Responding to months of pressure from veterans advocates and elected officials, the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development announced Thursday that it will change a widely criticized rule that excludes the most disabled veterans from subsidized housing designed for them.
The rule, which HUD officials had previously said they could not change, counts service-related disability benefits as income. That compensation, based on the percentage of the veteran’s disability up to 100%, can raise a veteran’s income above the maximum allowed for housing restricted to low-income residents.
“The days of a Veteran having to choose between getting the VA benefits they deserve and the housing support they need are finally over,” Veterans Affairs Secretary Denis McDonough said in a statement. “This is a critical step forward that will help Veterans nationwide — and bring us one step closer to our ultimate goal of putting an end to Veteran homelessness for good.”