Home Improvement Grants for Veterans

By Andrea Helaine

There are many grants for U.S. military veterans that can help with home improvements, home repairs, and structural modifications for disabled veterans. If you are or know of a veteran in need of assistance, it is important to be aware of the home improvement grants that are available. Does this Spark an idea?

The U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs offers three grants for home modification and home improvement. Veteran Affairs Grants usually require that veterans have the loss of lower extremities, loss of vision, or severe burns. Some of the assistance amounts vary annually, based on allocation of spending. The Specially Adapted Housing (SAH) grant is for disabled veterans who need to construct a home or make modifications to an existing home. In 2008, the SAH Grant was limited to $60,000. The Special Housing Adaptation (SHA) grant is to adapt a home to help a veteran become mobile. If the veteran will live with a family member, temporary grants are also available. SHA grants are limited to $12,000. Home Improvement and Structural Alteration (HISA) grants are focused on home improvements, disability access, and lavatories. HISA grants vary depending on the veteran's amount of service, and range from $1,200 to $4,100.

Grants awarded through the state government cover the construction or renovation of housing facilities for veterans. Individual veterans are not awarded such grants unless they operate such a facility. Priority consideration is offered and the grant is awarded once per fiscal year. Approximately $175 million is awarded through 20 grants each year, although the number of awards is dictated by funding from the federal government.

If you are looking for resources on grants for veterans offered by the government or private foundations, consider searching federalgrantswire.com and foundationcenter.org. The Admiral Roy F. Hoffmann Foundation provides grants directly to veterans who were wounded during military service. According to the foundation website, average grant awards are $8,000. HelpAmerica Foundation also provides funds through organizations and focuses on alleviating homelessness among veterans.

To qualify for grants, it is important to make sure that the modifications you need are covered under the program guidelines, which may change annually depending on funding and changes in the law. Government grants, such as those available through the Veterans Administration, may require that a physician approve the specific modifications to your home in order for them to be covered. Be aware that some grants may only cover part of the total costs, and will require the homeowner to make up the difference, perhaps as a loan offered through the grant program. Review all documentation to determine the interest rate, if applicable, and how many years you have to pay back the loan portion of the funding.

Stay away from companies that charge fees to apply. The U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs does not charge application fees for grants. If you need help filling out forms, you should try to find a qualified grant writer to help you. A grant writer would not charge for downloading the application, but would charge to assist you in filling out necessary documentation.

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