Funding

The U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) offers several housing assistance programs to help veterans and service members with service-connected disabilities adapt their homes for greater accessibility and independence. Below are the key programs available:

Special Housing Adaptation (SHA) Grant

• Purpose: Provides funding to veterans with specific service-connected disabilities to adapt their homes for accessibility.
• Eligibility: Veterans with permanent and total service-connected disabilities, including:
  • Blindness in both eyes with 5/200 visual acuity or less.
  • Loss or loss of use of both hands.
  • Certain severe burns or respiratory injuries.
• Funding: Up to $23,444 for Fiscal Year 2024.
• Usage: Veterans can utilize the grant up to six times over their lifetime.
• Application: Apply online or download VA Form 26-4555 and submit by mail or in person: Veterans Affairs

Home Improvements and Structural Alterations (HISA) Grant

• Purpose: Provides funding for medically necessary home improvements and structural alterations to veterans’ primary residences.
• Eligibility: Veterans with service-connected disabilities, compensable disabilities treated as service-connected, or non-service-connected disabilities with a service-connected disability rated at least 50%.
• Funding:
  • Up to $6,800 lifetime benefit for service-connected or compensable disabilities.
  • Up to $2,000 lifetime benefit for non-service-connected disabilities.
• Usage: Funds can be used for alterations such as installing ramps, widening doorways, and modifying bathrooms.
• Application: Contact your local VA Prosthetic and Sensory Aids Service for assistance. 

Overview:

Virginia is home to 17 Centers for Independent Living (CILs), including one in Fredericksburg. These nonprofit organizations are operated by and for individuals with disabilities, aiming to promote independence, self-determination, and community integration. CILs offer a range of services, including advocacy, peer counseling, independent living skills training, information and referral, and transition services for youth and individuals moving from institutional settings. 

Home Modification Assistance:

Many CILs collaborate with Virginia Housing to administer the Accessibility Grant Program, which provides funding for home modifications to enhance accessibility. This program offers grants up to $8,000 for:

• Granting Freedom – for disabled veterans and service members
• Owner-Occupied Modification – for homeowners with disabilities
• Rental Unit Accessibility Modification (RUAM) – for renters

Typical modifications include installing ramps, chairlifts, widening doorways, and altering bathrooms and kitchens. Applications must be submitted through approved agents.

Overview:

The Virginia Department for Aging and Rehabilitative Services (DARS) serves as the State Unit on Aging, overseeing federal and state programs that support older Virginians and individuals with disabilities. Through the Older Americans Act (OAA), DARS collaborates with 25 Area Agencies on Aging (AAAs) across the Commonwealth to provide a range of services aimed at promoting independence and quality of life for seniors. Senior Navigator

Home Assessments and Modifications:

Many AAAs offer home assessments and modifications to help older adults live safely and independently in their homes. These services may include:

• Home Assessments: Evaluations to identify safety hazards and accessibility challenges within the home.
• Home Modifications: Installation of ramps, grab bars, widening of doorways, and other modifications to improve accessibility.
• Home Repairs: Addressing structural issues, plumbing, electrical, and other essential repairs.DHCD

Eligibility:

Eligibility for these services varies by locality and is typically based on factors such as age, income, and the level of need. Services are often provided on a sliding fee scale or at no cost to eligible individuals.

Additional Resources:

For more information on aging services in Virginia, visit the DARS website: Virginia Division for Aging Services

Overview:

Virginia Housing is a self-supporting, not-for-profit organization created by the Commonwealth of Virginia in 1972 to help Virginians attain quality, affordable housing. It provides mortgages, primarily for first-time homebuyers and developers of quality rental housing. Virginia Housing also offers free homeownership classes and assists people with disabilities and the elderly in making their homes more livable. 

Home Improvement and Accessibility Programs:

Virginia Housing offers various programs to assist low- and moderate-income households with home improvements and accessibility modifications:

• Home Loans: Virginia Housing provides a variety of 30-year fixed-rate loans to help make homeownership more affordable. Some loans require zero down payment and some allow for lower credit scores. 
• Virginia Housing Plus Second Mortgage: This program eliminates the need for a down payment and may assist with closing costs. It is available for both first-time and repeat homebuyers. 
• Military and Veteran Programs: Virginia Housing has dedicated resources for service members and veterans, including education classes and accessibility grants for disabled veterans. 

Supportive Housing for Seniors and Persons with Disabilities:

Virginia Housing collaborates with various state agencies to develop supportive housing options for seniors and individuals with disabilities:

• HUD Section 811 Project Rental Assistance Program: This program provides project-based rental assistance for extremely low-income persons with disabilities, linked with long-term services. It aims to create opportunities for individuals to live as independently as possible through the coordination of voluntary services and providing a choice of subsidized, integrated rental housing options.