VA SAH, SHA & HISA Grants: Which Grant Do You Qualify For?

When Mike retired from the Army after 22 years, he assumed his VA benefits were limited to medical care and disability compensation. Then a motorcycle accident left him with a spinal cord injury that made the stairs in his Columbia townhouse impossible. His occupational therapist mentioned something that surprised him: the VA would pay to renovate his home — not through a loan, but through a grant that could cover tens of thousands of dollars in modifications.

That conversation changed everything. Three months later, Mike had a stairlift, a widened bathroom door, grab bars, and a roll-in shower — and the VA covered nearly every dollar.

His situation isn't unusual. Veterans across the DMV are sitting on significant housing grant benefits they don't know exist, or they're applying for the wrong grant and getting far less than they could receive. Here's how to match the right program to your situation.

Three VA Grants — Not One

Most people have heard of the VA HISA grant. Fewer realize that two larger grants also exist. Understanding the distinction matters because the application process, award amounts, and qualifying conditions are very different.

Specially Adapted Housing (SAH) Grant — Up to $113,715

The SAH grant is for veterans with the most severe service-connected disabilities. It's designed to help veterans live independently in a home that accommodates their condition.

Who qualifies:

• Loss or loss of use of both legs
• Blindness in both eyes (with 20/200 or less visual acuity)
• Loss or loss of use of one lower leg with residuals of organic disease or injury
• Loss or loss of use of both arms at or above the elbow
• Severe burn injuries

What it covers:

SAH grants cover major structural changes: building an accessible home, remodeling an existing home, or even applying the grant to pay down an existing mortgage on an already-accessible home. Unlike HISA, SAH funds can go toward new construction or purchasing an adapted home.

How much: For FY 2025, the maximum SAH grant is $113,715. Veterans can use the grant up to six times, typically for increasing needs as their condition changes or when moving to a new home.

Reality check: The SAH grant is not quick. The VA requires architectural plans, specifications, and formal estimates. Most SAH projects take 6–18 months from application to completion. But for severe disabilities, it is the single largest financial resource available.

Special Housing Adaptation (SHA) Grant — Up to $22,987

The SHA grant is for veterans with severe mobility impairments that don't meet SAH criteria but still require significant home modifications.

Who qualifies:

• Blindness in both eyes with 20/200 or less
• Loss or loss of use of both hands
• Certain severe burn injuries
• Certain respiratory conditions requiring life-support equipment

What it covers:

Adapting an existing home — installing ramps, widening doorways, modifying kitchens and bathrooms, adding handrails, or installing slopes or walkways around the home.

How much: For FY 2025, the maximum SHA grant is $22,987. Like SAH, it can be used up to six times, for a total lifetime value of $137,922.

Home Improvements and Structural Alterations (HISA) Grant — Up to $6,800

HISA is the grant most people know about — and it's the one most commonly used in the DMV area. Unlike SAH and SHA, HISA is not restricted to service-connected disabilities. (For a deep dive on HISA specifically, see our [VA HISA Grant guide for Maryland and Virginia](/grants/va-hisa-grant-maryland-virginia).)

Who qualifies:

• Veterans with any service-connected disability (up to $6,800)
• Veterans with non-service-connected disabilities who receive certain VA compensation (up to $6,800)
• Veterans with solely non-service-connected disabilities (up to $2,000)

What it covers:

Medically necessary home modifications: ramps, grab bars, accessible bathroom conversions, widened doorways, stairlifts, electrical modifications for medical equipment, and lowered countertops.

Key difference from SAH/SHA: HISA requires a VA physician's prescription specifying diagnosis and medical justification. SAH and SHA require a formal VA determination of eligibility based on specific disability ratings and conditions.

Which Grant Should You Apply For?

If you have a severe service-connected disability listed in the SAH qualifying conditions, start with SAH. You can stack SAH with HISA for modifications not fully covered by SAH.

If you have a severe disability that meets SHA criteria but not SAH, apply for SHA. Then add HISA for items that fall outside SHA's scope.

If your disability is less severe, HISA is likely your primary resource. Don't discount it — $6,800 covers a significant portion of most aging-in-place modification projects, especially when combined with other state or local programs.

The Application Process in the DMV

For SAH and SHA, the process starts with your VA disability rating. Contact the VA's Loan Guaranty Service — not your local VA medical center. These grants are administered through the VA's housing benefit office, not Prosthetics and Sensory Aids.

You'll need:

• Your VA disability rating letter
• Detailed contractor estimates with specifications
• Architectural drawings for major modifications
• A determination of eligibility from the VA

For HISA, start with your VA physician. Get a prescription that documents the diagnosis, the functional limitations, and the specific modifications needed. Then complete VA Form 10-0103 and submit it with contractor estimates to the Prosthetics and Sensory Aids Service at your local VA medical center.

VA medical centers in the DMV that process HISA applications:

• Baltimore VA Medical Center (serves most of Maryland)
• Washington DC VA Medical Center (serves DC and Northern Virginia)
• Richmond VA Medical Center (serves central Virginia)

Common Mistakes That Delay Approval

The most frequent reason HISA applications get kicked back is vague contractor estimates. The VA wants itemized line items — labor, materials, permits — with photos of the areas being modified. A quote that says "install ramp, $3,500" will be rejected. A quote that specifies "32-foot modular aluminum ramp with ADA-compliant handrails, installation on concrete footings, permit included — labor $1,800, materials $1,700" will move through faster.

For SAH and SHA, the most common delay is incomplete architectural plans. If you're doing a major remodel, hire an architect or a CAPS-certified contractor who understands the VA's documentation requirements before submitting anything.

Stacking VA Grants with DMV Programs

This is where the DMV area stands out. A veteran in Washington DC, for example, can potentially combine:

• VA HISA: up to $6,800
• DC Safe at Home: fall-prevention modifications (income up to $99,600 for one person)
• DC SFRRP: structural rehabilitation grants up to $75,000

In Maryland:

• VA HISA: up to $6,800
• MAHS (Maryland Accessible Homes for Seniors): up to $30,000
• Montgomery County Design for Life: up to $40,000

In Virginia:

• VA HISA: up to $6,800
• Virginia independent living programs through DARS
• Local Area Agencies on Aging for county-level assistance

The programs don't conflict. The VA doesn't reduce HISA awards because you also received a county grant. The strategy is to use the most restrictive grant first (usually HISA, which requires VA physician oversight), then use other programs to cover remaining costs.

Finding Contractors Who Understand VA Grants

Not all contractors know how to work with the VA. Some have never heard of HISA. Others will take your money upfront and leave you to navigate the reimbursement process alone — which doesn't work, since HISA typically pays the contractor directly.

Look for contractors who:

• Have completed VA grant projects before
• Can provide the detailed, itemized estimates the VA requires
• Understand that payment usually comes from the VA, not the veteran
• Are familiar with permit requirements in Maryland, DC, or Virginia

The contractor you choose matters almost as much as the grant itself. A contractor who understands VA documentation can be the difference between a 4-week approval and a 4-month delay.

What Happens After Approval

Once your grant is approved, the VA either pays the contractor directly or reimburses you if you've already paid. For SAH and SHA, payments are typically made in installments tied to construction milestones. For HISA, the full amount is usually paid upon completion, though advance payments can be requested on the application.

Keep every receipt, invoice, and permit record. The VA audits a percentage of grant files, and clean documentation protects the veteran from future repayment demands.

Worth the Effort

The paperwork isn't fun. The wait isn't short. But the payoff is real: a home that works for your body, paid for by benefits you've already earned. Mike's stairlift and roll-in shower didn't just make his home accessible — they made it feel like his home again, not a place where he couldn't fully take care of himself.

If you or your parent is a veteran in Maryland, DC, or Virginia, and you're facing the cost of aging-in-place modifications, the VA grants are worth exploring. Start with your local VA medical center or the VA's housing benefit office. The conversation costs nothing — and the benefits are substantial.

[Find CAPS-certified aging-in-place contractors in Maryland, DC, and Virginia →](/aging-in-place-contractors/md)