Veteran Home Grants 2026: VA SAH, SHA, TRA, and HISA Grant Programs Explained

The VA administers four grant programs for veterans with service-connected disabilities who need to modify or purchase accessible housing. These are grants, not loans, meaning no repayment is required. They are frequently underutilized because veterans and their lenders do not know they exist or how to apply them within a purchase transaction.

The Four VA Grant Programs

• ✦Specially Adapted Housing (SAH) Grant: for veterans with permanent and total service-connected disabilities affecting mobility; confirm current grant cap with VA as limits are updated annually
• ✦Special Housing Adaptation (SHA) Grant: for veterans with disabilities including blindness, loss of use of both hands, or severe burn injuries; lower cap than SAH
• ✦Temporary Residence Adaptation (TRA) Grant: for veterans using SAH or SHA who temporarily live with a family member; amounts differ by underlying grant eligibility
• ✦Home Improvements and Structural Alterations (HISA) Grant: up to $6,800 for service-connected conditions; $2,000 for non-service-connected; covers plumbing, electrical, and bathroom modifications

Combining Grants with VA Loan

SAH and SHA grants can be combined with a VA purchase or construction loan. The grant reduces the loan amount needed, meaning the veteran borrows less. A veteran using an SAH grant on a purchase would finance the purchase price minus the grant amount (and any additional down payment). The VA loan and grant funds work independently; the grant is applied at closing or paid directly to the contractor.

How to Apply

Veterans apply through VA Form 26-4555 for SAH/SHA/TRA, or VA Form 10-0103 for HISA. The VA's Specially Adapted Housing staff processes the application and issues a grant authorization letter. This letter is what the MLO needs to confirm funds at closing. Grant authorization can take 4 to 8 weeks; MLOs should factor this into the timeline for purchase transactions.