Home Modifications for Wounded Warriors
Making a home accessible can mean many different things. It can mean installing wider doorways, adding wheelchair ramps, or anything else that helps someone living with a disability. However, no matter what accessibility modifications are needed, they all share the same purpose - helping the occupant live as independently as possible. For many veterans, home accessibility modifications are a necessary part of their daily lives. That's why so many government and community organizations have come together to create various resources to help with any financial or technical aspects related to home modifications.
Government departments, such as the Department of Veterans Affairs (VA), provide a variety of veteran-specific services, including home modification assistance. These departments also offer grants, like the Specially Adapted Housing Grant, designed to help disabled veterans purchase or modify housing to accommodate their needs and living requirements. They also provide technical advice about accessible home design and construction to assist veterans new to accessibility modifications.
Nonprofits and volunteer organizations are also dedicated to helping wounded veterans with accessible home modifications. For example, Homes for Our Troops (HFOT) is a nonprofit organization that uses donations to build specially adapted homes for severely injured veterans. These organizations also provide help in the form of financial support, labor, and building materials. In addition to those resources, many community services and research programs offer assistance with accessible home modifications and relevant information.
The U.S. Government's Disability Services - This page provides comprehensive information and resources for a wide range of federal government disability services.
Access the 203(k) Rehab Program Via the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development - This program helps homeowners rehabilitate properties and low-income individuals buy homes and rehabilitate them. Modifications for accessibility may also be eligible under the program.
The Blinded Veterans Association - The Blind Veterans Association is a nonprofit organization that provides support, advocacy, and social activities for blinded veterans. It also offers guidance on home modifications to accommodate special needs.
A Helpful Directory of State and Local Governments - Getting the right help when it comes to home modifications is easier with this official website that lists countless state agencies, and city and county governments. It also offers resources helpful to veterans and grants sites by state.
Resource for Veterans Living Alone or in Rural Communities - This National Library of Medicine's research paper provides valuable information on veteran-specific home modifications and the challenges of living alone or in rural areas.
Repair Corps Program - The Repair Corps program, sponsored by the Home Depot Foundation and Habitat for Humanity, helps veterans by providing free home repairs and modifications.
Take Advantage of the Coalition to Salute America's Heroes - Usually, eligible veterans can get assistance with housing repairs and other resources from the Coalition to Salute America's Heroes, and this page provides detailed information about its services.
Veterans Navigator for Virginia Veterans - This is a directory of local programs and services that wounded warriors in Virginia can use to get home modification assistance.
Disabled American Veterans - Wells Fargo has partnered with Disabled American Veterans to offer strategic home repair programs, which include modifications to improve accessibility.
No-cost Preventive Home Modifications - Rebuilding Together has a program dedicated to preventive home modifications and strategic repairs, which help veterans and their families prevent injuries in the home at no cost.
The Top Home Modification Financing Options and Processes - Understanding eligibility requirements, the process of making applications, and the types of grants and loans available is essential in making the whole process easier for wounded veterans.
VA Home Improvement Grants Available to Veterans (PDF) - There are a variety of grants available for veterans who need help with home modifications, and this resource provides the top three.
The Institute for Human Centered Design - Wounded warriors can easily access courses, workshops, conferences, and materials related to home modification through this organization to make sure their homes are accessible and adaptable.
Specially Adaptive Housing - This page provides comprehensive information on how disabled veterans can construct or purchase adapted homes.
Wounded Warrior Project Asks for Expanded Benefits for Specially Adapted Housing - Derek Fronabarger, WWP director of government affairs, talks about actions of the Congress concerning the home modifications for wounded warriors.
Homes for 'Wounded Warriors' Designed with Help of UB Architect - Danise Levine, an architect, gives examples of viable home designs for wounded warriors and their families.
Montgomery County Department of Health and Human Services - This page provides details about the Specially Adapted Housing Grant program, which offers financial assistance to Maryland veterans with service-connected disabilities so they can purchase and modify a home.
Helping Disabled Veterans Live Independently - From the importance of home modifications to the types of modifications that we can make, this resource provides valuable information to help disabled veterans live independently.