Policy change increases housing opportunities for disabled veterans

The Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD) recently updated the definition of annual income for veterans seeking services through the HUD-Department of Veteran Affairs (VA) Supportive Housing (HUD-VASH) program. The update now excludes service-connected disability benefits from income eligibility calculations. Previously, VA disability benefits could cause a veteran to exceed the income threshold for assistance under the HUD-VASH program, negatively impacting disabled veterans who need support.

Congresswoman Monica De La Cruz (TX-15), who championed this change within the House Financial Services Committee, praised the update. “Veterans should not have to decide between VA benefits and housing, and receiving disability benefits should NOT limit a veteran from housing assistance," De La Cruz stated. "As I have said before, ensuring our homeless disabled veterans have access to the housing they need is not just a moral imperative; it's a debt of honor owed to those who have sacrificed so much for our country.”

In May, De La Cruz co-led with Rep. Brad Sherman (CA-32) the introduction of the Housing Unhoused Disabled Veterans Act (H.R. 8340). This legislation mandated HUD to amend its policies to exclude VA disability benefits from HUD-VASH annual income eligibility calculations.