How Landlords Can Help End Veteran Homelessness

The VA needs landlords who are interested in housing Veterans.

Landlords have a unique opportunity to give back to those who have served. Veterans have selflessly defended our nation in times of need — and landlords can make a positive impact by protecting these individuals from the risk of homelessness. Housing Veterans doesn’t just provide shelter, but can lead to life-changing health, social, and socioeconomic outcomes for them and their families. Furthermore, housing Veterans provides a mutually beneficial relationship; landlords will benefit from responsible, often long-term, renters, support from VA, and guaranteed payments that come through Housing Choice Vouchers or grantees offering short-term subsidies.

Please note: VA does not make direct payments to landlords. Rental subsidy payments described here are disbursed from either homeless Veteran-specific Housing Choice Vouchers administered by local public housing authorities or through nonprofit organizations that administer VA-funded grants.

We urge all landlord to consider the information and strategies listed here and to contact us to connect with the local VA homeless coordinator in their area.

Benefits of Renting to Veterans
Reliable income: With HUD-VASH vouchers and SSVF subsidies, a portion of the rent is automatically paid on time to landlords by a public housing authority or an SSVF provider. A team supports the Veteran to provide stability, educates the Veteran on his or her tenancy requirements, and helps the Veteran meet the requirements of the lease, such as paying their portion of the rent on time. In addition, accepting housing vouchers or rental subsidies does not mean accepting less money. The combination of these payments along with the Veteran’s portion matches fair market rental prices, so landlords won’t see less money coming in.
Support from VA: Case management from VA support programs can connect landlords and Veterans with help they may need. Such a network of support creates a solid foundation for Veterans and is more likely to lead to successful and stable tenancy.
Serve those who have served: Landlords renting to Veterans can feel proud of their decision to house those who have answered our nation's call. Such a decision can be consequential in changing a Veteran's life.
Support community health outcomes: The pandemic reminds us that nearly all health is public, and our wellbeing is highly influenced by the health of our community. Veterans experiencing homelessness are at higher risk of contracting COVID-19 as well as developing other health conditions. By providing safe housing to Veterans and their families, landlords can help mitigate these risks, improve community health, and help our nation make progress in recovering from this national tragedy.

Find Tenants

• Reach out to a local VA medical center (VAMC): Each VAMC has staff who are dedicated to connecting Veterans with housing. Contact us let us know about your rental units.
• Contact a local housing authority: Many local housing authorities work closely with HUD-VASH programs and can assist in connecting landlords to both HUD-VASH and Veterans who are eager to rent. Most will have websites and contact information obtainable through a quick internet search. Find housing authorities nationwide by visiting this site.
• Advertise HUD-VASH and voucher acceptance in property listings: If a landlord is advertising a property, they should consider highlighting that they accept HUD-VASH and housing choice vouchers. While federal law does not require a landlord to accept these, some states prohibit refusing a tenant based on voucher payments.
• Consider shared living arrangements: The majority of Veterans experiencing homelessness are single males. Many single Veterans may be interested in shared living arrangements that can help cut down costs, especially in competitive markets. Consider leasing multiple bedrooms in a single-family home to multiple Veterans.

To obtain more information on this program, click here.

• For Landlords

The NRD is a database of validated resources that supports recovery, rehabilitation, and reintegration for service members, veterans, family members, and caregivers

View the National Resource Directory here.

Additional Hotline Numbers

• DoD Safe Helpline: 1 (877) 995-5247
• Military Crisis Line: 988, press 1.
• Veteran Crisis Line: 988, press 1.
• National Call Center for Homeless Veterans: 1 (877) 424-3838 (4AID.VET)
• Wounded Warrior Resource Center (Mos): 1 (800) 342-9647

The Office of Survivors Assistance was established by Public Law 110-389, Title II, Section 222, in October 2008, to serve as a resource regarding all benefits and services furnished by the Department to Survivors and Dependents of deceased Veterans and members of the Armed Forces. OSA also serves as a principal advisor to the Secretary of Veterans Affairs and promotes the use of VA benefits, programs and services to survivors.

In the course of perusing this Web site, OSA hopes that Survivors and dependents, Veterans, their families, caregivers and others will become more knowledgeable about the benefits and services offered by VA to eligible Survivors and dependents, and take the next steps to apply, if deemed eligible.

OSA will continuously improve the design, content and types of communications on this Web site as we move forward, and welcome any suggestions you might have as to how we might modify it further. Also, if you have any questions or concerns please review our  Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs) to determine if they have been addressed. If they are not addressed in this section, please contact us at [email protected].

You can view the  Survivor Quick Guide here.

Access the Application Forms and Information here.

To view more resources, click here.

VA benefits can help Veterans and their families buy homes, earn degrees, start careers, stay healthy, and more. Join an event for conversation and information.

You can view upcoming events here.

Find your local medical center or regional office here.

For very low-income Veterans, SSVF provides case management and supportive services to prevent the imminent loss of a Veteran's home or identify a new, more suitable housing situation for the individual and his or her family; or to rapidly re-house Veterans and their families who are homeless and might remain homeless without this assistance.

Section 604 of the Veterans' Mental Health and Other Care Improvements Act of 2008, Public Law 110-387, authorized VA to develop the SSVF Program. Supportive services grants have been awarded to selected private non-profit organizations and consumer cooperatives that will assist very low-income Veteran families residing in or transitioning to permanent housing. Grantees will provide a range of supportive services to eligible Veteran families that are designed to promote housing stability.

To view more information or to find SSVF Providers in your area, click here.

To become a participant household under the SSVF Program, the following conditions must be met:

• A member of a Veteran Family
• Be considered Low Income. Household income must not exceed 80% of the area median income.
• Occupying Permanent Housing. Must meet one of the following categories:

Category 1- Is residing in permanent housing and at risk of becoming literally homeless but for grantee’s assistance;

Category 2- Is literally homeless, and at risk to remain in this situation but for grantee’s assistance, and scheduled to become a resident of permanent housing within 90 days pending the location or development of housing suitable for permanent housing; or

Category 3-Is literally homeless after exiting permanent housing within the previous 90 days to seek other housing that is responsive to the very low-income Veteran family’s needs and preferences.

To view more detailed information on eligibility, click here.

For additional resources, please call the Homeless Veteran's Helpline at (877) 424-3838.

VA’s Office of National Veterans Sports Programs and Special Events provides Veterans with opportunities for health and healing through adaptive sports and therapeutic art programs. These specialized rehabilitation events aim to optimize Veterans’ independence, community engagement, well-being, and quality of life. The programs are built on clinical expertise within VA, with essential support from Veteran Service Organizations, corporate sponsors, individual donors and community partners.

• Grant Program: The Grants for Adaptive Sports Programs for Veterans and service members with disabilities (ASG Program) provides grant funding to organizations to increase and expand the quantity and quality of sustainable adaptive sport activities that Veterans and service members with disabilities have to participate in physical activity including those for mental health issues within their home communities, as well as more advanced Paralympic and adaptive sport programs at the regional and national levels.
• Training Allowance: Interested in becoming a Paralympic athlete? The VA National Veterans Sports Programs and Special Events Office provides a monthly assistance allowance for Veterans with disabilities training in Paralympic sports, as well as certain Veterans with disabilities selected for or competing with the national Olympic Team, as authorized by 38 U.S.C. 322(d) and Section 703 of the Veterans’ Benefits Improvement Act of 2008.
• National Event Calendar: View upcoming 2024 National Events.

Are you a Veteran who is homeless or experiencing housing instability? 

VA is committed to ending homelessness among Veterans. Our focus is threefold:

• Conducting coordinated outreach to proactively seek out Veterans in need of assistance.
• Connecting homeless and at-risk Veterans with housing solutions, health care, community employment services and other required supports.
• Collaborating with federal, state and local agencies; employers; housing providers, faith-based and community nonprofits; and others to expand employment and affordable housing options for Veterans exiting homelessness.

• If you are a Veteran who is homeless or at imminent risk of homelessness, we strongly encourage you to contact the National Call Center for Homeless Veterans at (877) 4AID-VET (877-424-3838) for assistance.
• You can also call or visit your local VA Medical Center or Community Resource and Referral Centers  where VA staff are ready to help.
• Explore VA Homeless Programs to learn about VA Programs for Veterans who are homeless and share that information with others.
• Work with VA to prevent and end homelessness among Veterans in your community. Learn how you can help by visiting our Stakeholders page.
• Listen to our podcast, Ending Veteran Homelessness, to get monthly updates on resources and services. 
• Download posters, brochures, and other materials  to reach out to Veterans and help VA end homelessness.
• Find additional help for Veterans, Landlords, and
  Business Owners.

   

• For Landlords

VA has a variety of mental health resources, information, treatment options and more — all accessible to Veterans, Veterans’ supporters and the general public. Explore the pages below to learn more about a specific mental health topic or to find information specifically tailored to your needs. You can also visit the Get Help page to explore VA resources that address the unique stressors and experiences that Veterans may face.

Find the Support You Need
Browse our catalog of resources for specific types of Veterans and civilians.

• Transitioning Service Member
• Veteran Looking for Support
• Woman Veteran
• LGBTQ+ Veterans
• Family Member or Friend
• Older Veteran
• Health Care Provider
• College Faculty Member
• Learn about VA Benefits

To view more resources, click here.

VA direct and VA-backed Veterans home loans can help Veterans, service members, and their survivors to buy, build, improve, or refinance a home. You’ll still need to have the required credit and income for the loan amount you want to borrow. But a Veterans home loan may offer better terms than with a traditional loan from a private bank, mortgage company, or credit union. For example, nearly 90% of VA-backed loans are made with no down payment.

VA Home Loans

• Learn about our different VA home loan programs here.
• Surviving Spouses. Determine if you are eligible and find out how to apply as a surviving spouse of a Veteran, a Veteran who is missing in action, or a Veteran who is being held as a prisoner of war by clicking here.
• Foreclosure Prevention. If you are struggling to make your monthly mortgage payments, click here.

Determine if you qualify for a Certificate of Eligibility (COE) here.

• For Prospective Homeowners
• For Homeowners

Learn about the Veterans Housing Assistance grants with the resources down below. 

• About disability housing grants for Veterans. Find out how to apply for a housing grant as a Veteran or service member with a service-connected disability.
• Apply for a Specially Adapted Housing grant. Get financial help to make changes to your home to help you live more independently with a service-connected disability.
• Check your SAH grant claim status. Track the status of an open claim for a Specially Adapted Housing grant.
• Request a decision review or manage a legacy appeal. If you disagree with a decision on your application for housing assistance grants, you can request a decision review. You can also manage any review requests or appeals you already filed.

To view more information, click here.

Learn about the Veterans Housing Assistance grants with the resources down below. 

• About disability housing grants for Veterans. Find out how to apply for a housing grant as a Veteran or service member with a service-connected disability.
• Apply for a Specially Adapted Housing grant. Get financial help to make changes to your home to help you live more independently with a service-connected disability.
• Check your SAH grant claim status. Track the status of an open claim for a Specially Adapted Housing grant.
• Request a decision review or manage a legacy appeal. If you disagree with a decision on your application for housing assistance grants, you can request a decision review. You can also manage any review requests or appeals you already filed.

To view more information, click here.