this U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD) announced Thursday that it is expanding HUD-Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) Supportive Housing (HUD-VASH) Program. This would change the way benefits are calculated so that homeless veterans are not excluded because of their higher incomes.
“Homeless veterans often receive Veterans Administration benefits for injuries or illnesses that have worsened during military service,” HUD explains. “Prior to this change, these benefits were considered income when determining eligibility for certain supportive housing developments – resulting in some veterans exceeding the income threshold for these programs.”
The policy changes announced Thursday are intended to “help more homeless veterans with service-connected disability benefits gain access to these housing developments,” the department said. “In addition, HUD today awarded $20 million in grants to public housing agencies to continue improving the HUD-VASH program.”
There are two key provisions to the planned changes. First, they would require public housing agencies (PHAs) that administer HUD-VASH to “set initial income eligibility for veterans at 80 percent of area median income,” up from the current threshold of 50 percent. Currently, the higher initial income eligibility threshold is optional, and some public housing authorities “have already adopted higher thresholds, but HUD is now mandating that higher threshold.”
Second, the changes implement an alternative definition of annual income for HUD-VASH applicants and participants that “excludes veterans’ service-connected disability benefits in determining eligibility,” HUD explains. “Other housing subsidy programs may adopt this alternative annual income definition to determine income eligibility.”
HUD Acting Secretary Adrianne Todman added that providing tailored support for veterans will be an important step toward accessing housing assistance for low-income veterans.
“No veteran should ever experience homelessness, but when they do, they shouldn’t face barriers to getting the help they deserve,” Todman said in a statement. “This initiative “The policy changes will ensure that veterans who receive disability benefits through service and sacrifice have access to the housing assistance and support services they need to address homelessness.”
Veterans Affairs Secretary Dennis McDonald added that some veterans may choose housing over other critical types of assistance if housing assistance jeopardizes their ability to obtain housing due to income thresholds.
“The days of veterans having to choose between the VA benefits they deserve and the housing support they need are finally over,” McDonough said in a statement. “This is key to moving forward. “
HUD also revealed that it has been working with Ministry of Finance “Determining the impact of alternative income definitions on HUD-VASH participants seeking Low Income Housing Credit-subsidized housing.” Treasury is expected to provide guidance on its findings soon. HUD will also encourage any relevant State programs to align with the new HUD-VASH standards outlined in these changes.
“Every veteran deserves a roof over our heads, and the Biden-Harris administration is doing everything it can to end veteran homelessness,” said Neera Tanden, White House domestic policy adviser. “Today’s action reflects this. President Biden and Vice President Harris are committed to breaking down housing barriers so every veteran can get the benefits they deserve.”
Thursday’s announcement reportedly coincides with the third day of a nonjury trial in California’s lawsuit against the Veterans Administration. Los Angeles Times. Mark Rosenbaum, an attorney for the suit, told the outlet the change was welcome but “years overdue.”
“It should take lawsuits and a federal judge ruling that the cruel and insane policy of keeping our most disabled veterans on the streets instead of housing is illegal and discriminatory can finally end this,” Rosenbaum said.
Rep. Brad Sherman (D), represents part of Los Angeles County United States House of Representativesattributes this development to Todman.
“I think she’s done more with that,” he told the Los Angeles Times.
