no-cost home modifications for seniors and people with a disability

Put a bench at your front door for seating or placing heavy items

• Paint the threshold to your house in a contrasting colour as a visual signal to anyone with impaired vision.
• Remove the storm or screen doors to make it easier for someone with arthritis or limited upper body-strength to enter your home.
• Add a doorknob gripper or install a levered handle that can be opened without having to grip or twist the knob too tightly.
• Use swing-away hinges to gain an extra few inches of clearance for a wheelchair or walker.
• Place a bench at the entrance where people can set heavy items or sit down while putting on their shoes.
• Remove any unnecessary doors from around the inside your home, so someone using a walker or wheelchair can move around more freely.
• Install a peephole in your front door for extra safety and peace of mind.

Stairs and staircases

• Place a gate at the top of the stairs to protect seniors and small children.
• Install a safety nosing or coloured strips between the treads and risers to make the edges of each step clearly visible.
• Add a small bench or chair on the landing where people can rest or catch their breath.
• Install a decorative post or finial at the beginnings and ends of railings to signal that the stairs are about to end.
• Use strip lighting to make the stairs easier to see and help prevent falls.

Bathrooms

• Label your taps "hot" and "cold" if you have small children or if anyone in your home gets easily confused.
• Add a safety mat and grab bars in the tub.
• Get a raised toilet seat and add a bath seat in the shower to help people who have trouble getting into or out of a seated position.
• Install D-handles on the cabinets and drawers to make them easier to open.
• Get an accordion-style mirror for anyone with a visual impairment.
• Use slip-resistant flooring or coating on the tiles.
• Install a shallow sink that can be used in both standing and seated positions.
• Use a medication organizer to make sure the proper doses are taken.
• Purchase a water alarm to alert you if the tub or sink is overflowing.

Lighting

• Add extra lamps throughout your home, and use task lighting to help seniors or someone with a visual impairment see what they're doing.
• Choose light switches in a contrasting colour to make them easier to find.
• Use a night light to help prevent falls or confusion.
• Install a motion detector to make it easier for anyone who has trouble using a light switch to turn the lights on.
• Use a timer to turn lights on or off automatically for added comfort and safety.
• Install motion-detecting lights at the entrance to your house to light your way home after dark and discourage would-be intruders.

Other modifications

• Use low-glare paint to identify important areas in your home or to make the transitions between different rooms and levels more visible.
• Make sure there's a phone on every level of your home that can be reached without having to go up or down any stairs.
• Install a bed rail to help seniors or someone with a disability sit up, stand, change their position in bed or transfer to a chair or wheelchair.
• Reduce or eliminate the number of toxic chemicals you use in your home.
• Install smoke and carbon monoxide detectors on every level of your house, and test them regularly to be sure they're

Other Home and Vehicle Modification Programs

List of Government, Volunteer and Charitable Organizations

View Government, Volunteer and Charitable Organizations (PDF)

** Please note that this document has not been updated recently, so some links may no longer be active, but it still provides a long list of organizations and foundations that you may find helpful.