Posted on Sep 17, 2023
The VA Built Housing For Disabled Veterans. But A Federal Rule Is Locking Many Out
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Veterans Affairs administrators and advocates are urging federal officials to change a rule that disqualifies some L.A.-area unhoused veterans from government-funded housing.
The rule has kept hundreds of unhoused veterans with serious disabilities — caused by their military service — from living in apartments on the sprawling 400-acre West L.A. Veterans Affairs campus. Federal housing officials have said their hands are legally tied.
The problem isn’t limited to just Los Angeles. VA officials told LAist that cities across California — and the country — are dealing with the same limitations. They include San Diego, Fresno, San Francisco, Oakland, Reno, Portland, Seattle, Chicago and New Orleans.
The national problem stems from a Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD) rule that counts veterans’ federal disability stipends as income. That money, combined with Social Security, can put their income level just high enough to disqualify them from housing.
The rule has kept hundreds of unhoused veterans with serious disabilities — caused by their military service — from living in apartments on the sprawling 400-acre West L.A. Veterans Affairs campus. Federal housing officials have said their hands are legally tied.
The problem isn’t limited to just Los Angeles. VA officials told LAist that cities across California — and the country — are dealing with the same limitations. They include San Diego, Fresno, San Francisco, Oakland, Reno, Portland, Seattle, Chicago and New Orleans.
The national problem stems from a Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD) rule that counts veterans’ federal disability stipends as income. That money, combined with Social Security, can put their income level just high enough to disqualify them from housing.
The VA Built Housing For Disabled Veterans. But A Federal Rule Is Locking Many Out
Posted from laist.com
Veterans Affairs (VA)
Housing
Disability
Homeless
Posted 1 y ago
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PO1 William "Chip" Nagel good day Brother William, always informational and of the most interesting. Thanks for sharing, have a blessed day!
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I'm slightly confused by the approach being discussed.
I'm only slightly familiar with the program, but the VA and HUD have a program specifically targeting homeless veterans called the Veterans Affairs Supportive Housing (HUD-VASH) program*. Under HUD-VASH, income-targeting requirements do not apply*.
Instead of trying to rewrite laws, why not expand an existing program that already addresses it? Los Angles county itself has over 8,300 HUD-VASH vouchers available for use*.
However, if the program doesn't apply, then fully support changing the law so that VA disability doesn't count.
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* https://www.va.gov/HOMELESS/HUD-VASH.asp
* https://www.hud.gov/sites/documents/VASH-REFERGUIDE2012-10.PDF
* https://www.hud.gov/sites/dfiles/PIH/documents/HUD_VASH%20Awards%20% [login to see] %29%20-%20Public%20Copy.pdf
I'm only slightly familiar with the program, but the VA and HUD have a program specifically targeting homeless veterans called the Veterans Affairs Supportive Housing (HUD-VASH) program*. Under HUD-VASH, income-targeting requirements do not apply*.
Instead of trying to rewrite laws, why not expand an existing program that already addresses it? Los Angles county itself has over 8,300 HUD-VASH vouchers available for use*.
However, if the program doesn't apply, then fully support changing the law so that VA disability doesn't count.
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* https://www.va.gov/HOMELESS/HUD-VASH.asp
* https://www.hud.gov/sites/documents/VASH-REFERGUIDE2012-10.PDF
* https://www.hud.gov/sites/dfiles/PIH/documents/HUD_VASH%20Awards%20% [login to see] %29%20-%20Public%20Copy.pdf
Apply for and manage the VA benefits and services you’ve earned as a Veteran, Servicemember, or family member—like health care, disability, education, and more.
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