Housing Unhoused Disabled Veterans Act: New Bill Excludes Certain Disability Benefits from Income Calculations for Housing Aid

The Housing Unhoused Disabled Veterans Act aims to get more disabled veterans into stable housing by tweaking how income is calculated for certain federal housing assistance programs. Specifically, it changes Section 3(b)(4)(B) of the United States Housing Act of 1937. Here's the breakdown:

Cash and Shelter: What Changes

The core of the bill is about excluding specific disability benefits from being counted as income when veterans apply for housing help. These benefits are those paid out under chapter 11 (Compensation for Service-Connected Disability or Death) or chapter 15 (Pension for Non-Service-Connected Disability or Death or for Service) of title 38, United States Code. Basically, if you're a veteran receiving these types of disability payments, that money won't count against you when you're applying for the Department of Housing and Urban Development's (HUD) supported housing program (that's section 8(o)(19)).

Real-World Rollout

Imagine a veteran, Sarah, who receives disability benefits for a service-connected injury. Under current rules, that income might make her ineligible for certain housing programs because her total income appears too high. This bill changes that. Sarah's disability benefits under chapter 11 wouldn't be counted, potentially making her eligible for housing support she previously couldn't access. This applies both to the supported housing program and when determining eligibility for other kinds of housing assistance if Sarah is already receiving rental assistance under the supported housing program. However, it's important to note this exclusion doesn't apply to "adjusted income" calculations, which are used for determining the amount of rent a tenant pays.

For veterans looking to rent on Department property (constructed after this bill becomes law), this same rule applies. The disability benefits won't count towards their income when eligibility is checked, as stated in SEC. 3.

The Fine Print: Challenges and Connections

While the bill aims to make housing more accessible, there are some nuances. The exclusion doesn't apply to "adjusted income" calculations within the supported housing program. This means that while a veteran might become eligible for housing, the amount they pay in rent might not change significantly, as that's based on adjusted income. Also, the bill connects directly to existing laws (the U.S. Housing Act of 1937 and title 38 of the U.S. Code), slotting into the current system rather than overhauling it.

In a nutshell, this bill is trying to level the playing field for disabled veterans seeking housing, recognizing that disability benefits shouldn't be a barrier to getting a roof over their heads. But the impact might be more about opening doors to eligibility than significantly lowering monthly rent costs.