HUD Improves Veteran Access to Affordable Housing

The U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD) announced a new set of policy changes that will help expand assistance for veteransunder the HUD-Department of VeteranAffairs (VA) Supportive Housing (HUD-VASH) program, and improve their access to supportive housing developments. Veteransexperiencing homelessness often receive VA benefits as a result of an injury or illness that was acquired or worsened during military service.

Before this change, these benefits were considered income when determining eligibility for certain supportive housing developments-causing some veteransto exceed the income threshold for these programs. HUD's policy changes will help more homeless veteranswith service-connected disability benefits gain access to these housing developments.

The changes include requiring a higher limit on income eligibility for the program and adopting an alternative definition of income. Additionally, HUD awarded $20 million to public housing agencies to continue to improve the HUD-VASH program. According to a statement by HUD, the HUD-VASH Program is a vital resource to house veteransexperiencing homelessness.

HUD-VASH pairs rental assistance through housing vouchers targeted to veteransexperiencing homelessness from HUD with case management and other supportive services provided by VA; since the program's inception, HUD-VASH has assisted more than 200,000 veteransto exit homelessness and obtain permanent affordable housing.