Specially Adapted Housing for Disabled Veterans

 

To help certain severely disabled veterans acquire a home which is suitably adapted to meet the special needs of their disabilities.

General information about this opportunity
Last Known Status
Active
Program Number
64.106
Federal Agency/Office
Veterans Benefits Administration, Department of Veterans Affairs
Type(s) of Assistance Offered
C - Direct Payments For Specified Use
Program Accomplishments
Fiscal Year 2016 FY 2016 grants were made to 2,037 disabled Veterans
Fiscal Year 2017 In 2017 grants were made to 2,389 disabled Veterans
Fiscal Year 2018 Estimated grants made to disabled Veterans in 2018 is 2,389
Fiscal Year 2019 In FY 19, 2,795 disabled Veterans received grants. (FY 20 est.: 3,064 Veterans; FY 21 est.: 3,127 Veterans)
Fiscal Year 2023 June 19th marked the 75th Anniversary of the Specially Adapted Housing Grant. More than 50 thousand grants awarded since January 1948, totaling more than 1.979 billion dollars.
Authorization
Veterans' Housing Opportunity and Benefits Improvement Act of 2006, Public Law 109-233, 38 U.S.C. 2101-2106
Who is eligible to apply/benefit from this assistance?
Applicant Eligibility
For a SAH grant, veterans are eligible if they are entitled to disability compensation for a permanent, total, and service-connected disability due to: (1) The loss or loss of use of more than one limb; (2) The loss or loss of use of a lower leg along with the residuals (lasting effects) of an organic (natural) disease or injury; (3) Blindness in both eyes (with 20/200 visual acuity or less); (4) Certain severe burns; (5) The loss, or loss of use, of one lower extremity (foot or leg) after September 11, 2001, which makes it so you can't balance or walk without the help of braces, crutches, canes, or a wheelchair. For an SHA grant, veterans are eligible if they are entitled to disability compensation for a permanent and total service-connected disability that include: (1) The loss or loss of use of both hands; (2) Certain severe burns; (3) Certain respiratory or breathing injuries.
Beneficiary Eligibility
Permanently and totally disabled veterans.
Credentials/Documentation
Not applicable.
What is the process for applying and being award this assistance?
Pre-Application Procedure
Preapplication coordination is not applicable.
Application Procedure
2 CFR 200, Uniform Administrative Requirements, Cost Principles, and Audit Requirements for Federal Awards applies to this program. Initial application for determination of basic eligibility may be made on VA Form 26-4555 to the VA Regional office holding the veteran's claim folder. Veterans can also apply through eBenefits at https://www.ebenefits.va.gov/ebenefits/homepage. After eligibility is determined, a VA employee will personally assist the veteran throughout subsequent processing, including advice on a suitable house plan and lot, adaptive features, location of a qualified architect and builder, and submission of the documents necessary for final grant approval.
Award Procedure
The VA Regional Loan Center releases the grant proceeds after conditions of the contract and grant approval are fulfilled.
Deadlines
Not applicable.
Approval/Disapproval Decision Time
From 60 to 90 days. Initial interview completed within 30 days of determination of eligibility. Grant approval timeline varies and is dependent upon veteran's desire to move forward with securing contractors and drafting construction plans.
Appeals
Denial of eligibility is appealable as outlined in the Appeals Modernization Act. In the event of a denial, claimants are advised of appeal rights and procedures at the time of notification.
Renewals
Not applicable.
How are proposals selected?
Not applicable.
How may assistance be used?
a. The Specially Adapted Housing (SAH) grant program helps Veterans with certain service-connected disabilities live independently in a barrier-free environment. SAH grants can be used in one of the following ways: (1) construct a suitable home on suitable land either already owned or to be acquired by the veteran, or (2) remodel an existing home if it can be suitably adapted, or (3) acquire a suitably adapted home or reduce the outstanding mortgage on a suitably adapted home already owned by the veteran. b. The Special Housing Adaptation (SHA) grant program helps veterans with certain service-connected disabilities adapt or purchase a home to accommodate the disability. SHA grants can be used in one of the following ways: (1) adapt an existing home the veteran or a family member already owns in which the veteran lives; (2) adapt a home the veteran or family member intends to purchase in which the veteran will live; (3) help a veteran purchase a home already adapted in which the veteran will live. c. . The Temporary Residence Adaptation (TRA) grant program provides adaptation assistance to veterans who are residing, but do not intend to permanently reside, in a residence owned by a family member. If a veteran is otherwise eligible for SAH or SHA, the assistance is limited. d. SAH and SHA grants may be used up to six times, as long as the aggregate grant amount does not exceed the statutory dollar limitation. TRA grants may only be used once (and count as a grant usage for purposes of the limit of six).
What are the requirements after being awarded this opportunity?
Reporting
Not applicable.
Auditing
Not applicable.
Records
None.
Other Assistance Considerations
Formula and Matching Requirements
Statutory formula is not applicable to this assistance listing.

Matching requirements are not applicable to this assistance listing.

MOE requirements are not applicable to this assistance listing.
Length and Time Phasing of Assistance
The way grant funds are released is dependent on the grant’s purpose (mortgage principle reduction or remodel and construction). Method of awarding/releasing assistance: Lump.
Who do I contact about this opportunity?
Regional or Local Office
Applicants should communicate with the nearest VA Regional Office. Case development and assistance will be provided by the VA office with jurisdiction over the location of the property involved. See Appendix IV of the Catalog for addresses of these offices listed under Department of Veterans Affairs. Information may be obtained from the nearest Regional Office by calling toll-free 1-877-827-3702.
Headquarters Office
Jason Latona - VBA, Loan Guaranty Service
810 Vermont Ave., N.W.
Washington, DC 20420 USA
Jason.Latona@va.gov
Phone: (202) 461-9600
Website Address
http://www.benefits.va.gov/homeloans/adaptedhousing.asp
Financial Information
Account Identification
36-0137-0-1-702
Obligations
(Direct Payments for Specified Use) FY 22$121,543,907.00; FY 23 est $105,701,131.00; FY 24 est $125,000,000.00; FY 19$122,382,000.00; FY 20 est $139,476,000.00; FY 21 est $149,043,000.00; FY 16$117,885,000.00; FY 17 est $124,626,000.00; FY 18 Estimate Not Available -
Range and Average of Financial Assistance
SAH: For the housing unit, land, fixtures, and allowable expenses, up to $109,986. SAH Temporary Residence Assistance (TRA): $44,299. SHA: For adaptations to the veteran's residence, up to $22,036. SHA Temporary Residence Assistance (TRA): $7,910
Regulations, Guidelines and Literature
38 CFR 3.809, 36.4400-36.4411 , and title 38, United State Code, chapter 21; "Handbook for Design: A Guide for Specially Adapted Housing and Special Housing Adaptation Projects," VA Pamphlet 26-13, can be viewed and downloaded at: https://benefits.va.gov/WARMS/docs/admin26/m26_13/sah-2022-update-26-13.pdf; "Federal Benefits for Veterans and Dependents," VA Pamphlet 80-0-01, $5.00 , available from Superintendent of Documents, P.O. Box 371954, Pittsburgh, PA 15250-7954. The stock number is 051-000-00233-4 .
Examples of Funded Projects
Fiscal Year 2023 Bathroom remodels, Home accessibility (ingress and egress), Special in-home equipment, barrier-free living environment.

 


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