Carbajal, Smucker Reintroduce Bipartisan Bill to Reduce Veterans’ Housing Costs

Home for the Brave Act has endorsement of the American Legion and the Veterans of Foreign Wars.

Washington, November 10, 2025
Tags: Veterans

U.S. Representatives Salud Carbajal (D-CA-24), a Marine Corps veteran, and Lloyd Smucker (R-PA-11) reintroduced bipartisan legislation aimed at improving housing access and affordability for U.S. veterans.

The lawmakers’ Home for the Brave Act would exempt veterans' disability benefits from counting toward total income when determining their eligibility for housing assistance programs through the Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD).

“No veteran should be punished for receiving the very benefits they earned through their service to our country,” said Rep. Carbajal, a Marine Corps veteran. “I’m proud to lead this bipartisan effort to end this unfair practice in our country’s housing assistance system and ensure veterans have access to the safe, affordable homes they deserve.”

“Our veterans have made tremendous sacrifices to protect our freedom and safety, and they should not lose access to housing assistance because they receive disability benefits for injuries sustained in service,” said Rep. Smucker. “Our community has worked hard to end veteran homelessness, and I’m honored to support this important mission alongside my constituents. I also appreciate Rep. Carbajal’s dedication to our nation’s veterans and their families, and I look forward to partnering with him to advance this legislation.”

Financial benefits for service-connected disabilities are currently 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 Internal Revenue Service (IRS), do not consider veterans benefits for service-connected disabilities income.

The bill has endorsement of the American Legion and the Veterans of Foreign Wars (VFW).

“Veterans and their families shouldn’t be penalized or disqualified from receiving housing support just because they receive compensation for service-related injuries or the loss of a loved one,” said VFW National Legislative Associate Director Joe Grassi. “Many of our nation’s heroes are struggling in this economy and facing financial instability or homelessness. To help resolve these serious issues, VFW supports the Home for the Brave Act of 2025.”