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What are Home Renovation Grants for Veterans?

Substantial amounts of grant money are available to renovate a veteran's home where the veteran is significantly disabled. Lesser amounts called HISA Grants are available to veterans by prescription through the VA health care system where disabilities are not as severe.

Housing Support for Disabled Veterans

What Is a Specially Adapted Housing (SAH) Grant?
The SAH grant is designed to help disabled Veterans by providing a barrier-free living environment, such as a wheelchair accessible home, that affords Veterans a level of independent living they may not otherwise enjoy. Veterans and service members with specific service- connected disabilities may be entitled to a grant for the purpose of constructing or modifying a home to meet their adaptive needs, up to the current maximum of $90,364 for 2020. 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

Specially Adapted Housing (SAH) Grant Eligibility.

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 extremeties 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

What Is a Special Housing Adaptation (SHA) Grant?
The SHA grant can be used to increase the mobility of eligible Veteran and service members throughout their residences. Veterans and service members with specific service-connected disabilities may be entitled to this type of grant, up to the maximum of $18,074 for 2020.

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

Special Housing Adaptation (SHA) Grant Eligibility

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

What Is a Temporary Residence Assistance (TRA) Grant?
A temporary grant may be available to SAH/SHA eligible Veterans and service members 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 for 2020.

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

  • Applying online via ebenefits.va.gov
  • Downloading the form at va.gov/vaforms and sending to a 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

Vocational Rehabilitation and Employment (VR&E) – Housing Adaptation Assistance
VR&E may provide home adaptations to individuals who are not currently able to work because of the effects of their service-connected disabilities, or who require adaptations to achieve a vocational goal. The benefits are limited to those required to improve independence at home and/or in the community. Home adaptations up to $90,364 may be provided as part of an approved rehabilitation plan.

Supplemental Financing
Veterans and service members with available loan guaranty entitlement may also obtain a guaranteed loan or a direct loan from VA to supplement the grant to acquire a specially adapted home.


HISA Grants (Home Improvement and Structural Alterations)

These are total lifetime amount grants of either $2,000 or $6,800 to any veteran who qualifies for modifying the home for disability. They are awarded through the local regional medical center prosthetics department. The veteran must be enrolled in VA health care and receive a prescription from the health care provider for this grant. The grant money comes from the veteran's local regional medical center budget.

HISA Grant Amounts

Total lifetime amount HISA benefit up to $6,800 may be provided for veterans and service members who have a service connected condition rated 50% or more service connected.

Lifetime benefit up to $2,000 may be provided for Veterans who have a non-service connected condition under certain criteria or who are eligible for aid and attendance or housebound benefits

Applying for a HISA
Grant The veteran must be registered with VA health care. In order to receive a HISA grant, the Veteran must first have a prescription from a VA physician in the VA health care system. This must include:

  • The diagnosis with medical justification
  • The Veteran's name, address, SSN, and phone number(s)

To apply, the Veteran must first provide:

  • A completed VA Form 10-0103
  • If a leased or rented property, written permission from the owner
  • Quotes from at least 1 licensed contractor (if required by state law), to include:
    - The contractors name, address, telephone, and Federal tax ID number or social security number
    - The Veteran's name, address, and telephone number
    - Plans and drawings
    - An itemized list of estimated materials, cost, and labor cost
    - All permits required (it is the contractors responsibility to obtain these)
    - A picture of the work site prior to construction

Following are the types of projects that HISA grants will pay for. This is not all inclusive and other appropriate projects may be approved.

  1. Roll-in showers
  2. Construction of wooden or concrete, permanent ramping to provide access to the home
  3. Widening doorways to bedroom, bathroom, etc., to achieve wheelchair access
  4. Lowering of kitchen or bathroom counters and sinks
  5. Improving entrance paths and driveways in immediate area of home to facilitate access to the home
  6. Construction of concrete pads and installation of exterior types of wheelchair lift mechanisms if the installation cost exceeds $500.00
  7. Interior and exterior railing deemed necessary for patients with ambulatory capability or for veterans rated legally blind if the installation cost is over $500.00
  8. Improvements to plumbing or electrical systems made necessary due to the installation of dialysis equipment in the home
  9. Any cost associated with permits, inspection fees, etc., that are required by local ordinances.

HISA will not pay for:

  • Walkways to exterior buildings
  • Widening of driveways (in excess of a 7ft x 6ft area)
  • Spa, hot tub, or Jacuzzi
  • Exterior decking (in excess of 8ft x 8ft).

Before and After HISA Improvements