Veterans who are homeless or at serious risk of losing their housing have access to a dedicated federal program that combines a housing voucher with ongoing support services. It's called HUD-VASH — the HUD-Veterans Affairs Supportive Housing program — and it's one of the most comprehensive housing assistance options available to any population in the United States.
If you are a veteran in need of housing help, this program was built specifically for you. This article explains how it works, who qualifies, how to access it, and what other options exist if HUD-VASH isn't the right fit for your situation.
What Is HUD-VASH?
HUD-VASH is a joint program between the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD) and the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs (VA). It combines two things that work together:
A Section 8 Housing Choice Voucher. This works exactly like a standard Section 8 voucher — it covers a portion of your monthly rent in a private market unit, and you pay approximately 30% of your adjusted income toward housing costs. The voucher is issued through a local Public Housing Authority (PHA), just like regular Section 8.
Case management through the VA. This is what makes HUD-VASH different from a standard Section 8 voucher. VA case managers work directly with HUD-VASH participants to address the issues that contributed to housing instability — mental health, substance use, physical health, employment, benefits access, and more. The goal isn't just to get you housed but to help you stay housed long-term.
Together, these two components make HUD-VASH one of the most effective housing programs in the country. Studies tracked by the VA have shown it consistently reduces veteran homelessness in communities where it's available.
Who Qualifies for HUD-VASH?
HUD-VASH is specifically targeted at veterans who are homeless or at imminent risk of homelessness. Here's who the program is designed to serve:
Veterans experiencing homelessness. This includes veterans who are living on the street, staying in emergency shelters, or in transitional housing programs. You do not need to have been homeless for a specific length of time to qualify.
Veterans at imminent risk of losing housing. If you are currently housed but have received an eviction notice, have no ability to pay upcoming rent, or have no safe place to go, you may qualify as "at risk" under the program's guidelines.
Eligible service history. You must have served in the U.S. military and have been discharged under conditions other than dishonorable. Honorable, general, and some other-than-honorable discharges typically qualify. If you are unsure about your discharge status, a VA representative can help you determine eligibility.
VA healthcare enrollment. To access HUD-VASH, you must be enrolled in VA healthcare or be eligible to enroll. If you haven't enrolled yet, the VA can help you do so — it's part of the intake process when you apply for HUD-VASH. Visit VA's enrollment page to start that process.
How to Access HUD-VASH: The Step-by-Step Process
Step 1: Contact your nearest VA Medical Center. HUD-VASH is accessed through the VA, not through a housing authority directly. Start by contacting your nearest VA Medical Center and asking to speak with the HUD-VASH coordinator or the homeless veteran services team.
You can also call the National Call Center for Homeless Veterans at 1-877-4AID-VET (1-877-424-3838). This line is available 24 hours a day, 7 days a week, and can connect you with local HUD-VASH resources immediately.
Step 2: Complete a needs assessment. A VA case manager will meet with you to assess your situation — your current housing status, your health needs, your service history, and any other factors that affect your housing stability. This assessment determines whether HUD-VASH is the right program for you and what level of support you'll need.
Step 3: Get referred for a voucher. If you're accepted into HUD-VASH, the VA refers you to the local PHA for a Housing Choice Voucher. The PHA issues the voucher and handles the housing-side administration — inspections, landlord payments, and lease requirements.
Step 4: Find qualifying housing. With your voucher in hand, you search for a unit in the private rental market. The unit must pass a HUD housing quality inspection and rent within the local payment standard based on HUD's Fair Market Rents. Your VA case manager can assist with the housing search if needed.
Step 5: Maintain your case management relationship. Once housed, you'll continue working with your VA case manager. Participation in case management is a requirement of the program — not optional. This ongoing relationship is what helps HUD-VASH participants maintain stable housing over time, not just secure it initially.
What Case Management Covers
The VA case management component of HUD-VASH is comprehensive. Depending on your needs, your case manager can help with:
- Mental health treatment — connecting you with VA mental health services, therapy, or psychiatric care
- Substance use treatment — referrals to VA treatment programs if needed
- Physical health — coordinating VA medical appointments and managing chronic conditions
- Benefits enrollment — making sure you're receiving all VA benefits you've earned, including disability compensation, pension, and education benefits
- Employment and income — connecting you with job training, vocational rehabilitation, or other income support
- Independent living skills — budgeting, household management, and maintaining a tenancy
This level of support is not available through a standard Section 8 voucher. It's what makes HUD-VASH a more complete solution for veterans whose homelessness is connected to health, mental health, or other complex needs.
Other Housing Resources for Veterans
HUD-VASH is the flagship program, but it's not the only housing resource available to veterans. Depending on your situation, these additional programs may also apply:
SSVF — Supportive Services for Veteran Families. The SSVF program provides rapid rehousing and homelessness prevention services to low-income veteran households. Unlike HUD-VASH, which is for veterans who are homeless, SSVF is also available to veterans who are at risk of becoming homeless — making it a valuable resource if you're housed but in danger of losing that housing. SSVF is operated through local nonprofits funded by the VA.
Standard Section 8 with veteran preferences. Even outside of HUD-VASH, many local PHAs give priority to veterans on their regular Section 8 waitlists. If HUD-VASH isn't available in your area or you don't qualify, ask your local PHA whether they offer veteran preferences.
HUD's Veterans Resource page. HUD maintains a dedicated veterans housing resource page that covers multiple programs and assistance options in one place.
VA Specially Adapted Housing (SAH) grants. If you have a service-connected disability that affects your mobility, the VA offers Specially Adapted Housing grants to help modify or purchase an accessible home. This is separate from rental assistance and applies to veterans who own or are purchasing a home.
Know Your Full Range of Options at Section 8 AI
Whether you're a veteran navigating HUD-VASH for the first time or exploring all the housing assistance programs available to your household, having a clear picture of your eligibility is the right starting point.
Section 8 AI generates a personalized housing eligibility report based on your income, household size, and location. It shows you which programs your household currently qualifies for — including standard Section 8 and other assistance available in your area — and whether local waitlists are open or closed.
For veterans who may qualify for multiple programs at once, a personalized report helps you understand which paths are open and where to focus your applications. You can pursue HUD-VASH through the VA and apply for standard Section 8 or other programs at the same time — there's no rule against it.
Go to Section 8 AI and get your personalized housing eligibility report. Know every option available to your household before you decide where to apply.
Key Contacts for Veterans Seeking Housing Help
- National Call Center for Homeless Veterans: 1-877-4AID-VET (1-877-424-3838) — 24/7
- Find your nearest VA Medical Center
- HUD-VASH program overview
- SSVF rapid rehousing for veterans
- VA healthcare enrollment
- VA disability housing grants
- Find your local PHA
- Browse affordable housing listings: Visit our partner site Section 8 Search to find available housing and participating landlords in your area
The Bottom Line
Veterans facing housing instability have a dedicated federal program — HUD-VASH — that combines a housing voucher with real, ongoing support from the VA. It's one of the most complete housing assistance programs available anywhere in the country, and it was built specifically for people who served.
The entry point is your nearest VA Medical Center or a call to 1-877-4AID-VET. Start there. And while you're connecting with the VA, make sure you know your full range of housing options.
Go to Section 8 AI, get your personalized housing eligibility report, and take the next step toward stable housing — because you've earned every resource available to you.
