If you are a veteran and you have recently heard about the changes to the Housing and Urban Development – Veterans Affairs Supportive Housing simply known as the HUD-VASH program, especially the big news about how your VA disability benefit no longer counts as income when determining your eligibility for this program. This change can truly be life-changing for homeless veterans like who need help securing a stable place to live. If you are wondering what this program can offer and how it can assist you with your specific situation, let me walk you through what you should expect as a veteran with a service – related illness that has been rated by the Department of Veterans Affairs (VA).
What exactly is the HUD-VASH Program?
First off, HUD-VASH is a program between the Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD) and the Veterans Affairs Department (VA). It is specifically designed to help veterans who are homeless by offering rental assistance through the Section 8 housing vouchers. This means that the government will pay a larger portion of your rent while you pay a smaller part depending on your monthly income.
According to a press release by HUD, the money you received from the VA monthly will no longer count as income when determining your eligibility for the HUD – VASH program. In the past, this has been a barrier for many veterans, as the VA disability payments was making their monthly earnings to be above the income limit required for them to qualify for housing assistance. However with the new development, that is no longer the case and your VA disability income is only considered when calculating how much you will pay in rent.
What can you expect in terms of housing?
With HUD-VASH, once you are enrolled in the program, you will receive a housing voucher that allows you to rent an apartment within the price range of what the housing authority sets for your area. For example, if you are in Los Angeles, the housing authority may allow up to $3,948 a month for a two-bedroom apartment. The VA works closely with local public housing authorities to set these limits based on the median rent in your area, so the voucher you will receive from the VA will reflect at least the average cost of rent in your location .
How much will you pay in rent?
One thing you might be wondering is, “How much will I be responsible for?” Under the HUD-VASH program, you will be required to pay 30% of your gross income as rent. If you have 100% VA disability benefits, it may possibly amount to $3,870.50 a month and 30% of that would be around $1,161.15. This would be your own share of the rent, while the voucher covers the rest.
For example, if you rent a place that costs the maximum allowed by the housing authority, say $3,948, you will have to pay a portion, which is going to be based on your income, while HUD-VASH pays the remaining amount.
What if you have other sources of income?
Another question many veterans ask often is, if receiving other forms of income besides one’s VA disability – such as Social Security benefits or income from a part-time job – if these could be counted as income for the purposes of calculating a person’s share of rent. It is important to keep in mind that while a VA disability no longer counts for the initial eligibility requirement, your other sources of income could still affect how much you are required to pay monthly.
You should discuss your entire financial situation with your HUD-VASH caseworker, who will explain how your rent contribution is calculated based on your total income.
How do you apply for HUD-VASH?
To apply for HUD – VASH is easy. The first thing you have to do is to go to the nearest VA medical center and tell them that you are homeless or that you need housing support. After this you do not need to worry as the VA will find a temporary place for you to stay for the moment until they can find a good place for you to live in based on your housing program voucher.
Learn more about applying for HUD – VASH here.
What if you have special housing needs?
If you have special housing needs then the program can make provisions for that as well as long as it is related to the injury you sustained while in service. The HUD -VASH is already aware that some veterans require a house that is accessible or one that meets specific requirements based on their current condition. The HUD – VASH program tries their best to cater for these needs. All you need to do is make sure to mention the specific things you will need such as wheelchair access, wider doors and many more when you go to register at the VA medical center.
All your requirements will be taken into consideration by your caseworker when helping you to find suitable housing.
What are your next steps?
Here are the next steps you can take:
- Go to your nearest VA Medical Center and explain your situation. Let them know you are interested in the HUD-VASH program and that you are currently homeless or at risk of becoming homeless.
- Once you are enrolled, work closely with your caseworker to understand the various housing options you can choose from and the maximum rent the voucher will cover based on the house location.
- Be sure to provide all your income details, including VA disability, Social Security, or any other income, so they can accurately calculate how much you will be expected to pay in rent.
