Disabled Veterans Gain Access to Supportive Housing Assistance

Veterans who were denied housing assistance due to income restrictions because they receive disability benefits will now be able to access permanent supportive housing thanks to a rule change from the Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD), reports Linda F. Hersey in Stars and Stripes. “Under the rule change, the disability payments will not be counted against veterans applying for ‘permanent supportive housing’ based on income restrictions through the program, known as HUD-VASH.”

Previously, some veterans could not access supportive housing programs because their disability benefits put them above the income threshold. Because veterans with more serious disabilities receive higher payments, some of the veterans with the highest need were excluded from the supportive housing program. Now, “Eligibility restrictions for veterans will be set at 80% of area median income, rather than the current 50% of area median income, HUD said.” 

HUD also committed $20 million to 245 public housing agencies nationwide to fund security deposits and efforts to recruit more landlords to participate in the voucher program.