For veterans experiencing homelessness, legal issues can be stressful and challenging to handle, especially when they stand in the way of access to stable housing.

These often costly barriers can include everything from having a driver's license revoked, making it difficult to travel or receive housing assistance, to seeking an upgrade to a military discharge to be eligible for benefits.

At VA we want to help veterans overcome these issues so they can become safely and permanently housed. Our Legal Services for Homeless Veterans and Veterans At-Risk for Homelessness (LSV-H) grant program is paving the way.

About the program

The grant program supplies funding to partners around the country which then provide free legal services to eligible veterans who are homeless or at risk of homelessness.

At no cost, they can help with issues such as:

• Housing including eviction defense or landlord-tenant and foreclosure cases.
• Family law including child support, child custody, divorce, estate planning and family reconciliation.
• Income support including access to public benefits.
• Criminal defense for issues related to homelessness, such as outstanding warrants, fines, driver's license revocation, citations, or expunging or sealing a criminal record.
• Protective orders and other legal matters related to domestic or intimate partner violence.
• Upgrade to military discharge.
• Access to health care.
• Employment law.

Grants that matter

At VA, we're committed to ending veteran homelessness and removing obstacles to accessing housing resources is critical to achieving that goal. Even minor legal issues can hamper a veteran's ability to compete in a difficult housing market.

Veterans who are experiencing legal issues, impacting their ability to obtain housing or stay housed, are not alone. Through our annual Project CHALENG survey, we have heard from veterans nationwide who say access to legal services is a top barrier to housing. Knowing this, we created the LSV-H program, enlisting legal experts to help.

Authorized by the Johnny Isakson and David P. Roe Veterans Health Care and Benefits Improvement Act of 2020, the first grants were awarded in 2023 to nearly 80 organizations in 38 states and Washington, D.C.

This year, we've awarded nearly $27 million in grants to 108 organizations to help reach especially vulnerable populations, including women veterans and veterans living in rural communities and on tribal lands.

Every veteran deserves a safe, stable place to call home. For veterans who face legal issues that are standing in their way of finding or keeping housing, overcoming those issues can be key to their success. We're proud to offer services that help them do just that.

Learn about VA programs

• If you are a veteran who is homeless or at risk for homelessness, call the National Call Center for Homeless Veterans at 877-4AID-VET (877-424-3838).
• Visit the VA Homeless Programs website to learn about housing initiatives and other programs for veterans exiting homelessness. 
• Check out the Ending Veteran Homelessness podcast to learn more about what VA is doing about veteran homelessness. 
• Learn how to get involved with housing homeless veterans.
• Subscribe to the Homeless Programs Office newsletter to receive monthly updates about programs and supportive services for veterans experiencing or at risk of homelessness. 
• For more information about the programs offered by VA's Legal Services for Veterans, including the LSV-H program and our pro bono Medical Legal Partnerships, visit LSV.