Veterans and other service members who have service-caused disabilities may be eligible for a grant from the Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) to make their lives a little easier. This grant would be used to help construct a home that makes it easy for veterans to get around or to modify an existing home to meet their needs. According to the United States Dept. of Veterans Affairs, "The goal of the Specially Adapted Housing (SAH) Grant Program is to provide a barrier-free living environment that affords the veterans or servicemembers a level of independent living he or she may not normally enjoy."

There are two types of grants that are available depending on the disabilities and the severity of the disabilities of the veteran. The first grant, The Specially Adapted Housing Grant, is for veterans who have had a loss of mobility. This grant entitles them to a home that is specially adapted for their needs. The second grant, The Special Housing Adaptations Grant, is designed for those who have blindness in both eyes with 5/200 vision or less or those who have anatomically lost both hands or lost the use of both hands. With either of these entitlements a temporary grant (TRA) may be available if the veteran or service member is residing in a home owned by a family member.

Start Your Loan Request

The United States VA suggests the following steps for those who think they may be entitled to SAH grant.

• 1. Download VA Form 26-4555, Veteran's Application in Acquiring Specially Adapted Housing or Special Home Adaptation Grant. Acrobat Reader 3.0 (or later) will be needed to view and print the form.
• 2. Complete and submit the form to your nearest VA Regional Loan Center.

Check out pictures of specialty adapted housing, or for more information visit the official VA site.

Back to the Veterans' Loan Handbook Table of Contents.