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HOW TO APPLY FOR VA HOUSING GRANTS The easiest way to apply for a VA housing adaptation grant is through the VA eBenefits portal. You can also apply by mail or through a VA regional office.
Learn more about the application process or call the VA toll-free at 877-827-3702 for assistance. You also can get help from a veterans service organization. To get started, be sure to
have your Social Security number and VA file or claim number if you have one. If you’re approved, the VA will assign a grant agent to work with you through the entire process. The agent can
help you find contractors who specialize in these programs. Curt Kiriu, president of CK Independent Living Builders in Mililani, Hawai‘i, specializes in renovations to make homes accessible
for injured service members from the nearby Tripler Army Medical Center and for military retirees who want to stay in Hawai‘i. He analyzes grant applicants to determine changes to make their
homes work for them. “I assess the area based on getting in and out, getting to the bathroom and functioning within their home, looking at the possibilities and the costs,” he says. Kiriu’s
advice for applicants is to: RESEARCH WHAT EXACT ACCOMMODATIONS a grant will cover and how much it will realistically pay for. IDENTIFY ANY COSTS THE VETERAN PAYS out of pocket to cover
items if a project costs more than the grant. Most grants are specific about what they’ll cover and the amount. For example, a home modification grant may cover building a ramp or installing
a chairlift, but it may not cover a vertical platform lift or elevator. Video: How to Identify Two Scams Targeting Veterans LIST the needed modifications. “Be prepared by having a written
list of the modifications they need, not necessarily what they want or desire,” Kiriu says. “The process can go quicker when the applicant has a list they and the grantor can review, which
may also help the contractor when submitting an estimate.” KNOW THE LIMITATIONS and purpose of the grant. “Grants have specific reasons,” he says. “Government grants, as well as
private-sector grants, may only cover the basic needs of the applicant and not something more extravagant. For example, they may remove the existing carpet for easier mobility with a
wheelchair or walker and install tile, vinyl plank or even sheet vinyl flooring, but they may not be accepting to installing cherry hardwood flooring. Each type of flooring serves the
purpose for easier mobility, but cherry hardwood flooring is substantially more expensive.” Certified aging-in-place specialists, called CAPS, are experienced in home adaptation renovations.
You can find one near you through the National Association of Home Builders. _AARP’s survey included 1,311 veterans 45 or older and was conducted from Dec. 1 to 17, 2023, with a margin of
error of plus or minus 3.1 percentage points._