The federal government ended a rule that disqualified many disabled veterans from federal housing subsidies. On Thursday, Aug. 8, the departments of Veterans Affairs and Housing and Urban Development officially changed the rules so that disability checks would not push veterans’ income above the threshold to receive housing benefits.
The change comes after years of pushback from veterans and advocates for people experiencing homelessness. The now-rescinded rules kept some veterans experiencing homelessness from getting federal housing vouchers because their disability compensation was counted as income. So even though they were among the most in need of assistance, the support they were getting kept them from additional help in getting off of the streets. It essentially kept veterans in a kind of Catch-22, and it has been ruled as illegal.
The VA and HUD announced the change on Aug. 8, updating the rules to the HUD-Veterans Affairs Supportive Housing program, which provides services and housing vouchers for veterans experiencing homelessness.
“No veteran should ever have to experience homelessness, but when they do, they should not face barriers to getting help they deserve,” HUD Acting Secretary Adrianne Todman said in the announcement. “This policy change will ensure that veterans who are receiving the disability benefits they earned through service and sacrifice can access the housing assistance and supportive services they need to resolve their homelessness.”