VA Disability Housing Grants for Veterans

Specially Adapted Housing Grants to Help Veterans Live Independently

Donor: U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs (VA)

About: The VA offers specialized housing grants designed to help Veterans and service members with qualifying service-connected disabilities purchase, build, or modify homes to meet their accessibility needs. These grants enable disabled Veterans to live more independently in barrier-free environments tailored to their specific medical requirements.

The VA provides three primary types of adaptive housing grants: Specially Adapted Housing (SAH) grants, Special Home Adaptation (SHA) grants, and Temporary Residence Adaptation (TRA) grants. Each program serves different needs based on the severity and type of disability.

The Specially Adapted Housing (SAH) grant provides the most substantial financial support, offering up to $117,014 for fiscal year 2024. This funding can be used to construct an accessible home, modify an existing residence, or reduce the unpaid balance on an already adapted home. Common modifications include installing wheelchair ramps, widening doorways, adding handrails, creating roll-in showers, and other adaptations that remove barriers to movement and daily living activities.

The Special Home Adaptation (SHA) grant offers up to $23,444 for fiscal year 2024 for Veterans with certain service-connected disabilities who need specific home modifications but may not qualify for the SAH program. This grant helps with adaptations such as making bathrooms and kitchens more accessible or installing special lighting for visually impaired Veterans.

For Veterans temporarily residing in a family member’s home that requires modifications, the Temporary Residence Adaptation (TRA) grant provides up to $47,130 for those who qualify for SAH and up to $8,415 for those who qualify for SHA (fiscal year 2024 amounts).

An important feature of these housing grants is their flexibility of use. Eligible Veterans can access their grant funds up to six different times throughout their lifetime, using as much or as little as needed for each project. The VA may adjust the maximum grant amounts annually based on construction costs, and Veterans may receive up to the current maximum amount during the last year they use their grant.

At Grantaura, we understand the complexities of navigating VA housing grants. Our team of experienced grant professionals can help eligible Veterans through the entire process—from determining eligibility and completing application documents to submission. Our comprehensive grant services ensure Veterans maximize their benefits while minimizing the stress of paperwork and administrative requirements.

Focus: Disability housing, accessibility modifications, Veterans support, home adaptation, barrier-free living, wheelchair accessibility, independent living, service-connected disabilities

Region: United States

Eligibility:
-Must be a Veteran or service member with qualifying service-connected disabilities
-For SAH grants: Must own or will own the permanent home AND have one of these qualifying disabilities:
–Loss or loss of use of more than one limb
–Loss or loss of use of a lower leg along with residual effects of organic disease or injury
–Blindness in both eyes (20/200 visual acuity or less)
–Certain severe burns
–Loss or loss of use of one lower extremity after September 11, 2001, making it impossible to balance or walk without assistive devices
-For SHA grants: You or a family member must own or will own the home AND you must have one of these qualifying disabilities:
–Loss or loss of use of both hands
–Certain severe burns
–Certain respiratory or breathing injuries
-For TRA grants: Must be living temporarily in a family member’s home that needs changes AND qualify for an SAH or SHA grant
-Note: Only 120 Veterans per fiscal year can qualify for SAH grants based on loss of one extremity after September 11, 2001

Benefits:
-SAH Grants: Up to $117,014 (FY 2024)
-SHA Grants: Up to $23,444 (FY 2024)
-TRA Grants:
–Up to $47,130 for SAH-qualified Veterans (FY 2024)
–Up to $8,415 for SHA-qualified Veterans (FY 2024)
-Ability to use grant funds up to 6 different times over your lifetime
-Annual adjustment of maximum grant amounts based on construction costs
-Professional guidance from VA Specially Adapted Housing staff

Deadline: No specific deadline; applications accepted year-round

Terms:
-Service-connected disability: A disability that the VA has determined was incurred or aggravated during active military service
-Specially Adapted Housing (SAH): A grant program for Veterans with certain severe service-connected disabilities to build, remodel, or purchase an adapted home
-Special Home Adaptation (SHA): A grant program for Veterans with certain service-connected disabilities who need to adapt their homes but may not qualify for SAH
-Temporary Residence Adaptation (TRA): A grant for eligible Veterans to modify a family member’s home where they are temporarily residing
-Loss of use: A condition where the remaining function of a limb is so limited that amputation with prosthesis would equally serve the Veteran
-Permanent home: A residence where the Veteran plans to live for an extended period
-Fiscal Year (FY): The 12-month period from October 1 through September 30 used by the federal government for budget and funding purposes