Press Releases

Today, Congressman Salud Carbajal (CA-24) applauded the Biden-Harris Administration for announcing a change in housing policy to benefit veterans that he had proposed in his bipartisan Home for the Brave Act.

The U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development will now no longer count veteran’s disability benefits towards total income when determining their eligibility for HUD programs, ensuring these benefits are not the reason veterans cannot access housing benefits.

"It is wrong to deny veterans access to housing assistance programs due to disability benefits they receive for service-related injury or illness," said Rep. Carbajal. "I am proud to see the Biden-Harris Administration agree and implement my bill and other policies to expand access to housing for veterans.

“This change will make housing more affordable and accessible on the Central Coast and across the country, and support those who stepped up to defend our nation by ending this housing discrimination against our disabled veterans."

Congressman Carbajal and Rep. Lloyd Smucker (PA-11) first introduced the Home for the Brave Act in 2017 and in each Congress since.

Financial benefits for service-connected disabilities were previously counted as income when determining eligibility for housing assistance programs through the Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD).

As a result, many veterans are determined ineligible for these housing programs because their disability benefits are placing them at a higher income level.

Other agencies, including the International Revenue Service (IRS), do not consider veterans benefits for service-connected disabilities income.

A veteran filing disability claims with the VA received on average $20,600 in 2022.

The lawmaker’s bill has endorsement of the American Legion, Veterans of Foreign Wars (VFW), National Coalition for the Homeless, and the Military Officers Association of America.