Providing financial assistance to our veterans is an important service that can be given to those that have served in the military and protected our country. Because of the commonality of financial or loan needs, there are various programs in place, and they are typically run by our government’s Veteran’s Affairs office (VA), to better help our veterans.
After returning home from deployment, soldiers may be recovering from injuries, coping and adjusting to a newly acquired disability, or just trying to get a financial helping hand with laying out their future. Veterans sometimes learn that a little bit of assistance in finding them a suitable and affordable home for them and their families is just the help they need. Fortunately, there are various programs out there designed to help with this. Below, we’ll review some of them.
VA-Backed Home Loan
With a VA-Backed Home Loan, a veteran who qualifies can apply for a mortgage with a non-VA bank in order to purchase a home. Lenders are more inclined to offer a mortgage to them because the VA will cover a portion of the losses if the borrower happens to default on the loan. Somewhere around 90% of these loans are given out without the requirement of paying a down payment. Oftentimes better terms are generally offered to the borrower as well because the lender has the support of the VA in case of any issues regarding repayment.
VA Direct Home Loan
This loan is different from a VA-Backed home loan because all mortgages and applications provided by the VA office go straight to the borrower. In most scenarios, there isn’t a down payment required and there are very competitive interest rates offered to the borrower.
Department of Veterans Affairs Supportive Housing
This HUD-affiliated program, Veterans Affairs Supportive Housing (VASH), is aimed at helping homeless veterans, or those who suffer from mental health or substance abuse problems. With the help of this program, a qualified veteran can be put into an affordable and permanent residence and also receive counseling and the assistance of a case manager.
Interest Rate Reduction Refinance Loan
An Interest Rate Reduction Refinance Loan (IRRRL) is available to veterans who are looking for some form of re-financing, but already have a mortgage in place. This program allows borrowers to restructure their mortgage with the help of the VA which in turn provides them with more desirable mortgage terms and more affordable monthly payments.
Housing Choice Vouchers
This program isn’t just for veterans but it is remarkably useful for ensuring that low-income families can afford adequate, safe, and clean housing. For individuals that qualify, this HUD-run program allows vouchers to cover a set amount of the rental cost to rent out a home that’s available in the private sector. The local PHA (public housing authority) will front a portion of the money to the landlord or owner of the home, leaving the resident responsible for paying the rest.
Public Housing
Even though it is income-based, it can be an invaluable resource for veterans and their families that are experiencing difficulties finding a house within their budget. With the help of HUD-run public housing programs, low-income veterans and their families can more easily find suitable housing within government-run projects. Rental fees typically range somewhere between 10-30% of the veteran’s monthly income.
Supportive Services for Veteran Families
The Supportive Services for Veteran Families (SSVF) program provides grants to organizations that exist to prevent veterans who may potentially lose their homes while facing a financial crisis. This program can be an excellent option if the veteran’s family needs urgent assistance since a case manager will be assigned to find another residence and promptly facilitate moving into alternative housing.
Adaptive Housing Grants Program
The Adaptive Housing Grants Program aims to help disabled veterans. Making improvements or modifying a house in order to assist disabled veterans allowing them to function independently can be costly. This program is designed to provide necessary funding for when changes need to be made to the home.