August 26, 2020 – Housing Resource Network Meeting, hosted via Zoom by Brighton Marine.

November 25, 2019 – Housing Resource Network Meeting, hosted by Brighton Marine. We reviewed the participant listing and housing resources available for service members, veterans, and their families and discussed gaps identified by Brighton Marine via the Greater Boston Coordinated Veterans Services Network pilot up to this point.

On June 26, 2019, the Greater Boston Veterans Collaborative convened a Housing & Shelter Summit, hosted by Brighton Marine. During this summit we learned about the veteran housing landscape and several programs and resources available to service members, veterans, and their families from subject matter experts in SSVF, HUD-VASH, and housing services.

February 14, 2019 – Housing Resource Network Meeting, hosted by Brighton Marine. Work to develop topics of discussion and draft agenda for summit focused on housing options and new initiatives.

Veterans fleeing domestic violence are eligible for SSVF if they meet all program requirements (including a gross annual income at or below 50% AMI). SSVF served around 11,100 women veterans annually from 2017–2021. Around 40% had children with them; a third were single parents.

GPD is offered by the VA to fund organizations that provide supportive housing to veterans. Veterans fleeing domestic violence situations are eligible for GPD if they meet all other program requirements, including having a substance use disorder, VA eligibility, and at least 30 days of sobriety. In 2021, the GDP program served around 1,300 women veterans nationwide.

• Massachusetts offers SafeLink, a confidential statewide domestic hotline available 24/7 at (877) 785-2020. Advocates keep callers on the line while connecting them to a local shelter program to ensure they can get help with one call, rather than having to make calls to different shelter programs.

• Massachusetts Coalition for the Homeless has a statewide listing of domestic violence shelters for adults and children fleeing domestic violence situations.

Massachusetts residents who are homeless (including those fleeing domestic violence currently or in the past year) who are pregnant or have children under age 21 and meet the gross income requirements of 115% of the Federal Poverty Level may qualify for Emergency Assistance.

Those found eligible for EA benefits are also eligible for the Short-Term Housing Transition and HomeBASE programs.

HomeBASE offers the opportunity for families to overcome the financial barriers impacting their homelessness through case management and funding to support re-housing, including:

• up to $20,000 over two years for families to pay rent or utility arrears;

• payments to allow families experiencing homelessness to stay with other households;

• first/last month’s rent and security deposit required to obtain housing; and

• moving expenses and many other costs allowing families to become or remain housed.

Other circumstances that may generate preference or priority include:

• living in a substandard, dilapidated, unsafe, or condemned unit;

• currently being homeless or facing eviction;

• being displaced by fire, flood, domestic violence, hate crime, or your unit owner’s action;

• paying 50% or more of your income for rent and utilities;

• having a mobility impairment and living in an inaccessible unit; or

• being a local resident.

• Mortgage Loans – More flexible income and credit requirements mean more Massachusetts homebuyers may be eligible for a MassHousing Mortgage with affordable, fixed interest rates and no hidden fees or surprises.

• Down Payment Assistance – Qualified borrowers can receive a loan for up to 10% of a home's purchase price or $30,000 to $50,000 depending on the location of the home.

• $2,500 Closing Cost Credit – Eligible members of the Reserves, National Guard, active duty military, veterans, and Gold Star Families can receive an additional $2,500 for closing costs.

• $400 – Service-connected disabled veterans rated at 10% or more by the VA; Purple Heart recipients; Gold Star mothers and fathers; spouses of veterans entitled under Clause 22; and surviving spouses of veterans who do not remarry.

• $750 – For veterans who have loss or loss of use of one hand above the wrist, or one foot above the ankle or one eye; or recipients of the Congressional Medal of Honor, Distinguished Service Cross, Navy Cross, or Air Force Cross.

• $1,000 – For service-connected disabled veterans rated at 100% by the VA.

• $1,250 – For veterans who have loss or loss of use of both hands or both feet; loss or loss of use of one hand and one foot as described; or loss or loss of use of both eyes (ie, blind).

• $1,500 – For service-connected disabled veterans rated as permanent and totally disabled with Specially Adapted Housing.

• Total – For surviving spouses of soldiers, sailors, or members of the Guard whose death occurred as a proximate result of an injury sustained or disease contracted in a combat zone, or who are missing in action with a presumptive finding of death, as a result of combat as members of the armed forces of the United States (exemption is lost upon remarriage).

For initial information contact your local Assessor’s office. Further inquiries may be directed to the Department of Revenue’s Division of Local Services Bureau of Municipal Finance Laws.

VA-guaranteed loans are available for homes for your occupancy or a spouse and/or dependent (for active duty service members). To be eligible, you must have satisfactory credit, sufficient income to meet the expected monthly obligations, and a valid Certificate of Eligibility (COE).

The IRRRL is a "VA to VA" loan, meaning it can only be done if you have an existing VA guaranteed loan on the property. The IRRRL is generally performed to lower the interest and reduce the monthly payment on the existing VA guaranteed loan.

The NADL program helps Native American Veterans purchase, construct, improve, or re-finance a home on Native American trust lands. Your tribal organization must participate in the VA direct loan program. You must have a valid Certificate of Eligibility (COE).

The VA aims to help veterans retain their homes or avoid foreclosure. If you are struggling to make your mortgage payments, speak with a VA loan servicer as soon as possible by calling 877-827-3702.

Loan servicers are responsible for resolving loan defaults for veterans with VA-Guaranteed Home Loans. If the servicer is unable to help, VA loan technicians can step in and help explore your options to avoid foreclosure:

• Repayment Plans

• Special forbearance

• Loan modification

• Time to arrange a private sale

• Short sale

• Deed-in-lieu of foreclosure

If you are having trouble making your payments and have a conventional or FHA loan that is not guaranteed by the VA, contact your servicer as soon as possible. VA doesn’t have legal authority to intervene. A VA loan technician can provide advice on your options.

The VA Vendee Loan Program offers qualified borrowers the option of purchasing VA Real Estate Owned (REO) properties with little to no money down. The VA Vendee Loan Program offers buyers of VA REO properties a unique seller financing loan product that is competitive and affordable. Vendee is a viable alternative to traditional financing. This program is available to veterans, non-veterans, owner-occupants, and investors.

“Joint loan” generally refers to a loan for which the veteran and other person(s) are liable, and the veteran and other obligor(s) own the security. VA will only guarantee the veteran’s portion of the total loan amount. A joint loan can be made to the:

• veteran and 1+ non-veterans (not spouse);

• veteran and 1+ veterans (not spouse) who will not be using their entitlement;

• veteran and their spouse who is also a veteran, and both entitlement will be used; or

• veteran and 1+ other veterans (not spouse), all of who will use their entitlement.

A loan involving a veteran and their spouse will not be treated as a “joint loan” if the spouse is not a veteran, or is a veteran who will not use their entitlement on the loan. A loan to a veteran and fiancé who intend to marry prior to loan closing and take title as veteran and spouse will be treated as a loan to a veteran and spouse (conditioned upon marriage), not a joint loan.

The VA Home Loan benefit may be used to purchase a farm. There must be a farm residence on the land, and the veteran must live in it as their primary residence. VA-guaranteed loans can only be used for residential purposes, and not to purchase a business. This means that some farm properties may not be eligible for purchase using a VA-backed home loan. Loans for farm dwellings are appraised the same way as for other dwellings:

• VA does not limit the number of acres a VA-guaranteed property may have.

• The appraisal of properties with acreage should not pose a problem, as long as similar properties in the area were recently sold primarily for residential use (including improvements not typically considered residential, like barns, sheds, corrals, stables and pastures).

• The value must not include livestock, crops, or farm equipment and supplies. Improvements not typically considered residential (barns, stables, pastures, sheds, etc) will be valued at fair market value.

Underwriting guidelines are generally the same as for other dwellings. Some or all of the income necessary to support the loan payments may come from farming operations. The VA must verify the Veteran’s ability and experience as a farm operator.

• Procedures and analysis in Chapter 4 of VA Pamphlet 26-7 (Lenders Handbook) under “Self-Employment Income” generally apply.

Veterans who own or will own their home and have a qualifying service-connected disability may be eligible to receive the SAH grant to buy, build, or change their permanent home. As of FY2023, the maximum grant amount is $109,986.

Veterans who own or will own (or whose family member owns) their permanent home and have a qualifying service-connected disability may be eligible to receive the SAH grant to buy, build, or change their permanent home. As of FY2023, the maximum grant amount is $22,036.

Veterans who do not own a home may be able to get a TRA grant if they qualify for an SAH or SHA grant if they are living temporarily in a family member’s home that needs changes to meet their needs. As of FY2023, veterans qualifying for an SAH grant can receive up to $44,299; those qualifying for an SHA grant can receive up to $7,910.

VMLI provides insurance coverage on home mortgages for service members and veterans with a severe service-connected disability who received a SAH or SHA grant for the home; have a title (including a partial title) to the home; have a mortgage obligation on the home; and are younger than 70 years old.

VMLI will pay the mortgage lender up to $200,000 toward the outstanding mortgage. Eligible veterans may obtain coverage on new, existing, refinanced, or second mortgages. Reverse mortgages and home equity lines of credit are not covered.

• VMLI premiums are based on the age of the Veteran, the outstanding balance of the mortgage, and the remaining length of the mortgage. Premiums are deducted monthly from VA compensation payments.

• Veterans can use the VMLI Premium Calculator to determine their premium and visit VA’s website to apply.