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VA Home Loans

Housing Grant for Disabled Veterans

VA provides grants to Servicemembers and Veterans with certain permanent and total service-connected disabilities to help purchase or construct an adapted home, or modify an existing home to accommodate a disability. Two grant programs exist: the Specially Adapted Housing (SAH) grant and the Special Housing Adaptation (SHA) grant.

Specially Adapted Housing (SAH) Grant

SAH grants help Veterans with certain service-connected disabilities live independently in a barrier-free environment. 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 owned if it is suitable for specially adapted housing
  • 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 acquired without the assistance of a VA grant
  • View and share VA's SHA infographic to help spread the word

Special Housing Adaptation (SHA) Grant

SHA grants help Veterans with certain service-connected disabilities adapt or purchase a home to accommodate the disability. You can use SHA grants in one of the following ways:

  • Adapt an existing home the Veteran or a family member already owns in which the Veteran lives
  • Adapt a home the Veteran or family member intends to purchase in which the Veteran will live
  • Help a Veteran purchase a home already adapted in which the Veteran will live

Temporary Residence Adaptation (TRA) Grant

A temporary grant may be available to SAH/SHA eligible Veterans and Servicemembers who are or will be temporarily residing in a home owned by a family member.

  • The TRA grant will not be deducted from the total grant funds available to a Veteran or Servicemember
  • The TRA grant will be deducted from one of the three usages available to the Veteran or Servicemember
  • The maximum amount available to adapt a family member's home for the SAH grant is $39,669 and for the SHA grant is $7.083

Eligibility

If you are a Servicemember or Veteran with a permanent and total service-connected disability, you may be entitled to a Specially Adapted Housing (SAH) grant or a Special Housing Adaptation (SHA) grant. The table below provides an overview of VA's housing grant programs for Veterans with certain service-connected disabilities.

Specially Adapted Housing (SAH) Grant

EligibilityLiving SituationOwnershipNumber of Grants You Can Use
  • Loss of or loss of use of both legs, OR
  • Loss of or loss of use of both arms, OR
  • Blindness in both eyes having only light perception, plus loss of or loss of use of one leg, OR
  • The loss of or loss of use of one lower leg together with residuals of organic disease or injury, OR
  • The loss of or loss of use of one leg together with the loss of or loss of use of one arm, OR
  • Certain severe burns, OR
  • The loss, or loss of use of one or more lower extremities due to service on or after September 11, 2001, which so affects the functions of balance or propulsion as to preclude ambulating without the aid of braces, crutches, canes, or a wheelchair *

Permanent

Home is owned by an eligible individual

Maximum of 3 grants, up to the maximum dollar amount allowable

* This eligibility criteria is limited to 30 recipients per fiscal year (FY).  Servicemembers or Veterans that have the qualifying disabilities to be rated eligible, but did not receive one of the 30 grants due to the cap being reached, may be able to utilize this benefit in FY 2021 or future years, provided the new FY cap is not also surpassed.

Special Housing Adaptation (SHA) Grant

EligibilityLiving SituationOwnershipNumber of Grants You Can Use
  • Blindness in both eyes with 20/200 visual acuity or less, OR
  • Loss of or loss of use of both hands, OR
  • Certain severe burn injuries, OR
  • Certain severe respiratory injuries
 Permanent Home is owned by an eligible individual or family member Maximum of 3 grants, up to the maximum dollar amount allowable

Video Spotlight

Image of Navy veteran Mike Gillies Image displaying "Are you a service-connected disabled veteran in need of a barrier-free living environment?"
Navy Veteran Mike Gillies Specially Adapted Housing

Image displaying "VA Adaptive Housing Grant Program: New Eligibility Requirements"

 Image of Betty Rhoades, Chief, Specially Adapted Housing

Expanded Eligibility

 SAH Overview

Resources for Veterans and Builders

Specially Adapted Housing Handbook for Design

Benefit

The SAH and SHA benefit amount is set by law, but may be adjusted upward annually based on a cost-of-construction index. The maximum dollar amount allowable for SAH grants in fiscal year 2020 is $90,364. The maximum dollar amount allowable for SHA grant in fiscal year 2020 is $18,074. No individual may use the grant benefit more than three times up to the maximum dollar amount allowable.

A temporary grant may be available to SAH/SHA eligible Veterans and Servicemembers who are or will be temporarily residing in a home owned by a family member. The maximum amount available to adapt a family member's home for the SAH grant is $39,669 and for the SHA grant is $7,083.

How to Apply

To apply for a grant, fill out and submit VA Form 26-4555, Application in Acquiring Specially Adapted Housing or Special Home Adaptation Grant. You can access this form by:

  • Applying online via www.ebenefits.va.gov
  • Downloading VA Form 26-4555, Application in Acquiring Specially Adapted Housing or Special Home Adaptation Grant and mailing it to your nearest Regional Loan Center
  • Calling VA toll free at 1-800-827-1000 to have a claim form mailed to you
  • Visiting the nearest VA regional office. Find the office nearest you by visiting VA Regional Office Locations or calling VA toll-free at 1-800-827-1000

Need more information or have questions? Contact a Specially Adapted Housing (SAH) staff member via email at sahinfo.vbaco@va.gov or by phone at (877) 827-3702.

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