ReNews -- Remodelors Council News - 02/12/2010 (Plain Text Version)

Donna Shirey, CGR, CAPS, CGP
NAHB Remodelers Chair
Issaquah, Wash.

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In this issue:
Remodeling Poised to Enter Early Phase of Recovery
Remodelers Advised to Apply Now for Lead Certification
Washington Remodeler Selected as 2010 NAHB Remodelers Chairman
Builders and Remodelers Continue to Battle Unfair Health Care Provision
Housing Cited in State of the Union Address Focusing on Jobs
2010 Winter Board Meeting Highlights
Save the Date for Spring Board Meeting!
VA Announces 6.3% Increase in Maximum Grant Amounts
Speakers Wanted for 2011 International Builders’ Show
Virtual BuilderBooks Catalog Now Available
Let Love Bloom This Valentine’s Day With FTD 20% Discount
FedEx Offers Big Savings on Shipping
Members, Take Advantage of Special Offers From Hertz
Thank You to Our Sponsors!

VA Announces 6.3% Increase in Maximum Grant Amounts

Under the VA Specially Adapted Housing Program The Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) Loan Guaranty Service announces changes to the Specially Adapted Housing (SAH) program that provide for automatic annual increases in the maximum grant amounts available to SAH grant recipients. The changes result in a 6.3% increase in the assistance available to eligible individuals.

For Fiscal Year 2010, the aggregate amount of assistance available for the Paraplegic Housing (PH) grant increases from $60,000 to $63,780, and the aggregate amount of assistance available for the Adaptive Housing (AH) grant increases from $12,000 to $12,756.

Please note that the TRA grant amount is not indexed and remains unchanged. The maximum grant amount for a TRA grant is currently $14,000 and $2,000 for a PH or AH grant, respectively.

Background

VA has amended the SAH regulations (38 CFR part 36 subpart C) to implement provisions of Public Law 110-289, the Housing and Economic Recovery Act of 2008.

The law directs the Secretary of Veterans Affairs to establish a cost-of-construction index for the purpose of increasing certain SAH grant amounts on October 1 of each year.

After extensive research, the Turner Building Cost Index (TBCI) was selected as the basis for annual adjustments. VA will use this index to determine the amount, if any, of the annual increase in the dollar amounts of SAH grant assistance. Please note that these adjustments must increase the maximum grant amounts or leave them unchanged; they will never decrease the maximum grant amounts.

In accordance with 38 U.S.C. 2101(e), an increase in assistance will equal the percentage by which the cost-of-construction index increased between the two preceding calendar years. Accordingly, the TBCI results in an increase of 6.3% for Fiscal Year 2010.

Contact

For more information on the SAH grant program and eligibility criteria, please visit www.homeloans.va.gov/sah. You may also contact Brian Bixler, Chief, Specially Adapted Housing, or call 202-461-9546.