Housing Grants for Veterans Help Our Injured Military to Purchase Adapted Housing

Self Imposed Limitations & the Benefit of Adaptable Housing Grants

“Being disabled should not mean being disqualified from having access to every aspect of life”

– Emma Thompson

On September 10^th Chris Melendez did something he hadn’t done before. Sure, he had his share of double leg takedowns, arm bars and half-nelsons; he had gone over the top rope, pinned opponents and played to the crowd, but he had never done it on live TV. Making his TNA wrestling debut against DJ Zema, Melendez who had been training to be a professional wrestler for the previous 24 months demonstrated to the world the power of dedication and positivity.  In 2004, Melendez enlisted in the Army, three years later; with only 23 days left on his deployment he was severely wounded as a result of an IED explosion. An amputation of his left leg, tendon replacement in his arm and a completely reconstructed jaw could not prevent his aspirations from being realized. Speaking after his first television performance, Melendez said “Wherever I am, I aim to rise to the top and be the best at what I’m doing. Here in TNA, I plan to go straight to the top. I have the same mentality I had in the battlefield, the same mentality I had during my recovery. I’m going to be the best,” reminding all of us that limitations are self imposed.

22 million military veterans live in this country, accounting for 10 percent of the total population. 5.5 million of those veterans are living with some form of disability. Since the start of the Iraq and Afghanistan wars, of the 3.4 million veterans who suffered a service related disability, 588,000 have a disability rating of 70 percent or greater. Over the past 12 years, the number of service members enduring a disability rating of 70 percent or higher has increased drastically, the common explanation of this is that injuries such as amputations and burns that would have previously resulted in death in previous wars are now often treatable. The disabled veteran population is sizeable; nothing can replace what was lost, but for many in this segment, a disability is not preventing the experience of a full and meaningful life, Chris Melendez exemplifies this.

While not every disabled veteran can become a professional wrestler many can bolster the quality of their lives by becoming homeowners. The VA insured home loan assures this. Offering appealing interest rates, 0 dollars down, relaxed credit guidelines and no private mortgage insurance, this entitlement is incredibly advantageous. Disabled veterans are given special mortgage consideration and are allowed to bypass funding fees. Furthermore, veterans with disabilities may use their disability compensation to qualify for the income requirement.

The VA also offers housing adaptation grants. These allow homes to either be built or remodeled to fit the specific needs of the disabled individual. Numerous housing adaptations can be made, including re-purposed storage space, added stair rails, specialty fixtures (floor showers etc) and ramps just to name a very select few. Even the primary home of a family member can qualify for adaptations if the veteran is intending to make it their permanent address. The SAH grant allows for a maximum of $67,555 to be used while the SHA grant funds up to $13,511.

The sacrifice made by veterans during their service in an effort to protect all of us makes it incumbent upon the country to make sure they are afforded every opportunity to lead rewarding lives as civilians.

Specially Adapted Housing (SAH) Grants

Eligibility	Living Situation	Ownership	Number 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

Special Housing Adaptation (SHA) Grant

Eligibility	Living Situation	Ownership	Number 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

This article was written for MobilityWorks, courtesy of Noah Perkins, CMS, VA Home Loan Centers

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About VA Loans

In 1944 Congress created the VA Loan program to help returning war veterans achieve the dream of home ownership. Since then, the Department of Veterans Affairs has helped more than 18 million military members purchase homes.

VA loan programs are available to eligible veterans for the purchase of a home. VA loans are particularly beneficial to those veterans that do not have much cash available. VA guidelines allow higher front-end and debt ratios compared to other loan programs and it’s easier to qualify for. The Department of Veterans Affairs guarantees mortgages originated by VA Home Loan Centers.

Note: VA Home Loan Centers is not a governmental agency.