Renting for Veterans: Housing Assistance Information & Useful Resources

Finding the right home and feeling safe in your space is quintessential for everyone, and for the veterans who have served our country, a home should be a place of comfort and safety.

However, securing safe and affordable rental housing can be challenging for veterans. For this reason, the government and specific organizations have created guidelines and legal frameworks that support veterans in the journey to find a home.

There are around 18.5 million veterans in the U.S., and a significant number of them are facing difficulties related to disabilities or means of living. Thankfully, there are many resources available, but navigating all the information out there can be a real obstacle.

To simplify the process of finding a rental home as a veteran, we set out to gather the most accurate and helpful information; useful resources; and comprehensive advice from legal experts in the field, in one complete guide.

Types of Housing Assistance & Available Programs  Home Loans  Eligibility & Applying for Programs  How to Find & Apply for an Apartment  Expert Advice  Useful Resources

Types of Housing Assistance & Available Programs

One of the programs that offers help to veterans with no home is the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development-VA Supportive Housing Program (HUD-VASH). By participating in this program, veterans who struggle with housing can receive Housing Choice Vouchers to help them in securing a place to live.

Additionally, the Grant and Per Diem (GPD) Program is an initiative that offers funds for governments and nonprofit organizations that offer support to veterans for housing stability. Through this program, veterans are offered options for transitional housing, including short-term housing, as well as direct assistance with employment and other social services.

Similarly, Supportive Services for Veterans and Their Families (SSVF) is a program by the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs that supports veterans and their families in finding affordable housing to fit their needs. The program also works with volunteers and is designed to help veterans with mental and physical health management; training and support for entering the workforce as a civilian; and other specific needs and prevention programs.

Likewise, a program that involves the VA campuses and partners is the Enhanced-Use Lease Program. This allows veterans to receive housing and additional support from private entities that are partners of VA. Besides housing, veterans can also access fitness centers, computer facilities, and other amenities in these facilities, as well as receive financial and employment training.

Home Loan Support for Veterans

For veterans who are interested in becoming homeowners, the VA offers support for obtaining loans, too. There are different types of loans that veterans can benefit from:

• VA direct home loan

This type of loan implies that VA is your lender, so they will offer support with everything from applying to managing your loan.

• VA-backed home loan

Conversely, the VA-backed home loan implies that you get the loan from another lender, such as a bank. The VA will help in these situations by providing a guarantee for part of your loan, which means less risk for the lender and increased chances for loan approval. According to the VA, almost 90% of these loans are accepted without down payment.

Eligibility & Applying for VA Housing Programs

As a veteran, you can obtain a certificate of eligibility to apply for VA housing programs, depending on a time-served criterion. This differs based on the period in which you served, so make sure you check the official source for this eligibility criterion. Notably, if you received a discharge on the basis of a service-connected disability, you can apply with a lower number of days served.

When you want to apply for this certificate, make sure you prepare with a copy of your discharge papers, and submit your request on the official platform. If you cannot do so online, an alternative is to mail your request (VA Form 26-1880) to your regional loan center.

How to Find & Apply for an Apartment

Whenever it comes to finding the right place to call home, there are some principles at play to help you find what fits your needs, all while staying safe and protected. In this section, we’ll take you through the process step by step to help you be prepared.

Step 1: Define your needs: location, size, & amenities

The first step is to decide what you need. Begin by settling on a location, at least in terms of the city. If you know the city you want to live in, then start researching neighborhoods and find the place that fits your needs. Then, define your budget and your size requirements. Do you need more than one bedroom? Is there a specific layout that you’re looking for?

Also, if there are specific amenities you require, create a list and prioritize from necessary to nice-to-have. Make sure you know what the deal-breakers are and don’t compromise on them.

Step 2: Start your home search: where & how to find a rental

Once you have an idea of what you’re looking for in an apartment, start your search. Online apartment search websites like RentCafe.com and many others have become the go-to places for finding a rental because they offer the most options in one place to make the entire process easier.

You’ll want to make sure you use a platform that verifies its listings to avoid falling for rental scams. If you’re not sure where to start, you may first want to learn how to choose a good apartment search website.

When you search for an apartment on a real estate listings website, you can apply filters to see only rentals that fit your needs. Beyond filtering for price and size, filters for amenities and property policies can help you narrow down the options. Use comparison tools when available and evaluate your choices side by side. Then, make sure to check property reviews, as well, which is like speaking to the neighbors to find out more about the community.

Step 3: Schedule visits

Once you have narrowed down to a few favorite properties, schedule a time to visit each property. You can make these appointments directly from the apartment search website by using the forms provided on the property details pages.

If possible, avoid renting sight unseen. Instead, go to the apartment premises in person, check that the property has all the features and amenities you need and want, ask questions, and get a feel of what it would be like to live there.

Step 4: Apply & discuss the lease

If you’re set on an apartment, it’s time to apply for a lease. Contact the property manager or landlord and discuss the terms of the lease agreement, as well as any and all special requirements you might have, especially as a veteran.

Specifically, have all of the necessary documentation ready and prepare for background checks and negotiation. Then, it’s time to move on to signing the lease.

Step 5: Signing the lease

After the initial discussion with the landlord or property manager, it’s time to sign the lease. This part involves its own checklist.

• Read carefully

Carefully read through the agreement and ask questions about whatever may be unclear. For every change to the lease that might occur, request a response or confirmation in writing to have hard proof later on, if needed.

• Discuss a military clause

In cases where you might be called back to active duty, a military clause can be added to the lease in order to allow for early termination. For this clause, the conditions must be clearly stated and both parties must agree to the best course of action.

• Discuss aspects related to pets

If you have a pet, make sure you understand the regulations of the property or community related to pets. When renting with pets, keep in mind that additional fees and deposits can be charged. However, if your pet is an emotional support or service animal, these fees should not be charged. Review the legislation in your state for this specific situation, if applicable.

• Discuss specific (safety) requirements

One more aspect to discuss with the landlord is the specific requirements you might have regarding accessibility. Namely, if you need any special amenities in the community or support inside the apartment — such as handrails; bars in the shower and bathroom; or any other item — make sure you tell the landlord so they can accommodate your request.

Recommended reading: Senior Renters’ Guide

Ask the Experts

We asked lawyers and representatives from various non-governmental organizations specializing in veteran affairs to give us some insight into the special protection and benefits that veterans can take advantage of when it comes to housing. Here’s what they told us:

• Altagracia B. Pierre-Outerbridge, Esq., MBA, Outerbridge Law

“Most benefits for veterans are geared toward preventing homelessness in low-income veterans. The Veterans Administration program called VA Supportive Housing (VASH) is an anti-homelessness program for low-income veterans that provides a voucher that pays part of your rent directly to your landlord. These programs are similar to what is available to any low-income applicant but with a preference for veterans. The Legal Services Corporation, created by Congress to distribute money for free legal services, does have money for veterans’ services. This money might allow a nonprofit to defend veterans who are being evicted.

“Some discrimination laws protect veterans, but these are hyper-local. The exceptions are federal laws that cover housing — usually anti-discrimination or federal payment assistance. Contact a lawyer if you think you are being discriminated against for veteran status.

“The biggest single housing benefit is the VA mortgage, which is similar to an FHA mortgage — the easiest way to get a mortgage without putting 20% down. Interest is higher than with 20% down but, unlike FHA, you don’t have to pay mortgage insurance if the down payment is under 20%. Of course, you need to be able to buy a house to take advantage.”

• Akilah Templeton, MPA, MSW, President & CEO, Veterans Village of San Diego  

“The vast majority of rental assistance for veterans comes from federal sources to include project-based and HUD-VASH vouchers; Rapid Re-Housing and Housing Prevention Services; temporary financial assistance in the form of time-limited rental subsidies; and support that includes case management, housing navigation and legal services. Some federally funded programs now offer incentives for landlords who decide to rent to veterans and veteran families who might otherwise have a difficult time qualifying for available units.”

• Shaun Shenk, MPA, former representative of media relations, Department of Veterans Affairs 

“VA does not have any housing protections when it comes to rentals (protections against eviction, penalties for landlords who end leases early, etc.). However, you can find more information that can help you as a renter here: VA Assistance to Help Avoid Eviction – VA Homeless Programs.

“VA offers housing benefits in terms of loans. Currently, more than 3.7 million veterans have active home loans guaranteed by VA, and more than 28 million loans have been guaranteed since its inception.

“VA helps veterans, service members and eligible surviving spouses become homeowners. As part of our mission to serve, we provide a home loan guaranty benefit and other housing-related programs to help eligible individuals buy, build, repair, retain or adapt a home for their own personal occupancy.”

Useful Resources

• https://www.va.gov/homeless/for_at_risk_veterans.asp
• https://www.va.gov/homeless/hud-vash.asp
• https://www.voa.org/supportive-services-for-veteran-families
• https://www.va.gov/ASSETMANAGEMENT/index.asp
• https://www.va.gov/HOMELESS/ssvf/docs/SSVF_Housing_Navigator_Tool.pdf
• https://www.hudexchange.info/incomecalculator/
• https://www.huduser.gov/portal/sites/default/files/pdf/2020-AHAR-Part-1.pdf
• https://www.takechargeamerica.org/helping-our-heroes-resources-for-veterans/