VA Adaptive Housing Grants: Complete Guide to SAH, SHA & HISA

1. At a Glance: The Three Programs

Each program is independent — you can qualify for multiple simultaneously. The programs are cumulative: a veteran can use SAH for a major structural renovation and HISA for a separate medically necessary addition.

2. SAH — Specially Adapted Housing Grant

SAH is the largest and most comprehensive VA adaptive housing grant. With a FY2025 maximum of $126,526, it can fund construction of a new accessible home, purchase of an existing accessible home, or full-scale adaptation of a home the veteran already owns or intends to purchase.

Who qualifies for SAH?

Veterans and service members who have a permanent and total service-connected disability that falls into one of these categories:

• Loss or loss of use of both legs
• Loss or loss of use of both arms
• Blindness in both eyes with 5/200 visual acuity or less
• Ankylosis (immobility) of both knees or hips
• Loss or loss of use of one lower extremity combined with: residuals of organic disease or injury, blindness in both eyes with 5/200 acuity or less, or loss or loss of use of one upper extremity
• Severe burn injury to the face, hands, or feet
• Certain severe respiratory or other organic diseases

What SAH covers

• Building a new specially adapted home
• Buying and adapting an existing home
• Adapting a home you already own
• Paying down a mortgage on an already-adapted home
• Temporary rented housing while permanent construction is underway (up to $28,000)

3. SHA — Special Housing Adaptation Grant

SHA is the mid-tier program, with a FY2025 maximum of $25,350. It covers the same types of projects as SAH — buying, building, or adapting — but is designed for a different disability profile focused on upper body and vision impairment.

Who qualifies for SHA?

• Blindness in both eyes with 20/200 visual acuity or better
• Anatomical loss or loss of use of both hands
• Certain severe burn injuries

SHA focuses on adaptations that allow independent living despite upper extremity or visual limitations — voice-controlled systems, accessible kitchens with modified countertops, lever-handle hardware, and contrast/tactile navigation cues.

SAH vs. SHA: which one applies?

If you qualify for both, you can only claim one per grant use. In most cases, if you qualify for SAH, it provides more funding. However, some veterans with certain disability combinations may qualify only for SHA. A VA SAH specialist will determine which applies to your situation.

4. HISA — Home Improvement & Structural Alteration Grant

HISA is administered differently from SAH and SHA — it comes from the VA medical system rather than the loan guaranty program. This makes it more accessible: any veteran with a service-connected disability qualifies, and renters are eligible alongside homeowners.

What HISA covers

• Roll-in showers and accessible bathrooms
• Grab bars and handrails
• Ramp construction and threshold elimination
• Widened doorways
• Lowered counters and accessible kitchen modifications
• Paved pathways for wheelchair access

How to apply for HISA

Apply through your VA medical center, not through the loan guaranty program. Use VA Form 10-0103. You will need a physician recommendation for the modification and a contractor estimate. HISA is approved and disbursed directly through the VA medical center.

5. Combining Programs

SAH/SHA and HISA are separate grant pools and can be used for different projects simultaneously. A veteran doing a major bathroom renovation might use SAH for structural work and HISA for grab bars and threshold modifications — maximizing available funding.

VA grants can also be layered with other funding sources:

• VA Home Loan Guaranty (for home purchase)
• State-level adaptive housing programs (many states offer matching grants)
• Nonprofit grants (Tunnel to Towers, Homes for Our Troops, Purple Heart Homes)
• USDA Rural Development home repair loans

6. How to Apply

7. After Approval: What Happens Next

Once your SAH or SHA grant is approved, you have a window to use the funds. The grant entitlement stays with you and can be used across up to three separate transactions — you do not have to spend it all at once.

Key points to know after approval:

• The grant does not expire but must be used before death; it is not transferable to family members.
• You can use remaining entitlement at a new home if you sell and move.
• The VA pays the contractor directly — you never handle the grant money yourself.
• Contractor must be licensed and insured; VA will verify credentials.
• All work must meet local building codes and VA specifications.
• A final VA inspection confirms the work meets approved specifications before the final payment is released.

8. Frequently Asked Questions