Housing Assistance and Support Programs for Veterans

Operation Lifeline Inc. ribbon-cutting ceremony for their Green Cove Springs Veteran House. Operation Lifeline is providing an invaluable service by offering housing to veterans in need of transition services.

Overview of VA Housing-Related Grants and Programs

The U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) provides several grant programs and related initiatives to help veterans with their housing needs, focusing especially on modifications, adaptations, or accessibility improvements. Eligibility for these programs depends on factors such as veteran status, disability status (whether the disability is service connected), home ownership, and the specific purpose for which the assistance is required. Below is an organized summary of the key programs and grants available.

Major VA Home and Housing-Related Grants & Programs

Home Improvements and Structural Alterations (HISA)

The HISA grant provides financial support for medical modifications in a veteran’s primary residence, whether owned or rented. The goal is to enhance accessibility, mobility, or address specific health needs. There are lifetime limits to the grant amount, which vary depending on whether the condition in question is service-connected or not.

Specially Adapted Housing (SAH) Grant

The SAH grant assists veterans with certain service-connected disabilities in building or modifying homes to better accommodate their needs, such as creating barrier-free or wheelchair-accessible environments. This grant can be used to purchase an adapted home, build a new one, or remodel an existing home for accessibility.

Special Housing Adaptation (SHA) Grant

The SHA grant is designed for veterans or service members with specific qualifying service-connected disabilities. It provides more modest funding compared to the SAH grant and is intended to help adapt or purchase homes for improved accessibility.

Temporary Residence Adaptation (TRA) Grant

The TRA grant is available to veterans who are eligible for the SAH or SHA grants and will be residing temporarily in a family member’s home. It helps cover the cost of adapting the temporary residence for accessibility during the veteran’s stay.

Other Related Programs and Mechanisms

VA Home Improvement / Renovation Loans

While not a grant, the VA supports certain home improvement or renovation loans (also known as rehabilitation loans). These allow veterans to include repair or upgrade costs in their mortgage or when refinancing, making them useful for those who do not qualify for grants but require home improvements.

State, Local, and Nonprofit Programs

Many states and municipalities offer programs that assist veterans with home repairs, accessibility modifications, or emergency fixes. Examples include New York’s “Access to Home for Heroes/Veterans.” Additionally, various nonprofit organizations, such as veterans’ assistance groups and Habitat for Humanity, may provide grants or low-cost services for home modifications, repairs, or accessibility enhancements.

USDA Single Family Housing Repair Loans & Grants

This federal program is available to eligible low-income homeowners in rural areas, including veterans. It provides funding to repair, improve, or modernize homes and address health or safety hazards, although the program is not exclusive to veterans.

VA Homeless / Housing Support Grants (for Organizations)

These grants are directed to organizations rather than individual veterans. The VA provides funding to entities that offer housing solutions, rehabilitate housing, or deliver supportive services to veterans at risk of or experiencing homelessness. Programs include the Grant & Per Diem (GPD) and Supportive Services for Veteran Families (SSVF) initiatives.

VA Homeless and Housing Support Grant Programs

Grant & Per Diem (GPD) Program

The Grant and Per Diem (GPD) Program is the VA’s primary mechanism for supporting transitional housing for homeless veterans. It funds community-based organizations—including nonprofits, local governments, and tribal entities—to operate or develop transitional housing and service centers that help veterans transition from homelessness to stable housing.

·         Capital grants: The VA may award grants covering up to 65% of the cost of acquiring, renovating, constructing, or altering facilities for homeless veterans, with the grantee responsible for the remaining 35%.

·         Per diem payments: After facilities are operational, the VA can reimburse ongoing service and housing operation costs through daily per diem payments (excluding capital costs).

·         Types of GPD grants:

o   Transitional Housing Grants – for creating or supporting transitional housing beds

o   Per Diem Only Grants – for operational reimbursement even if there was no initial capital funding

o   Special Need Grants – targeted to veteran subpopulations such as women, those with chronic mental illness, or caregiving responsibilities

Eligibility and process: Nonprofits, state/local, or tribal governments may apply, with requirements outlined in Notices of Funding Availability (NOFAs).

Limits: Capital grants cannot be used for operational costs; applicants must meet fire/safety codes and contribute the non-VA share of costs where required.

Supportive Services for Veteran Families (SSVF)

The SSVF program funds nonprofit community organizations to provide supportive services and short-term financial assistance to very low-income veterans and their families. The aim is to help these families avoid or exit homelessness.

·         What SSVF provides: Case management, outreach, and housing stability assistance (such as aid for security deposits, rent, utilities, and moving costs).

·         Prevention and rapid re-housing: The program focuses on preventing homelessness among at-risk veterans and rapidly re-housing those who are already homeless.

·         Eligibility: Veterans must have at least one day of active-duty service, a discharge that is not dishonorable, and a household income below a specified threshold.

·         Time limits: SSVF assistance is intended to be time-limited rather than indefinite.

Legal Services for Veterans Experiencing or at Risk of Homelessness (LSV-H)

The Legal Services for Veterans (LSV-H) grant program provides funding to nonprofit or public entities to offer legal assistance to veterans facing homelessness or at risk. Services can include housing-related legal matters (such as eviction defense or landlord/tenant disputes), family law, access to benefits, discharge upgrades, and more. Funding is provided through periodic Notices of Funding Opportunity, with substantial allocations in recent cycles.

HUD-VA Supportive Housing (HUD-VASH)

HUD-VASH is a collaborative program between the VA and the Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD). While not a direct VA grant, it is a central housing support effort for homeless veterans. HUD supplies housing choice vouchers (rental subsidies), and the VA provides case management and supportive services, with a focus on facilitating permanent, long-term housing solutions.

Recent Funding Trends and New Initiatives

In August 2025, the VA announced over $818 million in grants to support veterans who are homeless or at risk of homelessness. These funds are allocated to local organizations to provide a variety of services, including housing, counseling, financial planning, childcare, legal assistance, and more, primarily within the SSVF and related programs. The VA has also introduced targeted case management grants to GPD grantees to support housing retention for veterans and continues to award capital grants (via GPD) to renovate or expand transitional housing facilities.

Notices of Funding Opportunity and Grant Cycles

Each year, the VA publishes Notices of Funding Opportunity to sustain its housing programs. For example, nearly $42 million was allocated for Legal Services for Veterans (LSV) grants in a recent funding cycle, targeting housing-related legal challenges for veterans.

The Importance of HUD-VA Supportive Housing (HUD-VASH)

The HUD-VASH program remains a cornerstone of the VA’s efforts to support homeless veterans, offering permanent housing solutions through rental subsidies and comprehensive case management and supportive services.

Evolving Funding Landscape

The VA’s commitment to evolving and expanding its resources ensures greater access to stability, services, and support for veterans. New initiatives, targeted grants, and ongoing capital investments reflect the federal commitment to serving those who have served.

Local Organizations and Programs Supporting Veterans’ Housing

VA North Florida / South Georgia - Homeless Veteran Care

The VA system provides a “homeless veteran care” program and care coordinators who assist veterans experiencing or at risk of homelessness.

Offers connections to transitional or permanent housing, case management, benefits, mental health services, and more.

Contact the Jacksonville Community Resource & Referral Center (VA) to request a Homeless Veteran Services Coordinator. https://www.va.gov/north-florida-health-care/health-services/homeless-veteran-care/

Volunteers of America - Ben Singleton Center (Jacksonville)

Operates GPD transitional housing specifically for veterans.

Provides transitional housing and supportive services to stabilize veterans and help them transition to independent living.

Eligibility includes veteran status, discharge conditions, risk of homelessness, and a sobriety requirement. Ben Singleton Center - VOA Florida

Supportive Services for Veteran Families (SSVF) - Changing Homelessness, Jacksonville

Administers SSVF grants to nonprofits to assist veterans and their families with housing stability, short-term financial help, and case management.

Supports veterans at risk of homelessness or currently homeless by offering help with rent, utilities, deposits, housing search, and benefits access.

Changing Homelessness has an SSVF office in Jacksonville. https://www.findhelp.org/changing-homelessness--jacksonville-fl--supportive-services-for-veteran-families-%28ssvf%29/5785805652230144?postal=32004

Veterans Resource & Reintegration Center, Jacksonville (City of Jacksonville)

Provides a city-run program for veterans.

Offers resource referrals, reintegration support, and connections to local veteran services.

Located in the St. James Building, 117 W. Duval Street, Suite 175. https://www.jacksonville.gov/departments/military-and-veterans-affairs/veterans-resource-reintegration-center

Sulzbacher Center

Delivers comprehensive homeless services, including emergency housing, case management, permanent housing placement, and veteran services.

Veterans experiencing homelessness can access shelter, meals, case support, and assistance in securing longer-term housing.

Address: Sulzbacher Downtown Campus (for men), Sulzbacher Village for women & families. https://sulzbacherjax.org/get-help/