SAH Grants
NOVEMBER 19, 2009: Today in Washington DC at the House of Representatives, there was a Subcommittee Hearing on “Adapted Housing Grants”, chaired by Hon. Stephanie Herseth Sandlin, Chairwoman, Subcommittee on Economic Opportunity and Hon. John Boozman, Ranking Republican Member, Subcommittee on Economic Opportunity, it presented a lot of information and its 25 pages in length, so I will place the link for you to read it all for yourselves. Please read the hearing, or you may view the hearing below (If you are having trouble viewing the hearing on this page, please go to the House Committee on Veterans’ Affairs Video.
We at the Disabled Veterans Committee on Housing are joining forces with other veterans organizations to help in the plight of many of our veterans that are homeless and need to have a roof over thier head either for themselves or thier family. We join the President and Secretary of Veterans Affairs said they will eliminate it in five (5) years.
Statement of John S. Lewandowski
President/Chief Executive Officer
Disabled Veterans Committee on Housing
Chairwoman Sandlin, Honorable John Boozman and Members of the Subcommittee on Economic Opportunity, I would like to thank you for the opportunity to submit testimony to the Committee. I would be happy to answer any questions you might have and provide additional information you may need.
Organization Background
I started Disabled Veterans Committee on Housing – a 501(c) (3) nonprofit organization – program because there are so many disabled veterans needing accessible homes who do not know how to achieve this goal. I am a 100 percent disabled Veteran with loss of use of lower extremities. All members of the DVCH Board of Director are disabled veterans. Their knowledge and experience are of great value to the DVCH and those we serve.
The principal goal of the DVCH is assisting, in any way we can, all disabled veterans who have served our country with pride and honor but returned with a debilitating injury such as the loss of the use of lower and upper extremities, are paraplegic or quadriplegic, or suffer from TBI (Traumatic Brain Injury). We can only imagine what they suffer each and every day. We help improve the quality of their lives by building them the home that meets the requirements associated with their disability. The DVCH website, www.DVCHVets.org, provides in-depth information on a wide range of housing and other veteran’s subjects.
The DVCH mission is to – “Provide the highest quality specially adapted home at affordable prices for those who require a greater level of access and mobility.”
The DVCH believes that significantly increasing the inventory of accessible housing is dependent on expanding the public and privates sector partnerships it has formed in Virginia and will expand to other states in 2010. The DVCH has partnered with a wide range of private sector firms (banks, builders, real estate firms, developers, building suppliers, etc.) who have proven track records of providing the services needed by veterans so they can obtain the housing that is both needed and deserved. Our builders have been approved by the Veterans Affair Special Adapted Housing Section. This is extremely important as these companies have the knowledge to successfully comply with IAW Special Adapted Housing Policies and Procedures.
The DVCH carries out a comprehensive program aimed at providing new affordable and accessible housing for disabled veterans throughout Virginia. This is an extremely important initiative as there are so many disabled veterans who qualify for VA housing grants and can obtain financing but are not building new accessible homes because:
- They cannot identify a builder that specializes in this type of housing;
- Need help in deciding on the floor plan including the special adapted features they need to accommodate their disability;
- Do not know how to obtain financing including grants and other forms of assistance they are entitled to; and
- Need assistance in locating and purchasing affordable land.
The DVCH “ONE STOP SHOP” program was developed so disabled veterans can become as independent as possible in their home through a remodel of their present living space or, if that is not possible, then seeking grants so they can move into a new home built to their specific needs. If the veterans injury is service connected they may qualify for a special adapted housing grant which can dramatically to reduce the cost of the home remodel or construction of a new home. The DVCH also works with local Department of Veterans Affair medical officials to determine what medical equipment can be provided to the veteran at NO COST TO THEM.
DVCH staff work with each disabled veteran to determine and address his/her specific mobility needs. We offer clients a full range of services to ensure that designing, financing, lot selection and other aspects of the mew home process are as simple and efficient carried out as possible. Our project team also assists veterans by completing loan applications, with assistance in credit repair, and in applying for government and other disability grants. We typically meet directly with the client in his or her home or wherever is most convenient. All homes offer a wide range of accessibility options, and can be modified to meet their specific medical needs.
“Adapted Housing Grants” Recommendations
The current grant amount of $60,000 is wholly inadequate.
1. The DVCH enthusiastically supports the recommendations submitted by the Homes for Our Troops.
We concur that the current grant ceiling amount of $60,000 is wholly inadequate to cover the current costs of acquiring a SAH and as Mr. Gonslaves stated in his testimony “… often (the grant is) not even adequate to pay for the significant modifications needed for veterans who come back from Iraq and Afghanistan.” with severe injuries
2. The draws which are currently 3 for the life of the veteran needs to be increased to 6 for the life of the veteran.
The reasoning is that veterans continually need to make changes in their homes as their medical condition changes. Then there are the financial needs associated with periodic replacement and/or updating that a home requires so it is properly maintained. If the draw number is not increase this means that many veterans will do without the housing that meets their medical needs.
3. There is a need for more trained personnel in the Specially Adapted Housing Branch of the Regional Offices. As of today, it can take anywhere from eight weeks to eight months to process a veterans application. Such a lengthy delay is an injustice to the veteran who has given so much to our country. Can’t we better serve them by cutting down these long wait times?
4. There is a need to establish a branch within the Department of Veterans Affairs where service-connected injury/illness veterans can obtain approval for construction funding to build their homes and not have to go through the lengthy process – many time unsuccessfully – with private lenders to gain this type of financing.
Those who have service-connected injuries/illness are paid through the Veterans Compensation Board and Social Security. The Board can help the veteran with construction loans, end loans, closing costs, escrow accounts, etc. “We need to take care of the veteran through a federal agency program. The recommended process will eliminate a great amount of red tape and delays that the veteran now has to go through. Payments could be deducted directly from the veteran’s compensation. In part, this system could reduce or eliminate banks foreclosing on veterans properties”.
5. The standard items allowed according to ADA specification should be changed to add items as “required” which are now listed as “optional, such as the following:
- Backup generators
- Swing away hinges on all doors (Internal & External) for the veteran access
6. Many disabled veterans are too young to have homes of their own but require a caretaker on a 24/7 basis. Usually their family takes on this burden yet amount maximum allowed adaptive housing grant is only $12,000. This amount needs to be increase 10 times as to retrofit a home is hugely expensive. It is important the veterans feel their government does care and therefore we ask the Committee to take action to increase the grant amount substantially this session of Congress.
Final Comment
Disabled Veterans Committee on Housing could assist many more veterans with our program if the above recommendations are implemented. We receive countless calls from veterans who want to know how to proceed on obtaining an accessible home. Sadly in so many cases, because of existing laws and policies, we are powerless to help the veteran achieve his or her goals. We can work hand in hand with the Special Adapted Housing Branches to develop a comprehensive recommendations and goals to meet the accessibility and affordability requirements of our veterans.
The DVCH salutes the Army Wounded Warrior, Soldier Family Assistance Center (SFAC), the Warrior Transition Programs and the many other organizations that veterans can turn to for assistance in obtaining an accessible and affordable home. We know that many more soldiers, seamen, airmen and marines have been able to obtain the housing they need as a result of the encouragement, expertise and services these organizations offer.
Thank you Chairwomen Sandlin, this concludes our testimony to the Subcommittee and I look forward to any questions you may have.
Subcommittees
House Committee on Veterans’ Affairs
335 Cannon House Office Building
Washington, D.C. 20515
(202) 225-9756
