How Landlords Can Support the Mayors' Pledge to Help End Veteran Homelessness - VA Homeless Programs
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VA Homeless Programs

 

How Landlords Can Support the Mayors' Pledge to Help End Veteran Homelessness

Mayors across the United States are making the pledge to help end Veteran homelessness. As landlords, your mayor needs your help! Landlords have a unique opportunity to give back to those who have served. Even if your mayor has not directly reached out to you, you can still support your mayor by prioritizing housing for Veterans.

No Veteran should be homeless in the country they fought to defend. VA cannot address this alone and needs landlords who are interested in housing these Veterans.

Please note: VA does not make direct payments to landlords. Rental subsidy payments described here are disbursed from either homeless Veteran-specific Housing Choice Vouchers administered by local public housing authorities or through nonprofit organizations that administer VA-funded grants.

If you are a Veteran who is homeless or at imminent risk of homelessness, we strongly encourage you to call the National Call Center for Homeless Veterans at (877) 4AID-VET (877-424-3838) or chat online with a responder for assistance. Note: This phone number is an emergency hotline for homeless Veterans and cannot provide additional information about becoming a VA landlord. Please use the form below.

Accepting Housing Vouchers from Veterans

There are multiple efforts through VA to assist low-income Veterans with permanent housing solutions. Housing and Urban Development-Veterans Affairs Supportive Housing (HUD-VASH) is a collaborative program that pairs HUD’s Housing Choice Voucher (HCV) rental assistance with VA case management and supportive services. These services are designed to help homeless Veterans and their families obtain permanent housing and access the health care, mental health treatment, and other supports necessary to help them improve their quality of life and maintain housing over time. Eligible Veterans receive an HCV from a public housing agency (PHA) to get assistance with their monthly rent, as well as case management and supportive services.

Deciding to accept housing choice vouchers is a meaningful way for landlords to provide Veterans with housing. It takes just 5 steps to participate:

  1. Get in contact locally.
    1. Contact your local PHA or your nearest VA medical center to learn more about the HUD-VASH program. The PHA can provide education on the paperwork required to be approved as a HUD-VASH landlord once a Veteran has been selected and approved for your unit.
    2. Fill out our online form to let us know about your available units. We’ll then connect you with your local VA so you can start receiving referrals.
  2. Review HUD's National Standards for the Physical Inspection of Real Estate (NSPIRE) to make sure your property is up to code. 
  3. Screen and select a Veteran tenant and complete the Request for Tenancy Approval (RFTA) form for the PHA, who will schedule the NSPIRE inspection for the unit and building.
  4. The PHA will conduct the inspection and, after the unit has passed, work with you to determine rent and complete a Housing Assistance Payments (HAP) contract.
  5. Meet with the Veteran to review and sign the lease, which is usually agreed upon for 12 months.

Similarly, Supportive Services for Veteran Families (SSVF) offers awards grants to community-based nonprofit organizations, referred to as grantees, to offer rapid housing or re-housing to Veterans facing homelessness. These organizations provide short-term interventions such as security deposits, rental subsidies, housing case management, and financial assistance to support the Veteran in assuming full responsibility for the lease and rent.

Ensure Property Is Up to Code

For HUD-VASH units, the PHA schedules an inspection when it receives the RFTA. The unit must pass inspection before the RFTA can be approved and a lease signed. After the unit is occupied, the PHA will conduct an annual inspection. If there is a problem with the unit, off-cycle inspections can also be scheduled on request.

Review the full NSPIRE checklist.

Other Ways to Help

If you’re not able to accept a rental subsidy, there are several other meaningful ways you can help Veterans.

  • Rent to Veterans at a discounted rate: The housing market is increasingly competitive, and many areas have extremely limited affordable options. If you can afford to charge a lower rate for a Veteran in transition, even for a short period, this can be an enormous benefit.
  • Donate furniture: Renters often move suddenly and sometimes leave furniture behind. Donating gently used furniture and household goods to a Veteran tenant in need can help ease their transition to a new home. Contact your local VA to find an organization that can accept your donation.
  • Share this information with other landlords: Spread awareness of our programs to help Veterans facing a housing crisis by providing this information to other landlords and realtors in your area.

Pledge Your Units 

To pledge your currently available rental units with VA, please fill out the form below:


Landlord Pledge Form

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