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.

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

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 includes: (1) The loss or loss of use of both hands; (2) Certain severe burns; (3) Certain respiratory or breathing injuries.

Permanently and totally disabled veterans.

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).

The way grant funds are released is dependent on the grant's purpose (mortgage principle reduction or remodel and construction).

The VA Regional Loan Center releases the grant proceeds after conditions of the contract and grant approval are fulfilled.

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.

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.