September 27th, 2023 by admin
After their hard work and sacrifice, the US veterans return home with the hope to be treated with honor and respect. Unfortunately, the return of the US veterans is not as happy as they wish to be. One of the significant issues that veterans face is homelessness. The veterans discharged from duty need housing assistance to re-enter civilian life and adjust to social life. This is where the veteran’s apartment assistance comes in. There are different veteran apartment assistance programs that help them in finding affordable permanent housing.
There are different housing assistance programs for veterans. These programs not only help them find a roof above their head but also, there is so much more to know about the veteran apartment assistance programs. If you are a veteran seeking housing assistance, the following programs will be ideal. We will break down the details of the different veteran apartment assistance programs. Also, we will talk about what to discuss with your landlord, the tenant’s rights as a veteran, and the questions to ask.
The Different Programs for Veterans Apartment Assistance
The US Department of Housing and Urban Development -VA Supportive Housing Program (HUD-VASH) offers the veterans who are homeless. These programs offer rental assistance vouchers specifically for privately owned housing. The case managers also help veterans in finding the right housing and amenities for them.
If you are a veteran at risk of losing your home, you can opt for the Supportive Services for Veteran Families (SSVF) to find a better and much more affordable housing solution for veterans through non-profits and grantees. Through grants from the VA, the program helps cover the rent, utilities, security deposits, and moving costs for a specific time.
There is an enhanced-use lease program that uses VA campuses to create spaces for homeless veterans to stay and access much-needed services like financial planning, job training, support groups, computer access, barber services, and more.
How to Apply HUD-VASH?
The rental assistance vouchers are available for those veterans who are eligible for VA healthcare services and who are at risk of homelessness.
After an initial review from the case manager, the candidates should be able to complete the daily activities independently. The program offers mental health treatment, healthcare, and substance use counseling to help them recover.
The Public Housing Authority will review if the veteran meets the HUD program’s requirements and the eligibility criteria based on income. They shall check the family income, the family size, and the assets.
The veteran can choose housing, including single-family homes, townhouses, and apartments, where the landlord agrees to rent under the program. Once moved in, they can pay the agreed amount of rent every month under the voucher program.
How to Apply for SSVF?
To apply for the SSVF program for veteran apartment assistance, you should be a veteran or a member of a veteran family. Also, the veteran should have a low income and be homeless or at risk of homelessness.
The first step is to prove the veteran status, and you can do it with a few documents like the Veterans Department of Defense Form 214 Certificate of Release Discharge from Active Duty or the VHIC Veteran Health Identification Card. You can get the latter by being a part of the VA Healthcare System and applying at the local VA medical facility.
If you are a veteran who is seeking veteran apartment assistance, get in touch with us today. With a mission to end homelessness among veterans, we are here to help every veteran get a peaceful home.
July 24th, 2023 by admin
According to the Department of Housing and Urban Development, on any given night in January 2021, 19,750 veterans experienced homelessness — and 8% of all adults who experienced homelessness were veterans. Though this number slightly decreased from 2020, it’s still far too high.
At the Department of Labor’s Veterans’ Employment and Training Service, we’re working to support veterans experiencing homelessness through veterans housing assistance near by program focused on reintegrating individuals into the workforce and building robust systems to address the challenges veterans experiencing homelessness routinely face.
Many veterans can’t find resources that are readily available to them. Nonprofits have small marketing budgets, which means their services aren’t well-advertised, and they have difficulty letting others know of their mission.
HVRP in action in Washington state
During a recent trip to the Washington State Department of Veterans Affairs (a recipient of an HVRP grant), VETS Assistant Secretary James D. Rodriguez was able to see the effects of this critical program in action: He learned about Arly Bosh, a former infantry soldier with multiple combat tours who struggled when he got out of the Army. Though Bosh faced many challenges that kept him from obtaining employment, he received assistance through the Washington State VA that helped him overcome those barriers.
Bosh credits Jon Matthews, a WDVA Homeless Veterans’ Reintegration case manager, for giving him “a hand up, not a handout” and for providing him with the support and confidence he needed to start working again, which led Bosh to land a job as the general manager at a Best Western in Lakewood, Washington.
The HVRP program provides veterans individualized career plans, including employment training, professional clothing, and transportation. A dedicated case worker is also assigned to help veterans meet their career goals and obtain financial stability. Bosh credits his support through the VA and his case worker for helping him perform his best in the civilian workforce, an experience he says has been “night and day” from where he was before.
As HVRP case manager Holly Stenglein put it, “Our mission is to give veterans back their sense of purpose [and] help [them] get back on their own two feet, and we’ll be there with them every step of the way.”
Bosh’s experience at the Best Western and the services he received from the department paved the way for additional opportunities. They led him to where he is today: employed and living in Montana near his daughter. The move, he says, is just another step toward moving up in the world. And as has been the case throughout his transition into a civilian career path, he remains “in good spirits.”
The best charities that support homeless veterans
Whether you wish to help provide homeless veterans with housing facilities, helping them get a job, or change laws and legislations to improve their lives fr the better, there is a charity for you. Please keep reading to learn more about the best charities for homeless veterans, how they work, and what your best way would be to contribute.
What do the best charities for homeless veterans have in common?
The charities on this list were chosen depending on their mission, impact, transparency ratings, and achievements.
All of these charities work for veterans housing assistance near by in the United States.
Some assist the veterans at an individual level to help homeless veterans find secure, comfortable and permanent housing while, others lobby at the state and federal levels to make laws and regulations to prevent further homelessness from occuring and to help veterans already homeless.
Yet, they all share the same goal which is to improve the lives and livelihoods of homeless veterans.
July 21st, 2023 by admin
A staggering 1.4 million U.S. veterans are still at risk of homelessness. While there are plenty of risk factors, the good news is that there are ways to get veteran assistance. There has been a steady decline in homeless vets, and that trend should persist with continued effort.
According to a HUD (U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development) survey, innumerable homeless veterans are on any night. The HUD is among the institutions giving vouchers to veterans to help them afford houses. Rental assistance programs like Section 8 and public housing are also helping to reduce homelessness among veterans.
While these options can help you find veterans’ apartment assistance, you must understand their requirements and terms. In this guide, you’ll learn more about what each option entails to make a well-informed decision when choosing them.
Housing Assistance Programs for Homeless Veterans
Veterans are at risk of homelessness, mental illness, and substance abuse when adjusting to everyday life like the other population. After several years of service, post-traumatic stress disorder can be challenging when trying to become a civilian.
Contact the National Call Center for the Homeless Veterans at (877) 424-3838 if you are at risk of homelessness or are currently homeless. This call center operates around the clock and can connect you to trained V.A. counselors.
This hotline will also get veteran housing assistance or health care help. If you’ve found yourself homeless, turn to the veteran housing assistance programs discussed below:
Supportive Services for Veteran Families (SSVF)
SSVF is a veteran’s apartment assistance program targeting low-income families on the brink of homelessness or already unhoused.
The program offers rapid rehousing and other essential services to improve your daily living and access to transportation and health care. Check out SSVF’s official page for more details on the benefits and minimum eligibility requirements.
HUD VA Supportive Housing
The HUD VA Supportive Housing program combines clinical services offered through V.A. community-based outreach clinics and medical centers with the housing choice vouchers given by HUD. You can count on it for stable housing and medical treatments.
Since HUD provides housing assistance, you can request to live with your service animal. The program will be ideal if you have a severe substance use disorder or mental or physical health problem.
Armed Forces Retirement Home (AFRH)
AFRH is a veteran housing assistance program targeting senior veterans and surviving spouses. It is rolled out in Gulfport, Mississippi, and Washington, DC. Your service as a limited duty officer, warrant officer, or enlisted member should have spanned 20 years or more to qualify for this assistance.
Some of the perks of the Armed Forces Retirement Home program include long-term care, memory support, and assisted living. You also enjoy occupational and physical therapy, on-site vision, medical and dental care, and access to a full-service library and Internet. Hobby shops, a bowling alley, and a movie theater are also fixed in the facility.
Housing Choice Voucher Program
The Housing Choice Voucher can suit you if you are an elderly veteran, disabled or low-income earner. Your income should be more than 50 percent of the area’s median income you wish to live. Your income should be at most 30 percent of that area’s median income.
Once you qualify, you have the freedom to live anywhere, provided the landlord is accommodating to your subsidy. Expect the local public housing (PHA) to pay part of the subsidy to your landlord while you make up any difference in the fee. You may also be allowed to use the subsidy to purchase a home and bring an emotional support or service animal to the property.
April 25th, 2023 by admin
The transitional housing program for homeless Veterans provides a combination of counseling for substance abuse, access to housing, intensive care coordination, and support services. This program provides more than shelter. The 24-month program offers veterans intensive case management, support services, and treatment. The staff works with veterans individually to help them develop a plan to put their lives back together. After residents are stabilized, they contribute a portion of their income as rent. They also save a percentage to reserve expenses when they complete and move out of the program into permanent housing. The veterans’ transitional living centers are thus excellent support for them.
Who are homeless veterans?
The US Department of Veterans Affairs states that the nation’s homeless veterans are mostly male, with roughly five percent female. Most of them are single; come from urban areas; and suffer from mental illness, alcohol, substance abuse, or co-occurring disorders. Almost one-third of the adult homeless population are veterans.
America’s homeless veterans have served in the World War II, the Korean War, Vietnam War, Cold War, Grenada, Lebanon, Panama, Afghanistan, and Iraq (OEF/OIF), the military’s anti-drug cultivation efforts in South America, and elsewhere. Nearly half of the homeless veterans served in the Vietnam era, almost two-thirds served the country for at least three years, and also one-third were stationed in a war zone.
Roughly 56% of all homeless veterans are African American or the Hispanics, despite only accounting for 12.8% and 15.4% of the US population, respectively.
Meanwhile, about 1.5 million other veterans are considered at risk of being homeless mostly due to poverty, lack of necessary support networks, and dismal living conditions in overcrowded or substandard housing.
Problems faced by homeless veterans
From enrolling in health insurance to finding a new career path, the former military service members face many unique challenges when transitioning out of the military service and returning to civilian life. Yet many do not find adequate training or support to navigate this transition. The risks can be dire for veterans struggling with economic hardship or worsened mental health issues. Studies show that over 40,000 US veterans are currently experiencing homelessness, representing a disproportionate segment of the total homeless population in the US.
While the factors leading to this phenomenon are complex, a lack of access to resources and the full benefits may prevent some veterans from securing affordable housing after retirement from the military.
Why Do Veterans Experience Homelessness?
Veterans are not unlike civilians when it comes to homelessness. They must almost navigate the lack of affordable housing, the economic hardship everyone faces, and the challenges brought by multiple and extended deployments. These factors create a population that deserves housing stability but can often need help with it.
Research indicates that those who served in late Vietnam and post-Vietnam eras are at the most significant risk of homelessness. Still, veterans from the more recent wars and conflicts are also severely affected. For example, veterans returning home from deployments in Afghanistan and Iraq often faced invisible wounds of war, including traumatic brain injury and post-traumatic stress disorder, which correlate with homelessness.
Join us to help homeless veterans get the support they need. Visit https://habitat4veterans.us/.
April 24th, 2023 by admin
For most people, buying a new home is a very exciting and emotional milestone. This can be true for veterans, who have spent several years traveling between bases and are finally looking for a place to call their own.
While the home-buying process can be overwhelming, many resources are available to make it simpler and more affordable for those who have spent almost a lot of their time in the military. So if you’re a veteran and you’re starting the quest for your new home and seeking veterans housing assistance, be sure first to consider these seven crucial home-buying tips.
Understand The VA Home Loan
Most veterans are eligible for a home loan provided by private lenders but supported by the US Department of Veterans Affairs. A mortgage that requires no down, these VA loans are an affordable way for veterans laying down the roots to save. VA loans are the perfect for veteran first-time homebuyers who need more money for a down payment. Credit requirements are looser than traditional mortgages, and a bonus for those with a short credit history. Further, VA loans don’t require the private mortgage insurance (PMI) – a typical insurance form for those who can’t pay 20%.
Funding fees are required with the VA loans, which are not usually included in standard mortgages. However, the prices serve a good purpose as they go directly to the Dept. of Veterans Affairs to pay the program’s costs. In 2020, the funding fee was 2.3% of the first user’s total loan amount and 3.6% for other uses. You can also pay for this fee upfront or simply roll it into the loan. But before moving forward, review the VA loan requirements and ensure that you’re eligible.
Understanding the fundamentals of a VA home loan and adequately using your military benefits are just small pieces of the mortgage process. To better understand how to maximize your benefits of veterans housing assistance, speak with a skilled mortgage lender to discuss what will work best for you.
Explore All of Your Lending Options
VA loans are outstanding for those looking for a loan with nill down payment and fixed closing costs. However, there may be several instances where other loan options are actually a better fit.
Focus on Credit
VA loans usually have looser credit requirements than traditional mortgages, but veterans can still pay attention to one of the essential home-buying tips. Homebuyers need a credit history with more positive than negative indicators. Check your credit score on a reguklar basis to ensure that your current actions are building your credit and not hurting it.
Don’t Forget About Closing Costs
Limited closing costs are one of the great benefits of a VA loan. While the loan has closing costs, the government doesn’t allow veterans to pay many of them. These non-allowable costs include escrow or settlement fees, processing, underwriting, and document fees. The lender may charge a one percent origination fee instead of these closing costs, meaning one percent of the loan amount is due instead.
So what fees will need to be paid? Veterans will pay for a credit report, appraisal, title insurance, recording fees, and a survey. In addition, over the life of the loan, there may be other recurring charges that veterans will be responsible for, such as hazard insurance. Keep in mind that the types of fees and their amounts vary significantly by state. Your lender should provide you with a loan estimate outlining the exact prices you’ll need to pay at closing. You can negotiate these costs, as the seller could pay for some.
Habitat4Veterans helps veterans find housing assistance free of mortgage charges. Visit https://habitat4veterans.us/ now.
January 31st, 2023 by admin
There is no denying the fact that homeownership has been a pinnacle of the American Dream. The VA apartment assistance loan program helps military service members’ dreams come true. However, there are certain factors that veterans must know about the VA loan.
What is VA Loan?
The VA loan is a mortgage program created specifically for veterans and certain military spouses. The US Department of Veterans Affairs guarantees the mortgages, but private lenders finance them. The VA started this loan program to offer service members an opportunity to buy a home with a huge down payment.
Who is Eligible for the VA Loan?
The active-duty service members, national guard, retirees, reservists, and veterans are all eligible for VA benefits. There are certain stipulations. You must meet at least one of the following requirements to qualify for the VA loan. They are as follows:
- They must have 90 consecutive days of service during wartime.
- They must have 181 consecutive days of peacetime.
- Six years of service in the National Guard or Reserves
- You must be the spouse of a service member who dies in the line of duty or because of a service-related disability.
- Also, you should meet the income and credit requirements to qualify for a loan.
- To be eligible for VA apartment assistance, the service member or a dependent should live in the home as the primary residence.
What are the Benefits of a VA Apartment Assistance Loan?
VA loans offer a lot of advantages for homebuyers. However, housing prices are soaring, and housing inventory is at all-time lows, so it isn’t easy to buy a home. First-time homebuyers will face the most significant challenges. The lenders want buyers to have a 20% down payment. Therefore, first-time homebuyers find it difficult to save enough money for a down payment, especially when the prices are spiking nationwide.
In other home loans, the buyers who don’t have a 20% down payment should pay the private mortgage insurance (PMI) till the total equity of the home reaches 20%. With a VA apartment assistance loan, the borrowers can buy a home with zero down payment and won’t have to pay private mortgage insurance. Not only does it eliminate the stress of saving for a high amount of down payment, but it also saves thousands of dollars in insurance payments throughout the life of the loan. Additionally, since the VA guarantees a specific portion of these loans, most lenders offer lower interest rates than a conventional mortgage.
With the VA apartment assistance loan, it becomes easier for military service members and veterans to buy a home. VA loans are sometimes seen as less desirable by sellers. However, veteran homebuyers will have much more competitive offers, with sellers, lenders, and real estate agents learning more about VA apartment assistance and its multiple benefits. As a veteran, if you want a VA loan or access a VA loan to refinance an existing mortgage, it is better to get in touch with a reputable and experienced lender.
Here is What Habitats4Veterans Does?
Habitats4Veterans is a platform that connects veterans with landlords interested in renting out their properties to homeless veterans or someone who wants to offer their properties to the war heroes fighting homelessness. We are also here to assist you with the VA loans and finance programs that empower veterans to get their own houses. Thus, if you are stuck while seeking help from the government, get in touch with us today! We will ensure to help you in the best possible way because our mission has always been to eliminate veteran homelessness.
January 31st, 2023 by admin
There is a lot of complex set of factors that affect most homeless veterans being incapable of getting affordable housing. These include poverty, income loss, lack of jobs, mental illness, health issues, substance abuse, etc. Furthermore, many veterans live with the lingering effect of PTSD, which is often compounded by the lack of family and social support networks. In addition, military occupations and training are not always transferable to the civilian workforce. Thus, it places veterans at a disadvantage when they compete for employment and homeownership.
Who are the Homeless Veterans?
According to the US Department of Veterans Affairs, the nation’s homeless veterans are predominantly male, and roughly 5% are female. Some of them have families, while some of them are single. Most homeless veterans suffer from alcohol and substance abuse, mental illness, and co-occurring disorders. Did you know? About one-third of the adult population are homeless veterans.
Do a quick search on Google about veterans housing assistance near me. You shall see that America’s homeless veterans have served in World War II, the Cold War, the Korean War, Panama, Lebanon, Grenada, Iraq, and Afghanistan. Also, nearly half of the homeless veterans have served in Vietnam. Two-thirds of them have served our country for three years, and one-third were stationed in the war zone.
Almost 1.5 million other veterans are at risk of homelessness because of poverty, lack of support networks and poor living conditions in substandard housing.
How Many Homeless Veterans are there?
It is tough to make a flawless count, but the Department of Veterans Affairs has estimated that there are 107,000 homeless veterans on any given night. Now, the question is, doesn’t the VA take care of homeless veterans? Yes, they do! The VA specializes in homeless veteran’s programs, and they serve a vast number of veterans every year. However, it is also crucial for the local government, agencies, communities, and faith-based service organizations to come forward and extend their helping hand as much as possible to solve the issue of veterans’ housing assistance near me.
The best thing that happened is the VA’s programs for homeless veterans have collaborated with multiple community service providers to help expand the services to many veterans in crisis. The partnerships are credited with reducing veterans’ homelessness by more than half yearly.
What are the Services that the Veterans need, and How Habitats4Veterans Help?
The primary thing that the veterans need is a coordinated effort that offers secure housing for homeless veterans. Also, they need proper nutritional meals, basic physical health care, substance abuse care and aftercare, mental health counselling, personal development and empowerment. Also, the veterans need job assessment and, training & placement assistance. This is where Habitats4Veterans comes in.
The mission of Habitats4Veterans is to help homeless veterans by connecting them with landlords who are interested in renting out their properties at a subsidized rate for the homeless veterans. Also, we are here to bridge the gap for those who want to offer/donate their properties to homeless veterans. At Habitats4Veterans, we are here to help you with the veterans’ housing assistance near you. If you are a veteran and seeking help with housing assistance, we can help you with VA housing assistance programs.
When it is about housing for homeless veterans, we know that it is not a stress-free option. The veterans already must deal with a lot of issues. Our mission is to make things easier for them, and we urge you to join us. Visit us at https://habitat4veterans.us/. We are here to help you in the best possible way because our mission has always been to eliminate homelessness for veterans.
January 30th, 2023 by admin
When deciding where to live after retiring from the military, the first thing that comes to the mind of a veteran is how to find the best affordable housing option. The primary reason is that many veterans have to deal with homelessness after retiring from active military duty. They go through innumerable mental trauma during their active duty. Thus, things are not so easy for them. Also, they have to go through financial troubles. The transition to the new social life is not so easy for them. These factors make it more difficult for a homeless veteran to find an affordable home. If you are a veteran seeking assistance with affordable housing, this blog details the VA homeless housing program. Here are the details on the Veterans Affairs Affordable Housing Program.
Detail on the VA Homeless Housing Program
American Veterans Assistance Group (AVAG) is a qualified 501(c)(3) charitable organization that has offered low- and moderate-income veterans’ quality, affordable housing since 1997, and now it offers help to homeless veterans and their families through the Veterans Assistance Program. There are a lot of programs included within the VA homeless housing program.
- Affordable Home Purchase Program – This program is an affordable manufactured housing for homeless veterans and their families.
- Down Payment Assistance – The veterans, who are qualified, will receive assistance with the down payment while getting affordable housing. This program grants funds with a minimum down payment to buy a new or used home.
- Move-In Subsidies – The veterans, who will be qualified, will have move-in subsidy grant funds to reduce the rent cost during the first 1-3 years after buying their home.
- Financing Options – With the VA homeless housing program, the veterans will have flexible financing options that will offer the qualified veterans with the opportunity to buy a home and also re-establish a good credit line at the same time.
- Handicap Assistance – This program grants funds to qualified disabled veterans who need support with equipment like handicap wheelchair ramps, wheelchair lifts, kitchens, handicap access in bathrooms and other improvements/modifications for the exterior and interior of homes.
Finding an Affordable home? Here is what You Ought to Keep in Mind
After you retire from the military, when planning where to live, choosing an area with easy access to health care is better; many veterans want to be close to a VA facility because of the easy access to the Veterans Administration medical benefits. Also, you must make sure that the neighbourhood is safe. When assessing a local neighbourhood, you should check for reviews and feedback from fellow military or veteran families. These are the people that will understand the unique issues that you are facing and will try to help you.
Many veterans wait until they retire from the unit to opt for affordable housing. Therefore, the reviews are the perfect way to know which neighbourhood is safe for you and your family. Also, connect with a real estate agent who can answer all the questions and walk you through the veteran benefits you have earned.
Habitats4Veterans is a platform with a mission to eliminate homelessness for veterans. If you are a veteran seeking affordable housing solutions, we are here to help you make the best of the VA homeless housing programs. We are here to bridge the gap between homeless veterans and the ones who are interested in helping them by subsidized rent in their properties or someone who wants to offer their properties to homeless veterans at a low rate. If you are a donor who wants to provide their properties to homeless donors, get in touch with us today.
