The U.S. House of Representatives recently passed the Vulnerable Veterans Housing Reform Act of 2012 (HR 6361) which would exclude in-home disability care payments from veterans’ income calculations for some HUD housing programs. In order to offset these costs, the bill would require HUD to base tenant-paid utility allowances on family size rather than housing unit size. HUD would also be required to collect and publish data on utility consumption. The bill also authorizes a $4 million grant pilot program which would award funds for the rehabilitation of homes owned by disabled veterans. The Congressional Budget Office (CBO) estimates that 2,000 veterans could benefit from these changes. The measure has moved to the Senate for consideration.

Click here to read HR 6361.