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Grants Help Disabled Vets Obtain Accessible Housing
Disabled veterans can receive grant assistance to purchase or remodel an accessible home through the Specially Adapted Housing program of the Department of Veterans Affairs.
Since the program was initiated in 1948, more than 32,000 veterans have received grants totaling over $565 million to meet their housing needs. The program has taken on additional significance recently as a way to help veterans who have suffered serious injuries while serving in Iraq and Afghanistan.
Generally, veterans who are 100% permanently disabled as a result of a service-related injury and require prostheses, braces, crutches or a wheelchair to get around are eligible for a grant for up to 50% of their total housing costs, up to a maximum of $50,000, subject to certain limitations
VA field staff work closely with the veterans receiving the assistance to identify and correct physical impediments in the home. Veterans can use the grant to design and construct a new home or to build a substantial addition onto an existing home to accommodate their needs.
Examples of adaptations covered by the funds include: wider door openings and hallways; master bedrooms with sufficient clear space for maneuvering; specially designed closet and storage areas; fixtures for the bathroom that are wheelchair accessible, including a roll-in shower; kitchens with accessible appliances and work areas, adjustable counters and cabinets, and layouts that accommodate wheelchairs; and accessible entrances and exits.
In addition, a second grant program provides up to $10,000 in assistance for veterans who are blind in both eyes or have lost or are unable to use both of their hands.
For more information, click here, or call the VA Regional Loan Center that services your area. Or e-mail Bill Renner at NAHB, or call him at 800-368-5242 x8597.
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