What we verified in “HUD-VASH: housing vouchers and VA support for homeless veterans”

Statements and where we checked them

The statements with rules, figures or dates, with the exact place in the source and the date we checked them.

1. According to the Department of Veterans Affairs (VA), HUD-VASH is a partnership between HUD and VA that combines a HUD Housing Choice Voucher, which helps pay rent for qualifying housing, with VA case management and supportive services that help veterans stay housed; that support may include connections to health care, mental health care, substance use treatment and employment resources.

   Sources 1 · HUD-VASH: 'The Housing and Urban Development-VA Supportive Housing (HUD-VASH) program is a partnership between the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD) and VA'; 'A Housing Choice Voucher (HCV) from HUD that helps pay rent for qualifying housing'; 'VA case management and supportive services that help Veterans remain successfully housed'; 'This may include connections to health care, mental health care, substance use treatment, employment resources' · Checked October 31, 2026

2. According to VA, once approved, veterans receive a voucher to rent a privately owned apartment or home from a landlord who accepts vouchers; after they are housed, the VA supportive housing component continues, and every participant is paired with a VA case manager who provides clinical support (primary care, mental health and substance use treatment), practical help with budgeting for rent, understanding a lease and working with the landlord, and long-term support for as long as needed.

   Sources 1 · HUD-VASH, 'How the HUD-VASH voucher program works': 'Once approved, Veterans receive a housing voucher that can be used to rent an eligible privately owned apartment or home from a landlord who accepts vouchers'; 'Every participant is paired with a trained VA case manager who provides'; 'Direct connection to primary care, mental health services, and substance use treatment'; 'Practical help with budgeting for rent, understanding a lease, and maintaining a positive relationship with their landlord'; 'continues for as long as needed to help them remain stable in their home' · Checked October 31, 2026

3. According to VA, the program is tailored for veterans experiencing homelessness who need ongoing, intensive case management because of more complex challenges, such as chronic health conditions, that make finding and keeping housing harder.

   Sources 1 · HUD-VASH, 'Is HUD-VASH right for you or a Veteran you know?': 'The program is specifically tailored for Veterans experiencing homelessness who have a need for ongoing, intensive case management due to more complex challenges, such as chronic health conditions' · Checked October 31, 2026

4. According to VA, because HUD-VASH uses a voucher, veterans generally can choose housing in the private rental market, provided the landlord accepts the voucher, the unit meets HUD requirements and the rent falls within local program guidelines; and a VA case manager can help with the search.

   Sources 1 · HUD-VASH: 'Veterans generally have the flexibility to choose housing in the private rental market, provided'; 'the landlord accepts the voucher'; 'the housing unit meets HUD requirements'; 'the rental falls within local program guidelines'; 'A VA case manager can help them understand their options and navigate the housing search process' · Checked October 31, 2026

5. According to VA, HUD-VASH operates in all 50 states, Puerto Rico, Guam and the U.S. Virgin Islands; and Tribal HUD-VASH provides rental assistance and supportive services for eligible American Indian and Alaska Native veterans.

   Sources 1 · HUD-VASH: 'The program operates in all 50 states, Puerto Rico, Guam, and the U.S. Virgin Islands'; 'Tribal HUD-VASH provides rental assistance and supportive services specifically for eligible American Indian and Alaska Native Veterans' · Checked October 31, 2026

6. According to VA, if you are a veteran who is homeless or at imminent risk of homelessness, VA strongly encourages you to call the National Call Center for Homeless Veterans at 877-424-3838; the call is free, confidential and available 24 hours a day, 7 days a week, and connects you to your nearest VA.

   Sources 1 · HUD-VASH, 'Contact VA for help': 'we strongly encourage you to contact the National Call Center for Homeless Veterans at 877-424-3838 for assistance'; 'The call is free, confidential, and available 24 hours a day, 7 days a week'; 'connect you to your nearest VA for help' · Checked October 31, 2026

7. According to VA, veterans who are homeless or at risk can call or visit their local VA Medical Center and ask for a Homeless Coordinator; they can chat online with a VA counselor any time, free and confidential, and family members or friends helping a veteran can too; and if you have thoughts of suicide or emotional distress, you can call or text 988 and press 1 for the Veterans Crisis Line.

   Sources 2 · National Call Center for Homeless Veterans: 'can call or visit their local VA Medical Center (VAMC) and ask for a Homeless Coordinator'; 'You can chat online with a trained VA counselor any time, day or night. The chat is free and confidential'; 'family members or friends helping a Veteran'; 'Call or text 988 , then press 1 for the Veterans Crisis Line' · Checked October 31, 2026

8. According to HUD, if you are a veteran looking for housing assistance, contact a VA medical center near you and mention your interest in HUD-VASH; and VA provides case management and clinical services at VA medical centers, community-based outreach clinics, through VA contractors or through other VA-designated entities.

   Sources 3 · HUD-Veterans Affairs Supportive Housing (HUD-VASH): 'Contact a VA medical center near you and mention your interest in HUD-VASH'; 'combines HUD’s Housing Choice Voucher (HCV) rental assistance for homeless Veterans with case management and clinical services provided by the Department of Veterans Affairs (VA)'; 'at VA medical centers (VAMCs), community-based outreach clinics (CBOCs), through VA contractors, or through other VA designated entities' · Checked October 31, 2026

9. According to HUD, HUD-VASH is generally administered under regular Housing Choice Voucher and project-based voucher rules (24 CFR parts 982 and 983), but the law lets HUD waive or set alternative requirements for the program; those are in the HUD-VASH Operating Requirements, whose current version was published August 13, 2024.

   Sources 3 · HUD-Veterans Affairs Supportive Housing (HUD-VASH): 'Generally, the HUD-VASH program is administered in accordance with regular HCV and PBV program requirements'; 'allows HUD to waive or specify alternative requirements'; 'The alternative requirements are established in the HUD-VASH Operating Requirements'; 'This 2024 update to the HUD-VASH Operating Requirements Notice establishes the policies and procedures'; 'This version was published August 13, 2024' · Checked October 31, 2026

10. Under the HUD-VASH Operating Requirements (89 FR 65769), HUD waived the housing law's requirement that homeless veterans have chronic mental illnesses or chronic substance use disorders, with required treatment, as a condition of receiving the assistance.

    Sources 4 · Section 8 Housing Choice Vouchers: Revised Implementation of the HUD-Veterans Affairs Supportive Housing Program, 89 FR 65769 (August 13, 2024): 'which requires homeless veterans to have chronic mental illnesses or chronic substance use disorders with required treatment of these disorders as a condition of receipt of HUD-VASH assistance, is waived' · Checked October 31, 2026

11. Under the Operating Requirements, VA determines eligibility and selects veterans, and refers eligible families to the partnering housing agency to issue a voucher; the agency must accept those referrals; it may not maintain a waiting list or apply local preferences for HUD-VASH; and whether a person qualifies as a veteran for the voucher is decided by the VA medical facility.

    Sources 4 · 89 FR 65769, section II.A: 'Eligibility determination and veteran selection is done by the VA'; 'HUD-VASH eligible families are referred to the partnering PHA for the issuance of a voucher'; 'the PHA must accept these referrals'; 'PHAs are not authorized to maintain a waiting list or apply local preferences for the HUD-VASH program'; 'The determination of whether an individual qualifies as a veteran for the purposes of a HUD-VASH voucher is made by the VA medical facility' · Checked October 31, 2026

12. Under the Operating Requirements, by administering HUD-VASH the housing agency gives up its regular rules for determining eligibility, except income eligibility and lifetime sex offender status; it may not deny assistance on the general voucher grounds or for criminal activity or alcohol abuse, with one exception: it must deny admission if any household member is subject to lifetime registration under a state sex offender registration program; but if that person is not the veteran, the rest of the family may be served if it agrees to remove that person from the household.

    Sources 4 · 89 FR 65769, section II.A: 'the PHA is relinquishing its authority to determine the eligibility of families in accordance with regular HCV program rules and PHA policies with the exceptions of income eligibility and lifetime sex offender status'; 'PHAs will not have the authority to screen any potentially eligible family members or deny assistance for any grounds permitted under 24 CFR 982.552'; 'PHAs will still be required to prohibit admission if any member of the household is subject to a lifetime registration requirement under a State sex offender registration program'; 'the remaining family member(s) may be served if the family agrees to remove the sex offender from its family composition' · Checked October 31, 2026

13. Under the Operating Requirements, to verify a Social Security number the agency must accept self-certification plus at least one third-party document, such as a bank statement, utility or cell phone bill or benefit letter with your name; for the veteran it can be the VA photo ID; it must accept the DD 214 or the VA-verified 10-10EZ if you have them, but they are not required; and it must accept the VA photo ID card in place of other government photo ID.

    Sources 4 · 89 FR 65769, section II.A: 'to accept self-certification of SSN and at least one third-party document, such as a bank statement, utility or cell phone bill, or benefit letter that contains the name of the individual'; 'the third-party document could be the VA-issued photo ID'; 'the PHA must accept the Certificate of Release or Discharge from Active Duty (DD 214) or the VA-verified Application for Health Benefits (10-10EZ)'; 'however, these forms are not required to verify SSN'; 'these cards must be accepted by the PHA in lieu of another type of government-issued photo identification' · Checked October 31, 2026

14. Under the Operating Requirements, the agency must serve all income-eligible veterans, including low-income veterans (up to 80% of area median income); to decide income eligibility, all VA service-connected disability benefits are excluded, though they are counted later to calculate your rent; the agency may not deny admission to a family with zero income, and must accept a self-certification of zero income, without notarization.

    Sources 4 · 89 FR 65769, section II.B: 'PHAs must serve all income eligible veterans, including low-income veterans (up to 80% AMI) in HUD-VASH'; 'the PHA must determine the applicant's annual income for purposes of income eligibility by excluding all VA service-connected benefits'; 'the VA service-connected disability benefits are excluded for purposes of determining income eligibility but included for purposes of calculating the total tenant payment'; 'PHAs may not deny admission to a family with zero income'; 'the PHA must accept a self-certification of zero income'; 'The self-certification does not need to be notarized' · Checked October 31, 2026

15. Under the Operating Requirements, at admission the agency must accept your self-certification that your total assets are no more than $50,000 (adjusted annually for inflation) and that you have no ownership interest in real property, without further verification; and it must not enforce that asset limit at later reexaminations.

    Sources 4 · 89 FR 65769, section II.B: 'PHAs must accept a self-certification by the family that the family's total assets are equal to or less than $50,000, adjusted annually for inflation, and that the family does not have any present ownership interest in real property'; 'without taking additional steps to verify the accuracy of the declaration'; 'PHAs must not enforce the asset limitation for HUD-VASH families at reexamination' · Checked October 31, 2026

16. Under the Operating Requirements, HUD-VASH vouchers must have an initial search term of at least 120 days, both at first issuance and for moves with assistance; agencies may grant extensions, which may also be needed as a reasonable accommodation for a person with a disability; and with a tenant-based voucher, the initial lease may be shorter than 12 months.

    Sources 4 · 89 FR 65769, sections II.C–D: 'HUD-VASH vouchers must have an initial search term of at least 120 days'; 'This applies to the search term at both initial issuance and moves with assistance'; 'PHAs are encouraged to use flexibility allowing for needed extensions of search terms'; 'Extensions may also be needed as a reasonable accommodation for a household with a member with a disability'; 'initial leases may be less than 12 months' · Checked October 31, 2026

17. Under the Operating Requirements, HUD allows HUD-VASH assistance for units on the grounds of a VA facility.

    Sources 4 · 89 FR 65769, section II.E: 'HUD is waiving these prohibitions for the limited purpose of allowing assistance on the grounds of a VA facility' · Checked October 31, 2026

18. Under the Operating Requirements, a family with a HUD-VASH voucher must receive case management from the partnering VA medical facility and may live only in areas where VA can provide it; a receiving agency may not rescreen a family that moves with its voucher; and before approving a move to another jurisdiction, the agency must consult with VA, except for victims of domestic violence, dating violence, sexual assault or stalking.

    Sources 4 · 89 FR 65769, section II.F: 'An eligible family issued a HUD-VASH voucher must receive required case management services provided by the partnering VA medical facility'; 'may reside only in those jurisdictional areas that are accessible to case management services as determined by the VA medical facility'; 'A family that moves under the portability procedures must not be subject to rescreening by the receiving PHA'; 'with the exception of victims of domestic violence, dating violence, sexual assault, and stalking, the PHA must consult with the VA prior to approving the port' · Checked October 31, 2026

19. Under the Operating Requirements, if VA determines a veteran is not participating in required case management without good cause, the agency must terminate the family from HUD-VASH, although it may offer one of its regular vouchers; a VA determination that the veteran does not or no longer requires case management is never grounds for terminating assistance; and a family may not be terminated for something that happened before admission and was known to the agency.

    Sources 4 · 89 FR 65769, section II.H: 'If the VA has determined that a veteran is not participating in required case management, without good cause, the PHA must terminate the family from the HUD-VASH program'; 'the PHA may offer the family continued assistance through one of its regular vouchers'; 'A VA determination that the veteran does not require or no longer requires case management is never grounds for termination of HCV assistance'; 'must not be terminated after admission, for a circumstance or activity that occurred before admission and was known to the PHA' · Checked October 31, 2026

20. Under the Operating Requirements, the agency may not terminate assistance because a family member is or has been a victim of domestic violence, dating violence, sexual assault or stalking; in a family break-up, the assistance generally stays with the veteran, but if the veteran is the perpetrator of that violence, the victim must continue to be assisted, with a regular voucher if one is available or, if not, with the HUD-VASH voucher.

    Sources 4 · 89 FR 65769, section II.H: 'The PHA may not terminate assistance on the basis or as a direct result that a member of the participant family is or has been a victim of domestic violence'; 'in the case of a family break-up, the HUD-VASH assistance must stay with the HUD-VASH veteran'; 'in which the HUD-VASH veteran is the perpetrator, the victim must continue to be assisted'; 'the victim must be given a regular HCV if one is available'; 'the victim will continue to utilize the HUD-VASH voucher' · Checked October 31, 2026

21. Under the Operating Requirements, civil rights requirements cannot be waived in HUD-VASH, and when a veteran or family member has a disability, the agency must make reasonable accommodations in its rules and procedures, for example in the search term, the initial lease and informal reviews and hearings.

    Sources 4 · 89 FR 65769, section II.A: 'Civil rights requirements cannot be waived'; 'When HUD-VASH applicants or recipients include veterans with disabilities or family members with disabilities, HUD's reasonable accommodation requirements apply'; 'initial search term of the HCV, initial lease term, and informal reviews and hearings' · Checked October 31, 2026

22. According to HUD's VAWA notice of rights (Form HUD-5380), in HUD-VASH, if the veteran is removed from the lease because of the violence, the family can keep receiving assistance; but if the veteran was the only one who had established eligible citizenship or immigration status, the others get 30 calendar days to establish eligibility or find other housing.

    Sources 5 · Form HUD-5380: 'For HUD-VASH, if the veteran is removed, the remaining family member(s) can keep'; 'If the veteran was the'; 'only tenant who established eligible citizenship/immigration status, the remaining'; 'household member(s) must be given 30 calendar days to establish program eligibility or' · Checked October 31, 2026

23. The Legal Services Corporation (LSC) has a search tool: you enter an address or city and it shows an LSC-funded legal aid organization near you.

    Sources 6 · I Need Legal Help: 'enter an address or city below to find an LSC-funded legal aid organization near you' · Checked October 31, 2026