VHDA honors the service of current and past members of our military through a variety of programs. Here’s a rundown of the services that active duty, Reservists, National Guard, veterans and their families can find at VHDA:
- Operation Homeownership – Free homebuyer classes geared especially for service members and their families, to help them become savvy homebuyers and owners. Classes are presented by VHDA’s Housing Education team, military financial educators and local area subject matter experts. Topics include Personal Finances, Credit and Credit Reporting, Working with a Lender, the Role of the Real Estate Agent, the Home Inspection, Loan Closing, and the benefits of developing a savings and spending plan. Operation Homeownership addresses the unique issues service members must consider before deciding to buy a home.
- VA Home Loan Program – VHDA carries on a proud tradition that began in 1944 when President Franklin Roosevelt launched the Veterans Affairs Home Loan Program (also known as the GI Bill of Rights). Today, the VA Home Loan Program helps eligible and qualified active duty service members, veterans and survivors of veterans to obtain mortgages for up to 100 percent of a home’s sale price so they don’t have to spend years scrimping and saving to make a big down payment.
- Granting Freedom (Accessibility Modification Grants) – This program provides grant money to help Virginia’s veterans and service members who were disabled by an injury in the line of duty. Grant funds can be used to install ramps, grab bars and other features to make their homes more comfortable and accessible. With a grant of up to $4,000 per residence or rental unit, recipients work one-on-one with an agent and a contractor to modify their home according to their needs. According to VHDA Grant Programs Officer Carolyn Coleman, “It’s a great feeling to be able to give back to those who have sacrificed … to protect and serve our country. In fiscal year 2017 alone, we provided assistance to 118 service members.” One of these grant recipients was SFC Sue Collins, now retired from the U.S. Army, who applied for funds in 2017 to install a seated tub in her home in Hampton, Va., to make bathing with a knee injury safer. She was pleased with the process and said, “Working with VHDA was awesome, and it couldn’t have been smoother. I wish more people knew about this grant.”
- VirginiaHousingSearch.com – This free website is a big help to those searching for quality, affordable rental housing. The site includes a link to find veteran housing (rental homes whose landlords are interested in renting to veterans or Veterans Affairs Supportive Housing (VASH) recipients). Visitors to the site can use a variety of filtering tools to find homes that will best suit their lifestyle, as well as accessibility features, if needed.
- "How to be a Successful Renter” – Download this free eBook at vhda.com/RenterEd. It answers many questions renters have, such as how to find the right place to rent, navigating leases and applications, tenant rights and responsibilities, how to get a security deposit back, and much more.
- Cell Phones for Soldiers – VHDA has participated in the Cell Phones for Soldiers no-cost recycling program since 2010 as part of our internal “Go Green Initiative” within our own buildings and the communities we serve. So far, we’ve donated 522 phones to recycle, which buys calling cards for our troops. Each phone valued at $5 equals an estimated 2.5 hours of free talk time. This effort was launched in 2004 by 12- and 13-year-old siblings Robbie and Brittany Bergquist, and to date has provided more than 300 million precious calling minutes for our troops around the world.
Learn more about VHDA’s programs and loans for the military at vhda.com/Military.
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