Zoe Alvarez
The US Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD) and the Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) offer housing assistance to veterans experiencing homelessness. The HUD-Veterans Affairs Supportive Housing (HUD-VASH) program combines HUD housing vouchers with VA supportive services to help veterans and their families find and sustain permanent housing. Veterans with certain service-connected disabilities can also apply for housing grants to buy or modify a home to meet their needs and live more independently. Additionally, veterans can access VA direct and VA-backed home loans, as well as Specially Adapted Housing grants if their home has been damaged by a natural disaster. Various other resources are also available for veterans and their families who are experiencing homelessness or are at risk of becoming homeless.
| Characteristics | Values |
|---|---|
| Housing Assistance | The VA offers housing assistance to veterans and service members to help them buy, build, improve, or keep their homes. This includes financial assistance, loans, and grants, especially for those with service-connected disabilities. |
| Rental Assistance | The VA, in collaboration with HUD, provides rental assistance vouchers for privately-owned housing to homeless veterans and their families through the HUD-VASH program. |
| Supportive Services | The VA offers case management and supportive services such as healthcare, mental health treatment, and substance use counseling to help veterans and their families maintain housing and community living. |
| Eligibility | Eligibility for VA housing assistance is based on factors such as service history, duty status, and the presence of service-connected disabilities. |
| Application Process | Veterans can apply for housing grants, loans, and rental assistance programs through the VA website or by contacting their local VA medical center or social worker. |
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What You'll Learn
Housing grants for disabled veterans
The US Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD) and the Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) offer housing grants for veterans and service members with certain service-connected disabilities. These grants can be used to buy or modify a home to meet the needs of the veteran or service member so that they can live more independently.
Specially Adapted Housing (SAH) Grant
The SAH grant is for disabled veterans who require improvements to their homes to enable independent living. The grant can be used for buying, building, or changing a permanent home. Eligible veterans can receive up to $121,812 for the 2025 fiscal year. The grant can also be applied against the unpaid mortgage principal balance of an already adapted home. To be eligible for the SAH grant, a veteran must have a permanent and total disability and meet at least one of the following conditions:
- Loss or loss of use of one or both lower extremities (after September 11, 2001, for a single lower extremity) that prevents movement without assistance from braces, crutches, canes, or a wheelchair
- Blindness in both eyes (with 20/200 visual acuity or less)
- Loss or loss of use of both hands
Special Housing Adaptation (SHA) Grant
The SHA grant is for veterans who have suffered service-related injuries and require assistance with adapting their homes or the homes of family members. The grant can also be used to purchase or reduce the unpaid balance of a home that has already been adapted with features deemed reasonably necessary by the VA. Eligible veterans can receive up to $24,405 for the 2025 fiscal year.
Temporary Residence Adaptation (TRA) Grant
The TRA grant is for veterans who are eligible for the SAH or SHA grant and are temporarily residing in a family member's home that needs changes to meet their needs. The grant can be used to cover the costs of these changes. Eligible veterans can receive up to $49,062 through the TRA grant program if they are eligible for the SAH grant or up to $8,760 if they are eligible for the SHA grant.
HUD-Veterans Affairs Supportive Housing (HUD-VASH)
The HUD-VASH program combines HUD's Housing Choice Voucher (HCV) rental assistance for homeless veterans with case management and clinical services provided by the VA. The program helps homeless veterans and their families find and sustain permanent housing. As of December 20, 2023, HUD has allocated nearly 112,000 vouchers to help house veterans across the country.
Veterans seeking housing assistance can contact a VA medical center and mention their interest in HUD-VASH or refer to the instructions for contacting the National Homeless Veteran Call Center. Landlords interested in renting to veterans can contact the local public housing authority to share information about upcoming unit vacancies.
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HUD-VASH vouchers
The US Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD) and the Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) work together to provide rental assistance to homeless veterans and their families through the HUD-Veterans Affairs Supportive Housing (HUD-VASH) program. This program combines HUD's Housing Choice Voucher (HCV) rental assistance with case management and clinical services provided by the VA. The goal is to help veterans and their families find and sustain permanent housing.
Each year, HUD and the VA award HUD-VASH vouchers based on current geographic needs and public housing agency (PHA) performance. Since 2017, the allocation process has changed to allow PHAs to self-identify their interest in the program. HUD publishes an annual HUD-VASH Registration of Interest Notice with instructions for PHAs interested in receiving vouchers. To be eligible, PHAs must have the support of a partnering VA facility and meet utilization threshold requirements. After the registration period, HUD and the VA use a formula to determine relative need and invite eligible PHAs to apply for a specific number of vouchers. The funding awarded for each voucher is determined by the actual average per unit cost (PUC) at the PHA.
The HUD-VASH program provides rental assistance for privately owned housing. VA case managers may also connect veterans with support services such as healthcare, mental health treatment, and substance use counseling to help them maintain housing and improve their quality of life. The program is administered through VA medical centers (VAMCs), community-based outreach clinics (CBOCs), VA contractors, and other designated entities.
Veterans seeking housing support can contact the National Call Center for Homelessness Among Veterans for assistance. They can also visit their local VA Medical Center (VAMC) and ask for a Homeless Coordinator or use the VA locator tool at www.va.gov/directory to find their nearest VAMC. Additionally, the VA offers housing grants for veterans with certain service-connected disabilities to help them buy or modify a home to meet their needs and live more independently.
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Nonprofit agencies and community cooperatives
Through the SSVF program, nonprofit agencies and cooperatives offer case management and supportive services to prevent veterans from losing their homes and help them secure more suitable housing. This includes assistance in obtaining VA benefits, such as educational aid and financial planning, to promote housing stability. They also work to quickly house homeless veterans and prevent others from becoming homeless by providing temporary supportive services.
One of the key initiatives is the HUD-Veterans Affairs Supportive Housing (HUD-VASH) program, a collaboration between the Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD) and the VA. This program combines HUD's Housing Choice Voucher (HCV) rental assistance with case management and clinical services provided by the VA. Each year, HUD and the VA award HUD-VASH vouchers based on geographic need and public housing agency (PHA) performance, allowing PHAs to identify their interest in the program.
Additionally, nonprofit agencies and cooperatives help veterans access disability housing grants offered by the VA. These grants assist veterans with service-connected disabilities in buying or modifying homes to meet their needs and live more independently. This includes adaptations such as installing ramps or widening doorways.
Veterans facing homelessness or those at risk can turn to these nonprofit organizations and community cooperatives as a vital resource for obtaining permanent housing and maintaining their well-being.
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VA direct and VA-backed home loans
The US Department of Veterans Affairs offers various programs to assist veterans experiencing homelessness or at risk of becoming homeless. These programs include housing assistance and grants for veterans with certain service-connected disabilities.
One of the primary programs is the HUD-Veterans Affairs Supportive Housing (HUD-VASH) program, a collaboration between the Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) and the Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD). HUD-VASH combines HUD's Housing Choice Voucher (HCV) rental assistance program with case management and clinical services provided by the VA. This program helps homeless veterans and their families find and sustain permanent housing. As of December 20, 2023, HUD has allocated nearly 112,000 vouchers to help house veterans across the country.
In addition to rental assistance, the VA also offers home loan programs to help veterans buy, build, improve, or refinance a home. These include VA direct loans and VA-backed loans:
VA Direct Loans
With a VA direct home loan, the VA acts as the mortgage lender. This means that the borrower works directly with the VA to apply for and manage their loan. The Native American Direct Loan (NADL) program is one example of a VA direct loan and often offers better terms than loans from private lenders.
VA-Backed Loans
With a VA-backed home loan, the VA guarantees a portion of the loan obtained from a private lender. Nearly 90% of VA-backed loans are made with no down payment, and they may offer better terms than traditional loans. VA-backed loans also include the VA-backed cash-out refinance loan, which allows veterans to take cash out of their home equity to pay off debt, finance education, or meet other needs.
To be eligible for a VA direct or VA-backed home loan, individuals must obtain a Certificate of Eligibility (COE) based on their service history, duty status, and credit and income requirements. The COE demonstrates to lenders that the applicant qualifies for the loan. Veterans can request a COE online or by submitting VA Form 26-1880 to the VA.
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Specially Adapted Housing grants
The Department of Veterans Affairs offers Specially Adapted Housing (SAH) grants to veterans and service members with certain service-connected disabilities. These grants help veterans and service members buy or modify a home to meet their needs and live more independently. Modifications could include installing ramps or widening doorways.
To be eligible for an SAH grant, you must meet certain requirements. Firstly, you must intend to use the grant money to buy, build, or modify your permanent home, which is defined as a home you plan to live in for a long time. Secondly, your disability must be service-connected and fall under one of the specified categories. These categories include the loss or loss of use of a lower extremity after September 11, 2001, resulting in the need for assistive devices such as braces, crutches, or a wheelchair for balance or ambulation. Another category is blindness in both eyes, with visual acuity of 20/200 or less. It's important to note that Congress has set a limit of 120 veterans and service members who can qualify for this grant based on the loss of one extremity after September 11, 2001, each fiscal year.
If you qualify for an SAH grant, you can receive up to $121,812 for Fiscal Year 2025. This maximum amount is subject to adjustment each year based on the construction costs. You can use the grant funds up to six times throughout your lifetime, depending on your needs and the cost of adaptations. Any unused funds can be carried over and utilized in future years.
To apply for an SAH grant, you can start by filling out the Application in Acquiring Specially Adapted Housing or Special Home Adaptation Grant (VA Form 26-4555). You can request to have this form mailed to you or download it online. Once completed, bring the application to your nearest VA regional office or email it to a Specially Adapted Housing (SAH) staff member at [email protected]. You can also call the SAH staff at 711 for assistance. They are available Monday through Friday from 8:00 a.m. to 6:00 p.m. ET.
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Frequently asked questions
Yes, the VA offers housing assistance to disabled veterans. The VA provides rental assistance vouchers for privately owned housing to disabled veterans experiencing homelessness. The HUD-VASH program combines HUD housing vouchers with VA supportive services to help veterans find and sustain permanent housing.
You can contact a VA medical center near you and mention your interest in HUD-VASH or call the National Homeless Veteran Call Center. You can also call the National Call Center for Homeless Veterans at 1-877-424-3838.
Yes, there are other options available for disabled veterans. The VA offers housing grants for veterans with certain service-connected disabilities to buy or modify a home to meet their needs. The VA also provides home loans and Specially Adapted Housing grants for veterans with service-connected disabilities. Additionally, nonprofit agencies and community cooperatives use SSVF funding to quickly house disabled veterans and their families.
