HR965-119

What This Bill Does

The Housing Unhoused Disabled Veterans Act changes how certain VA disability and pension benefits are counted for housing eligibility. For HUD-VASH supported housing under section 8(o)(19), it excludes disability benefits received under chapter 11 or chapter 15 of title 38 from income when determining eligibility, while preserving the use of those benefits in adjusted-income calculations. It also excludes those benefits when a household receiving HUD-VASH rental assistance is being evaluated for other types of housing assistance. Section 3 extends the same exclusion to future HUD-administered housing assistance programs on Department of Veterans Affairs property that do not yet exist at enactment.

Who Benefits and How

Homeless disabled veterans benefit because VA disability compensation or pension payments are less likely to push them over income limits for HUD-VASH rental assistance. Veterans receiving chapter 11 disability compensation benefit from a clearer eligibility rule that treats service-connected disability payments differently from ordinary income. Veterans receiving chapter 15 pension benefits benefit from the same exclusion for HUD-VASH and future HUD programs on VA property. Public housing agencies administering HUD-VASH benefit from clearer income-counting rules. VA case managers benefit because more disabled veterans may qualify for supportive housing without losing recognition of disability benefits.

Who Bears the Burden and How

HUD and public housing agencies must apply the income exclusion for HUD-VASH eligibility and related housing-assistance eligibility. The Secretary of Housing and Urban Development must apply the exclusion to future HUD housing programs on VA property. Federal housing budget planners may face higher rental-assistance demand if more veterans qualify. Program administrators still must count the benefits for adjusted-income calculations when determining rent contribution amounts.

Key Provisions

• Provides an income exclusion for chapter 11 VA disability compensation when determining HUD-VASH eligibility.
• Provides an income exclusion for chapter 15 VA pension benefits when determining HUD-VASH eligibility.
• Requires the same exclusion when HUD-VASH households are evaluated for other housing assistance.
• Limits the exclusion so adjusted-income calculations for rent contribution amounts remain unchanged.
• Extends the income exclusion to future HUD housing assistance programs on VA property.
• Defines Department property by cross-reference to title 38.