With millions of disabled veterans living in the United States today, it is more important than ever that veterans and servicemembers applying for a VA Home Loan be aware of resources available to them so they may live as normal a life as possible. Among those resources are two of the VA’s grant programs: the Special Housing Adaptation (SHA) Grant and the Specially Adapted Housing (SAH) Grant. Here’s how to tell the difference between the two:
Special Housing Adaptation Grant
SHA grants can be used by any veteran with a service-connected disability who resides permanently in a home owned by themselves or a family member. SHA grants are designed to help veterans with service-connected disabilities adapt or purchase a home to accommodate that disability. Veterans and servicemembers are eligible to receive a SHA grant if they have sustained injuries such as blindness in both eyes, loss of use of both hands, have severe burn injuries or respiratory injuries. Eligible individuals may be awarded up to three grants worth no more than a total of $12,992.
Specially Adapted Housing Grant
SAH grants are awarded to veterans with service-connected disabilities to help them live independently. The home must be owned by an eligible individual and be his or her permanent residence. Veterans and servicemembers are eligible for an SAH grant if they have sustained any number of injuries, including: the loss of one or both legs or arms, blindness, severe burns or respiratory injuries. Each eligible individual is allowed a maximum of three grants up to a total of $64,960 to use for various projects such as constructing a specially-adapted home, remodeling an existing home to accommodate a disability or applying it towards the mortgage of an adapted home the eligible individual already lives in.
These VA grants are benefits often overlooked by deserving military members and veterans. To learn more, contact the Department of Veterans Affairs.
I am rated at 90% service connected and + 10% unemployability and all I want to do is purchase a small 2 bedroom park model home in Tucson AZ. I MUST have certain things like grab rails in a shower as 1/4 of my brain is gons and I have had over 25 mini strokes which cause me to get dizzy at times. I always use a wheelchair outside my home, but not in my home. The mobile home manufacturer said they would not process a VA Mortgage as it was too complicated and expensive for them. What can I do to get a VA home mortgage and the necessary grants? I had a VA home mortgage before for a regular house, but it is paid off.