Handicap Housing Grant ?

[oldman273]

Hey I had been kicking this idea down the road about the grant if you apply qualify and you jump through the hoops. Has anyone out there had any experience with this program? I just have so much trouble with stuff around the house and it looks like It would be easier to start over on making modifacations on my house. I am under water right now with my house If I am able to keep the house I would like to put in for the grant my back Surgeon told me again yesterday he wants to do an MRI he thinks if my back continues its downward slide I am in for another surgery down the road,

When I do build a new place or buy one I am open to any of you is there a web site that the VA offers to use to help a veteran through the process. I got the email and the rep at the VARO advised based on my Medical condition and the cost of modifying the house I am in that I should start looking at the grant process. I know one rep does not mean a hill of beans but my back and my physical needs are what the grant would be awarded. Thanks all I am sure some of you have already been down this road. Have a good day

[jvretiredvet]

There are basically two types of housing grants: the Specially Adapted (SAH) Grants https://www.insuranc.../buying/sah.htm and the Home Improvements and Structural Alterations (HISA) grant http://www.prostheti...a.gov/HISA2.asp .

If I understand the programs correctly, neither is really intended to make repairs on the home but rather to make the home more accessible.

The SAH requires a formal Rating Decision by your friendly neighborhood VA Regional Office to authorize the grant; the above link gives a short synopsis of which service connected disabilities may lead to the SAH grant.

HISA is less formal, and it originates within your VA Medical Center.

The SAH grant is designed for major renovations, and in fact the best and most effective way to use the grant is to build an adapted home. This grant is in the $60+k range.

The HISA grant is limited to about $7k in total. FWIW, you can use both grants if you qualify.

Generally speaking, before any monies are allocated, it has to be determined that whatever the grant is supposed to do can really be done appropriately and that the work actually would be of benefit to the vet. Also, if I recall correctly, there may be some investigation into the veteran's financial situation, that is, can he/she continue payments on the house. Perhaps this is for the bigger SAH Grant though.

The veteran doesn't get his/her hot little hands on the grant money. Rather, the SAH is placed in some sort of escrow account and parts are released to the contractor when certain milestones have been met. WRT the HISA grant, I suspect something similar.

Hey I had been kicking this idea down the road about the grant if you apply qualify and you jump through the hoops. Has anyone out there had any experience with this program? I just have so much trouble with stuff around the house and it looks like It would be easier to start over on making modifacations on my house. I am under water right now with my house If I am able to keep the house I would like to put in for the grant my back Surgeon told me again yesterday he wants to do an MRI he thinks if my back continues its downward slide I am in for another surgery down the road,

When I do build a new place or buy one I am open to any of you is there a web site that the VA offers to use to help a veteran through the process. I got the email and the rep at the VARO advised based on my Medical condition and the cost of modifying the house I am in that I should start looking at the grant process. I know one rep does not mean a hill of beans but my back and my physical needs are what the grant would be awarded. Thanks all I am sure some of you have already been down this road. Have a good day

[Pete53]

I recently got a HISA Grant that paid 6800 dollars to remodel my sunken tub into a walkin shower with a bench seat that took out the original tub and replaced it with the shower with a bench. I am very happy with the result and this weekend I really missed it when I stayed at a motel that had a tub shower.

It basically requires that your primary doc sign a medical statement and states that you could benefit by the Grant. It is not easy but can be done if you don't give up.