VA publishes Interim Final Rule for Legal Services for Veterans Grant Program

WASHINGTON — As part of the Department of Veterans Affairs’ national homeless prevention efforts, VA published an Interim Final Rule which allows VA to enhance the provision of legal services for Veterans experiencing or at risk for homelessness.

Under section 4202 of the Johnny Isakson and David P. Roe, M.D., Veterans Health Care and Benefits Improvement Act of 2020, VA will, through the Legal Services for Homeless Veterans and Veterans At-Risk for Homelessness Grant Program, offer up to 75 grants each year to eligible entities, with at least 10% of funding being utilized for women Veterans.

These grants will also satisfy section 5105 of the Act, which requires VA to partner with outside organizations to provide legal services to women Veterans.

“Providing full access to justice and legal services for Veterans takes unified, inter-agency partnerships, from the Federal level down to states, cities and communities at the grassroots-level where Veterans work and live,” said VA Secretary Denis McDonough. “This first-of-its-kind grant will ensure that legal services are available nationwide to Veterans in need.”

LSV-Homeless builds on existing legal services offered to Veterans through partnerships between VA and legal service providers in communities across the U.S. Services provided by the new grants will support Veterans’ legal needs related to such housing, family law issues, income support, criminal defense, and requests to upgrade the characterization of a discharge.

A Notice of Funding Opportunity with instructions on how to apply for a grant is expected to be published in September 2022 once the Final Rule for the grant program is complete.

Get information on LSV-Homeless. The Interim Final Rule for the Legal Services for Homeless Veterans and Veterans At-Risk for Homelessness Grant Program.