HOUSING AND ENERGY ASSISTANCE FOR VETERANS’ WIDOWS

AND SENIORS

Housing and energy assistance for veteran widows and seniors

Housing and energy are necessities of every human being. These are

particularly essential for vulnerable individuals in society, especially

veteran widows and seniors. These individuals come across major

challenges due to limited financial resources, age effects, and emotional

trauma (due to the loss of a spouse in the case of veteran widows). For

them, housing and energy resources become more of a survival necessity

than a luxury for a comfortable lifestyle. This article enlists all the

non-government and government assistance for low-income families and

individuals for their housing and energy needs.

Importance of housing for seniors and veteran widows

Before we delve into the assistance programs, you must understand the

importance of housing for seniors and veteran widows residing in the USA. A

house is a basic necessity that is known to offer shelter, stability, and a sense

of security to the residents. Without an adequate place to live, humans

cannot concentrate on other facets of life because they don’t have a safe

house where they can return to for comfort, relaxation, and sleep. For elders

who are unable to earn anymore due to their declining health condition and

veterans’ widows whose sole bread earner died leaving them in sorrow that

also causes hindrance in finding a good earning opportunity, the value of a

house cannot be expressed in words. Seniors and veteran widows usually rely

on pensions or limited savings that are not enough to buy or rent an adequate

house. For such people, a house is an invaluable asset and bears great importance.

The Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD)

The U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD) was founded in

1965 in the era of President Lyndon B. Johnson. It works on federal financial aid

that is aimed at providing government assistance for low-income families and

individuals. The funding is used to ensure that people with low income especially

elderly individuals and veteran widows are provided with housing facilities at an 

affordable rent.
Under this program section 202 is specifically designed to support seniors of the

society. Named Supportive Housing for the Elderly Program, this program works

to fund the construction, rehabilitation, and even acquisition of housing facilities

for low-income seniors and veteran widows to facilitate them with adequate

housing and living conditions. This program also offers to pay rent on behalf of

seniors and veteran widows whereas the beneficiaries are only entitled to pay

30% of adjusted income in the form of rent and the rest of the rent is paid by HUD.

Section 8 of the HUD program named as Housing Choice Voucher Program also

facilitates elderly individuals in securing private market housing. Under this section,

the government offers vouchers to eligible elders where they can choose a

house for themselves depending on their housing needs (single-family homes

apartment, or townhouse).

The Veterans Affairs Supportive Housing (VASH) Program

VASH or Veterans Affairs Supportive Housing is a collaborative effort between the

Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) and HUD aim to provide government

housing assistance for widows of veterans and living veterans along with their

families. The HUD-VASH program offers housing vouchers (under section 8 of the

HUD program) to veterans and their widows allowing them to find a house for

themselves to live in a comfortable environment.

This program also extends rental services to eligible veterans and their widows

/families through comprehensive case management. In addition, the program

offers assistance in clinical services to resolve the issues that might be a

hindrance in obtaining a house in the first place. By helping the veterans and

their widows through clinical services and counseling sessions, the government

helps them sustain permanent housing facilities by addressing the root cause

of their distress or other health issues.

State Programs

Along with the above-mentioned federal government programs, many states in

the USA also offer housing programs for seniors and veteran widows who are

unable to afford adequate living facilities. The features and eligibility criteria of

these programs are different in each state but they majorly cover home repair

grants, house loans, and property tax exemptions to facilitate the veteran

widows and seniors in society. For instance, a few states offer special exemptions

on property tax to veteran widows to help them put off some financial burden

and enjoy living in their house without the added tax burden.

Importance of energy assistance for seniors and veteran widows

Along with adequate housing, the rising cost of energy sources is also a huge

concern for veteran widows and seniors who have to manage their livelihoods

with limited income. Living on a pension or limited savings can be quite tough

for such people and their energy expenses ultimately become unmanageable

depriving them of needed heating and cooling facilities in homes. This makes

it very essential for such individuals to get energy assistance from government

and non-profit organizations to manage their expenses and live a comfortable life.

LIHEAP

LIHEAP or the low-income Home Energy Assistance Program is a federal government

initiative to offer energy assistance for seniors and veteran widows to cover energy-

related costs. Through this program, the federal government covers the cost of

heating and cooling systems along with opting for energy-efficient sources to lower

the energy cost in the long run. Through LIHEAP, the US government distributes

funds to each state which are then allotted to eligible seniors and veteran widows.

The Weatherization Assistance Program (WAP)
Department of Energy in the USA has also started the weatherization assistance

program where by they allot funds to all states aiming to offer energy assistance

for seniors and widows of veterans. These funds are used to implement energy

efficient solutions in households of low-income individuals including seniors and

veteran widows. These measures including the upgradation of cooling and heating

systems, sealing leaks, and insulation can lower the energy costs drastically to

ensure that veteran widows and seniors can afford the energy costs in the long term.

Conclusion: The ability to own/rent a house and manage energy costs is a basic

necessity for individuals. Unfortunately, some members of society do not have

the resources to manage such expenses. The seniors who are living off their

pensions unable to work due to their health conditions and veteran widows who

lost their only breadwinner are the biggest victims of such financial restraints.

Fortunately, the US Government assistance for low-income families and individuals

covers housing and energy expenses for such seniors and veteran widows.

The government housing assistance for widows and elderly through The

Department of Housing and Urban Development and The Veterans Affairs

Supportive Housing (VASH) Program is doing a great job in this regard along

with designated state programs. In addition, the federal government also

extends energy assistance for seniors and veteran widows through the

Low-income Home Energy Assistance Program (LIHEAP) and the

Weatherization Assistance Program (WAP).AKTON polymer won’t leak, flow, or bottom out, and it is tissue equivalent. Gel Pads are available in a variety of widths and lengths.