Free Home Improvement Grants Online For Veterans and Low Income Families

Specially Adapted Housing (SAH) Grant

The Specially Adapted Housing grant (SAH) provides financial support to veterans. SAH grant program ensures to disabled veterans provide with modernized homes and a barrier-free environment.

The veteran must own a home or the land and intend to live in the home for a long period of time. In a veteran’s lifetime cannot have access to more than three grants.

Most of the recipient veterans of this grant are in wheelchairs. The SAH grant used to create a wheelchair accessible home.

This grant can be paid for the construction of the home or the modification of an existing home.

For home improvements and modifications, SAH grant recipients can receive up to (FY 2022) $101,754.

Veterans must have permanent and total disabilities as a result of service.

Disabilities where a veteran experiences a combination of  blindness or burn injuries, loss of limbs, may qualify.

This type of grant help people physically disabled by the war.

The SAH grant currently limited to $60,000.

The SAH grant is used to adapt housing for the below purposes:

• If it’s suitable for SAH then construct a home on pre-owned land.
• Building a home for the needs of the veteran on land.
• Renovate a home if suitable for SAH.

The SAH grant can be used to construct a new home or make the following changes to increase accessibility:

• Modify walkways, carports, and garages
• Modify bathroom facilities
• Renovating kitchen to accommodate a wheelchair or other equipment
• Replace windows, flooring, and doors
• Widening doorways
• Installing ramps
• Other modifications to assist the disabled veteran in living more independently

Maximum amount offered by Specially Adapted Housing (SAH) Grant: $100,896 in 2021

The money received from a SAH grant can be used on six different occasions over your lifetime.

Eligibility Criteria for Specially Adapted Housing (SAH) Grant:

• Blindness in both eyes
• Disability due to loss of both legs
• Disability due to both arms
• Certain severe burns
• No more use of both arms
• No more use of both legs
• Loss of vision along with the loss of one leg
• Loss or loss of use of both arms at or above the elbow.

Special Housing Adaptation (SHA) Grant

The Special Housing Adaptation provides a grant to help veterans improve or modify their homes for better accessibility.

SHA is open to veterans who have severe service-connected disabilities.

The SHA grant recipient can receive up to $20,387. The veteran uses the grant more than three times.

The SHA grant is used to assist veterans throughout their home mobility.

To qualify for SHA, the recipient must have a certain degree of disability.

Whose disability is less than a wheelchair like who lost a limb that person can be used SHA grant.

If a person is a loss of use of both hands or arms below the elbow or suffers from anatomical loss or is totally and permanently disabled with a related disability for blindness, the person may be eligible for Special Home Adaptation (SHA) grant up to $12,000.

The main purpose of the Special Home Adaptation grant is to support veterans who have burn injuries, are blind, or lost the use of their hands.

The SHA grant is used to adapt housing for the below purposes:

• Adapting a home that is yet to be purchased or that a family member has yet to purchase
• Adapting a home that is owned or owned by a family member
• Purchasing or applying to the unpaid balance of a pre-adapted home with necessary features as deemed by the VA

Maximum amount offered by Special Housing Adaptation (SHA) Grant: $20,215 in 2021

The money received from an SHA grant can be used on six different occasions over your lifetime.

Eligibility Criteria for Special Housing Adaptation (SHA) Grant:

• Having blindness in both eyes
• Certain severe burns
• No use of both of the hands
• No use of both of the leg
• A certain type of respiratory or breathing injuries
• Total and permanent disability from severe burn injuries
• Having 20/200 vision or less in the better eye with visual correction lens

Home Improvements and Structural Alterations (HISA) Grant

HISA grants are open for veterans without service-connected disabilities, Whereas the SAH and SHA grants are only for disabled veterans.

Veterans who are making medical improvements or alterations to their homes can use Home Improvements and Structural Alterations (HISA) grants.

The veteran can also get the SAH or the SHA. The Home Improvements and Structural Alterations (HISA) grants can be from $1200 to $6800.

These grants can be used for bathrooms or electrical upgrade. These grants can also use for better kitchen appliances or walkways.

These types of renovations or changes must be directly related to helping the disability.

The Home Improvements and Structural Alterations (HISA) grant is available for veterans with service-connected disabilities and non-service-connected disabilities.

These grants are for people that have been disabled through life circumstances not service related. The HISA grant does not have qualifying conditions or disabilities.

Veterans must submit a written statement of application from a doctor about why medical improvement is necessary.

Aging-related conditions also qualify in the HISA grants.

Security systems, smart home technology, entertainment equipment like hot tubs, removable accessibility equipment, and regular repairs aren’t covered by HISA.

Home Improvements and Structural Alterations (HISA) Grants cannot be used for:

• Outer Decoration.
• Routine maintenance or repairs.
• Any kind of security system for the home.
• Installation or purchase of hot tubs, spas, or whirlpool bathtubs.
• Any kind of removable equipment like porch lifts, stair gliders, or portable ramps.

Home Improvements and Structural Alterations (HISA) Grants can be used for for the following structural home improvements:

• Make entry and exit ways more accessible modifying them.
• Modifying or installing bathroom facilities for an accessible bathroom (grab bars, roll-in showers, etc.)
• Modifying kitchen space to Improving accessibility and safety to sinks or counters (like counters/sinks, cabinets, etc.)
• Adding ramps to outdoor or indoor areas.
• Updating electrical or plumbing systems to installation of home medical equipment.

Eligibility Criteria for Home Improvements and Structural Alterations (HISA) Grant:

• Signed and completed Veterans Application for Assistance
• Prescription approved by a VA doctor with the below:
  • The identified structural alteration(s)
  • Beneficiary Name, address, and phone number
  • Medical diagnosis and justification for the identified alteration(s)

Maximum amount offered by Home Improvements and Structural Alterations (HISA) Grant :

• $6,800 lifetime benefit for a service related condition
• $2,000 lifetime benefit for a non-service related condition

Temporary Residence Adaption (TRA) Grant

A specially Adapted Housing (SAH) grant, Special Housing Adaptation (SHA) grant, and Home Improvements and Structural Alterations (HISA) grant may be used for a disabled veteran to modify a temporary housing unit.

The main purpose of the Temporary Residence Adaptation grant is eligible for either a SAH or SHA grant.

Those living with family members can apply for VA grants for the improvement of homes in the Temporary Residence Adaptation (TRA) grant.

Veterans are living temporarily in a home owned by a family member.

Family members must be related by blood, marriage, or adoption.

For this purpose, you can use up to $2,000 of the maximum SHA assistance or up to $14,000 of the maximum SAH assistance.

Apply in Temporary Residence Adaptation, veterans must fill out a form, that is available on the eBenefits website

Eligibility Criteria for Temporary Residence Adaption (TRA) Grant:

• Already qualify for either a SAH or SHA grant.
• Living temporarily with a person related by adoption, blood, or marriage (veteran does not need to own the house).

Maximum amount offered by Temporary Residence Adaption (TRA) Grant :

• $40,637 limit in 2021 when eligible for a SAH grant
• $7,256 limit in 2021 when eligible for a SHA grant

Single-Family Housing Repair Program or Grant

Single Family Housing Repair loans or grant is offered by the U.S. Department of Agriculture’s Rural Development Division.

Who need to modernize their homes and remove safety and health hazards, for that single Family housing Repair loans and grants help homeowners.

Single-Family Housing Repair Programs also known as the Section 504 Home Repair program.

In this grant or program person have low income, the person has to have 50% lower than the median income.

As per program the applicants must have low income below 50 percent of the area.

If applicants decide to sell the home or property within 3 years of receiving funds, the whole amount of the loan must pay back.

The loan needs to be returned over a period of 20 years with 1 percent interest.

Eligibility Criteria for Single-Family Housing Repair Program or Grant:

• Age must be 62 or more than 62 years old.
• Must be own home and live in it.
• Have a family income Has less than 50% of the median income.
• Unable to get financial help from another source.
• Eligible homeowners may receive up to $7500.
• Eligible homeowners may receive a maximum loan amount of up to $20, 000, while the maximum grant is $7,500.
• Unable to pay the loan back.
• Applicants home must be located in a rural area.

Nonprofit Organization Provide Home Improvement Grants for Veterans

When it comes to housing aid the federal government isn’t the only source.

Many free home repair programs are available for veterans. Many of these are provided by state and local governments or private organizations others are offered by the federal government.

Local and State governments may also offer home repair assistance programs for veterans. For example, the Massachusetts Rehabilitation Commission offers a Home Modification Loan Program.

Nonprofit organizations offer programs and grants to support our veterans or military heroes.

Private organizations offer programs to help veterans in home repairs and improvements.

Below are given some:

• Habitat for Humanity
• Purple Heart Homes
• Operation Homefront
• Renovating Hope
• Rebuilding Together

Habitat for Humanity

The nonprofit housing organization, Habitat for Humanity provides both critical home repairs and standard home repairs for veterans.

Offer by Habitat for Humanity:

Repair Corps offers critical home repairs that are necessary to health, the critical life, and safety of the veteran.

For Example electrical and plumbing systems the extension or installation and accessibility modifications.

The grant also helps veterans with standard home repairs but critical repairs is a priority.

Requirements for Habitat for Humanity:

All veterans are eligible for this program, without group identity.

The home repaired must be the veteran’s primary residence and must not be a rental.

Purple Heart Homes

Purple Heart Homes offer housing solutions for veterans.

Two distinct programs are available:

• Veterans Home Ownership Program (VHOP)
• Veterans Aging in Place (VAIP)

Offer by Purple Heart Homes:

Veterans Home Ownership Program (VHOP): The VHOP program veterans who are looking to own a home modified to their health needs.

Veterans Aging in Place (VAIP): The VAIP program is helping veterans with repairs or safety to a home they own.

Requirements for Purple Heart Homes:

At least a 10% related service disability rating must for veteran.

For eligibility Financial and personal background check.

Operation Homefront

Operation Homefront provides financial assistance to eligible service members and veterans for family expenses and repairs.

Offer by Operation Homefront:

Financial assistance is given for a range of expenses including transportation, utilities, auto repairs, home repairs, medical, food assistance, moving, and relocation.

Requirements for Operation Homefront:

Members who suffered a service-related illness or injury after 9/11 and actively served in the U.S. military.

Veterans must be honorably discharged.

Service members and honorably discharged veterans with following eligibility:

• Currently deployed overseas and earning Hostile Fire Pay (HFP)
• Serving on a ship that has been at sea for 30+ days with mission status
• Being paid Hostile Fire Pay while unaccompanied on overseas PCS orders
• Reservist on Title 10 orders (either returned from HFP in last 180 days or will be deployed with HFP in next 90 days)
• National Guard member

Rebuilding Together

Offer by Rebuilding Together:

• For safety purposes whole home rehabilitation
• For accessible home make modifications.
• Facilitation of aging in place

Requirements for Rebuilding Together:

Eligibility based on local applications.

Renovating Hope

American service members and homeowners of injured veterans can get grants for remodeling and home repair.

They can also talk with representatives for assistance.

Many organizations offer free renovation and home repair. Organizations like Home Depot Foundation, Active Heroes, Help America Foundation, The Admiral Roy F. Hoffmann Foundation, and Salvation Army.

Veterans describe any special needs they have, the required repair needs and the current home condition send an email to the organization.