Veterans Administration Grants
The Veterans Administration provides grants to Service Members and Veterans with permanent and total service-connected disabilities and are to help purchase or construct an adapted home. The grants also can be used to modify an existing home to accommodate a disability.
The grants are for medically necessary modifications, with funds for ramps, wider doorways, accessible bathrooms, and more.
Four grant programs exist: Specially Adapted Housing (SAH), Special Housing Adaptation (SHA) grant, Temporary Residence Adaption (TRA) grant, and Home Improvements and Structural Alterations (HISA) grant.
What Is a Specially Adapted Housing (SAH) Grant?
Specially Adapted Housing (SAH) grants help Veterans with certain service-connected disabilities (such as loss of limb or blindness) build or modify a home for independence.
SAH grants can be used in one of the following ways:
Construct a specially adapted home on land to be acquired.
Build a home on land already acquired.
Remodel an existing home if it can be made suitable for specially adapted housing.
Apply the grant against the unpaid principal mortgage balance of an adapted home already acquitted without the assistance of a VA grant.
The maximum grant amount adjusts annually, so please visit the website https://www.benefits.va.gov/homeloans/adaptedhousing.asp
What Is a Special Housing Adaptation (SHA) Grant?
The SHA (Special Housing Adaptation) grant is for improving mobility with conditions like loss of use of both hands.
The maximum grant amount adjusts annually, so please visit the website https://www.benefits.va.gov/homeloans/adaptedhousing.asp
What Is a Temporary Residence Assistance (TRA) Grant?
The Temporary Residence Adaption (TRA) Grant helps adapt a family member’s home if the veteran or service member is temporarily living with the family member, if the Veteran is already qualified for SAH or SHA. The maximum grant amounts adjust annually, so please visit the website https://www.benefits.va.gov/homeloans/adaptedhousing.asp
What Is a Home Improvements and Structural Alterations (HISA) Grant?
The Home Improvements and Structural Alterations (HISA) Grant is for medically necessary upgrades (ramps, bathrooms, counters) to ensure the home of the Veteran is safe. This grant requires a prescription from a Veterans Administration doctor.
Visit the website for HISA Grants at https://www.prosthetics.va.gov/psas/HISA2.asp
Vocational Rehabilitation and Employment (VR&E) – Housing Adaptation Assistance
VR&E may provide home adaptations to individuals who are not currently able to work because of the effects of their service-connected disabilities, or who require adaptations to achieve a vocational goal. The benefits are limited to those required to improve independence at home and/or in the community.
Please visit www.benefits.va.gov/vocrehab/independent_living.asp to learn more about VR&E home adaptation grants and apply for VR&E benefits, please visit www.benefits.va.gov/vocrehab.asp.
