They Served Our Country. Why Is a Stable Home Still So Hard to Afford?
By Brett Stacy, Founder of Operation T.A.G.
In a few days, we’ll thank veterans for their service. We’ll shake their hands, attend ceremonies, and share messages about how much their sacrifices mean to us.
I hope we’ll also make time for a harder conversation.
What happens when the veteran we’re thanking goes home and sits down with a stack of bills, wondering how to make the numbers work? What happens when that home has stairs they can no longer manage comfortably? When an affordable apartment is too far from the care they need? When another rent increase leaves less for groceries, transportation, and everything else?
Those questions deserve our attention long after Veterans Day.
A housing payment tells only part of the story
On October 30, Stars and Stripes highlighted the housing challenges facing veterans with disabilities. Earlier that month, the National Low Income Housing Coalition (NLIHC) shared research finding that roughly three in ten veterans with disabilities in the population studied were housing cost-burdened, compared with about two in ten veterans without disabilities.
Housing cost burden means spending more than 30% of household income on housing. The analysis covered noninstitutionalized adults ages 18–64 who weren’t living in group quarters, using data from 2018 and 2023. These are historical findings receiving renewed attention, not a count of every veteran’s circumstances today. You can read the NLIHC research summary and the Stars and Stripes report.
Even with those boundaries, the findings should make us pause.
Behind a percentage is a household making decisions. What can wait? What absolutely cannot? How much room is left if the car breaks down?
We shouldn’t assume every veteran is struggling. We should care enough to recognize those who are, and listen before deciding what they need.
A home has to work for the person living there
Affordability matters enormously. So does accessibility.
Imagine finding a place within your budget, only to discover that the entrance, bathroom, or layout makes daily life difficult. Imagine needing help with something you once did independently because your home no longer fits your circumstances.
A roof and four walls are a beginning. A suitable home should also support safety, independence, and dignity.
That requires us to ask better questions. Can this person move comfortably through the home? Can they reach medical care? Does the monthly cost leave room for ordinary living expenses?
Those details may never appear in a celebratory social media post. They matter every morning to the person living with them.
Those of us in housing have a responsibility
I spend much of my time talking about homeownership. I believe deeply in helping military families understand their opportunities.
I also believe we have to be honest: a purchase is only helpful when it makes sense for the family.
Sometimes the immediate need is affordable rental housing. Sometimes it’s help keeping an existing home, exploring accessibility modifications, or connecting with someone who understands available benefits.
A good conversation begins with, “Tell me what you’re facing.”
Then we need to listen to the answer.
Real estate professionals, mortgage professionals, landlords, nonprofit leaders, and community members each have a role. We can explain options clearly, make thoughtful introductions, and follow through when someone needs assistance beyond our expertise.
We can measure success by whether a family is in a better position because we became involved.
Help should be easier to find
VA housing assistance includes information about home loan benefits, help for borrowers struggling with mortgage payments, and housing adaptation grants for eligible veterans with qualifying service-connected disabilities. Each program has its own requirements.
For FY2026, the VA’s published maximums include:
- Specially Adapted Housing (SAH): up to $126,526 for eligible veterans with qualifying service-connected disabilities.
- Special Housing Adaptation (SHA): up to $25,350 for eligible veterans with qualifying service-connected disabilities.
These grants may help eligible veterans buy, build, or adapt a permanent home. For example, qualifying adaptations can include ramps or widened doorways. Eligibility differs between programs, and the maximum is not a guaranteed award. Learn more about VA disability housing grants and how to apply using VA Form 26-4555.
For broader support, visit VA housing assistance. Veterans who are homeless or at imminent risk of homelessness can call the National Call Center for Homeless Veterans at 877-424-3838, available 24 hours a day, seven days a week. More information is available through VA Homeless Programs.
A resource page can open a door. A person willing to help someone understand the next step can make that door easier to walk through.
If you know a veteran facing housing difficulties, ask whether they would welcome help finding the right contact. Respect their privacy. Let them decide what support they want.
A note about program amounts
Published maximums are not the same as average family awards. The sources above do not establish comparable average values across these programs, so we won’t present an invented average. For reference, ranked by the stated maximum amount, not by typical family outcome:
- SAH grant: up to $126,526, non-repayable grant, subject to eligibility and program requirements.
- SHA grant: up to $25,350, non-repayable grant, subject to eligibility and program requirements.
- Hometown Hero Credit™: up to $21,000 toward eligible closing costs, non-repayable credit, subject to program guidelines and eligibility.
VA housing and homelessness resources also offer pathways to assistance, but they do not promise a fixed award amount to every person seeking help. These programs serve different needs and are not interchangeable.
Let’s make gratitude useful
At Operation T.A.G., T.A.G. stands for Tangible Act of Gratitude. Those words carry a responsibility.
Gratitude isn’t a certification. It’s something you do.
We have to keep asking whether our efforts are useful to the people we want to serve. Are we listening? Are we helping families find trustworthy information? Are we willing to stay involved when the answer takes more than one phone call?
I include myself in that challenge.
Our veterans’ housing needs won’t disappear when Veterans Day ends. Neither should our attention.
Before we post another “thank you,” let’s think of one action we can take: make an introduction, volunteer with a housing organization, help someone locate a resource, or check back with a family we promised to assist.
Our veterans already paid a price most of us will never fully understand. We can honor that service by showing up consistently, listening carefully, and doing something that makes daily life a little more secure.
Standing up for those who stood up for us.
Gratitude over profits. Every day of the year.
Veterans and military families: What housing challenge do you wish more people understood? Your experience belongs in this conversation.
Frequently asked questions
What does housing cost burden mean?
It means spending more than 30% of household income on housing. Recent research found roughly three in ten veterans with disabilities in the population studied were housing cost-burdened, compared with about two in ten veterans without disabilities.
What are VA housing adaptation grants?
SAH and SHA grants help eligible veterans with qualifying service-connected disabilities buy, build, or modify a home. FY2026 maximums are up to $126,526 for SAH and up to $25,350 for SHA. Each program has its own requirements. Learn more and apply through VA.gov.
Where should a veteran start if they need housing help?
Start at VA.gov’s housing-assistance page. For homelessness or risk of losing housing, visit VA Homeless Programs or call 877-424-3838. A person willing to help walk through the next step can make the door easier to open.
How can I help a veteran facing housing difficulties?
Ask whether they’d welcome help finding the right contact. Respect their privacy. Let them decide what support they want.
What is Operation T.A.G.?
Operation T.A.G. is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit military homeownership support organization, not a lender, founded by Brett Stacy and his son Scott. We are dedicated to helping, informing, supporting, and protecting military families.
What is the Hometown Hero Credit™?
It is a credit of 2% of the loan amount, up to $21,000, toward eligible closing costs for eligible military families in 49 states, through licensed lending partner PRMG. Program guidelines and eligibility apply. Operation T.A.G. is not a lender and connects families with licensed partners.
FREE BOOK DOWNLOAD: Mission Homeownership
For military families pursuing homeownership, Brett Stacy’s free guide Mission Homeownership explains VA home loans and the homebuying journey. Scan the QR code on the card or use the download link, which goes straight to the download form.
Operation T.A.G. is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization, not a lender. All mortgage applications, loan terms, rates, and lending services are provided by appropriately licensed lending partners. PRMG NMLS #75243.
Brett Stacy
Founder & National Director, Operation T.A.G.™
National Brand Ambassador, Hometown Hero Credit™
Military Family Advocate | Author | Speaker
OperationTAG.org | HometownHeroCredit.com