Help Available For Homeless Disabled Veterans
It seems like homelessness is becoming more and more of a problem in many parts of the country. Even many veterans are without permanent shelter.
This is a sad situation, but fortunately relief may come soon. Multiple lawmakers recently introduced the Housing Unhoused Disabled Veterans Act (HUDVA). The goal of the bill is to get homeless disabled veterans into housing built exclusively for them on veteran land. This would involve making changes to the Department of Housing and Urban Development’s (HUD) definition of annual income to exclude disability payments received by a veteran for eligibility purposes.
The definition of income under HUD is what is making veterans homeless. Currently, many disabled veterans are unable to access housing programs because they allegedly make too much money, even if they only receive disability benefits. The more severe a disability is, the more money a veteran receives. This makes it hard for these veterans to receive housing assistance.
Being a homeless disabled veteran on the streets is no doubt a shameful situation. HUDVA will prevent this from happening. The bill will not take a veteran’s disability benefits into account when determining housing benefits. The benefits will be excluded from a veteran’s income calculation.
HUDVA will serve as a beacon of support for veterans who have bravely defended their country. The bill will ensure homeless disabled veterans have access to the housing they need.
The representatives are working in a bipartisan manner to exclude disability income from a veteran’s income calculation for Housing and Urban Development-Veterans Affairs Supportive Housing (HUD-VASH) program, as well as the Community Development Block Grant Program.
This bill would open housing opportunities to thousands of veterans across the United States. These heroes are getting the aid they deserve. The hope is to quickly move this bill through the legislative process.
Those in favor of the bill say that a veteran’s benefits recognize their important service. Those benefits should never be the reason a veteran is disqualified from other programs. It just doesn’t make sense. Federal tax authorities do not count veterans benefits as income, and it’s time for federal housing programs to do the same.
The HUD-VASH program provides rental assistance to veterans with some assistance from the Department of Veterans Affairs. However, there are Area Median Income (AMI) caps in place and requirements that disability benefits be included in a veteran’s annual income calculation, causing many homeless disabled veterans to be disqualified from this vital support.
Learn More About Veterans Benefits
Veterans are entitled to many benefits, and Congress is making sure that no veteran is without shelter. Veterans have made many sacrifices for their country and they deserve every benefit possible.
Not sure what you are entitled to receive? Contact a White Plains veterans disability benefits lawyer from The Law Office of Michael Lawrence Varon. We are an experienced legal advocate with decades of experience. To schedule a free consultation, call 914-294-2145 or fill out the online form.
Source:
sherman.house.gov/media-center/press-releases/congressman-sherman-introduces-housing-unhoused-disabled-veterans-act
