The U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD) has introduced new policy changes to improve access to housing vouchers for veterans experiencing homelessness. The revisions specifically address how veterans’ income is calculated for eligibility, ensuring that disability benefits from service-related injuries are no longer counted as income when determining voucher qualification.
Previously, including these benefits as part of a veteran’s income made it difficult for some to qualify for housing assistance, despite their need. With these changes, veterans receiving disability compensation will have a better chance of accessing the housing support and services they deserve, helping to reduce barriers that have kept them from securing stable housing.
These updates come after renewed efforts in Congress to address this issue, particularly for veterans seeking to use HUD-VASH vouchers for supportive housing near VA medical facilities. With California home to a significant portion of the nation’s homeless veteran population, this policy change is a crucial step toward addressing the growing crisis of veteran homelessness, especially in areas like San Diego, where the issue is on the rise.
