How to Get Financial Help for Veterans Paying Rent

Eligible veterans can receive a one-year free-rent voucher from the HUD-VASH program.

The Department of Housing and Urban Development and the Department of Veterans Affairs Supported Housing (HUD-VASH) Program helps veterans with various supportive services, in addition to housing support and rent assistance for veterans who cannot make their rent payments and are homeless or in danger or becoming homeless. If eligible, you need to contact HUD-VASH and speak to a case manager for financial assistance. If the case manager determines you are eligible for the program, you will receive a voucher for one year of free rent in Section-8 housing.

Things You'll Need

• Personal financial information

Instructions

1. Determine whether you are eligible for the HUD-VASH program. Eligible veterans must be homeless, living in a place not meant for human habitation (car, abandoned building), living in an emergency shelter, living in transitional housing, in danger of eviction within one week from private or rented housing, or being discharged from a residential institution (prison, hospital) where the veteran has resided for more than 30 days. The veteran must also agree to participate in case-management services, which will be provided by the Veterans Administration.

2. Contact a Veterans Administration (VA) office or any other Veterans' Assistant organization in your area. Consult the location resource provided by the VA at the State Veterans Affairs Offices website for a list of all VA offices in the United States and United States Territories.

3. Speak to a case manager. Tell him or her that you would like to receive a rent voucher and assistance from the HUD-VASH program. You will need to tell the case manager about your housing need. Provide your case manager additional financial information, such as medical bills and debt. If you qualify for the program and there are vouchers available for your area, you will be given a voucher for one year of free rent in any Section-8 housing.

4. Take your rental voucher to a Section-8 housing location of your choice. Consult the resource at the Section 8 Housing List website for a comprehensive list of all Section-8 housing in the United States. Once there, you can find Section-8 housing by state and county.

References

• Veterans Administration: HUD-VASH
• Need Help Paying BIlls: Help with rent from the Veterans Affairs Supportive Housing Program
• Veterans Administration: Qs & As to understand implementation of the HUD-VASH program

Resources

• Veterans Administration: State Veterans Affairs Offices
• Section 8 Housing List: Helping you locate section 8 rental properties