Housing Links for Disabled Veterans

As we began our odyssey several years ago to provide specialized Real Estate services to people with disabilities, the Mosaic Realty Group of Prudential  Arizona Properties was reminded that addressing issues of disability comes in three’s.

Three basic areas to be addressed are Housing (our thing), Transportation, and Employment.

And the user groups of these services are, essentially, threefold:  Seniors, Veterans, and people with traumatic injury/disease.

The following links are provided as a means to explore options for near-term or long-term housing needs for Disabled Veterans. (other issues and links have been provided in other posts in this blog)

HOUSING

www.HomesForOurTroops.org
We are Homes for Our Troops, a national non-profit, non-partisan 501(c)(3) organization founded in 2004. We are strongly committed to helping those who have selflessly given to our country and have returned home with serious disabilities and injuries since September 11, 2001. It is our duty and our honor to assist severely injured Servicemen and Servicewomen and their immediate families by raising donations of money, building materials and professional labor and to coordinate the process of building a home that provides maximum freedom of movement and the ability to live more independently.

 

www.vethomesfoundation.org
Review for services for Long Term Care, one of the most demanding services. Veterans homes exist to help America’s living heroes through this difficult passage with dignity and at a greatly reduced cost. This is a great resource for families of veterans in need of assistance.

Hope these links help. Thanks again for your service to all of us.

Accessible Home Modifications for Disabled Veterans

The Veterans Administration has a grant program to assist disabled veterans with home modification, for certain injuries received in active military service.

On Memorial Day 2011 let’s take time to remember those who have sacrificed lives and limbs in protecting the American Dream and way of life – and let us better understand how home modifications are a way for a grateful America to give back to these brave fellow citizens.

Their service, in too many cases, has left our servicemen and servicewomen with disabilities. This, in turn, may keep them from home ownership because of the absence of affordable home modifications. There is an answer. This link can help you learn more:

http://www.benefits.va.gov/homeloans/docs/part1_va_pamphlet_26_jrd_edits_doc.pdf

Disabilities, which the able-bodied population may find uncomfortable to witness, often rob our wounded warriors of life independence and personal dignity. Many of our wounded and disabled veterans are homeless, live in group housing, nursing homes, when with sensible home modification, they could live lives of relative independence.

As I specialize in working with clients with disabilities, I have discovered that most real estate agents, even those who work with veterans and those financing home purchase through VA loans, are not aware of the Grants available from the Veterans Administration for home modification for qualifying disabled veterans.

Please, learn the basics, at least. Remember, this is not a loan. It is a grant. It does not help a qualifying veteran qualify for a VA (or other) loan. It provides monies for home modification, allowing the veteran to suitably adapt their home to meet the requirements of their disability.

Which veterans or service members are basically eligible for the grant?

The Specially Adapted Housing Grant is available to veterans or service members who are entitled to compensation for permanent and total service-connected disability due to:

a. The loss, or loss of use, of both lower extremities such as to preclude locomotion without the aid of braces, crutches, canes, or a wheelchair.

b. Blindness in both eyes having only light perception, plus loss or loss of use of one lower extremity.

c. The loss, or loss of use, of one lower extremity together with (1) residuals of organic disease or injury, or

(2) the loss or loss of use of one upper extremity.

Item (1) and Item (2) above must so affect the functions of balance or propulsion as to preclude locomotion without the aid of braces, crutches, canes, or a wheelchair.

d. The loss, or loss of use, of both upper extremities, so as to preclude use of the arms at or above the elbows.

e. The permanent and total disability is due to a severe burn injury (as so determined).

These veterans have fought to secure or homes and our dreams. Now let us commit ourselves to giving back to our servicemen and servicewomen.