Veteran housing policy needs a preservation strategy 

America has made a promise to its veterans. Their service will be honored not just in words, but in how they live long after they return home. Yet much of the national conversation around veteran housing remains focused on homelessness and affordability, while less attention is paid to whether aging veterans can safely remain in the homes they already have. 

Across the country, many veterans are living in homes that no longer meet their physical needs. Without the ability or financial resources to make essential repairs or accessibility modifications, veterans may be forced out of otherwise stable housing. 

If policymakers want to address housing instability more comprehensively, they must expand the definition of “housing policy” to include preservation, accessibility and aging in place. 

The reality of changing needs

According to a 2023 AARP survey, most veterans say it is important to remain in their homes if they need long-term care. Yet more than a quarter say they would need financial assistance to make that possible. Among veterans age 45 and older, nearly half report needing bathroom modifications. These are not cosmetic improvements. They are modifications that can affect whether someone is able to live safely and independently at home. 

For veterans living with mobility challenges or service-connected disabilities, unmet repair and accessibility needs can make everyday living much more difficult. Homes that lack accessibility features or are deteriorating may no longer meet residents’ physical needs as they age, placing additional pressure on families, caregivers, healthcare providers and local support systems. 

Redefining housing stability policy

Remaining safely at home over time should be treated as a core component of housing stability policy. When nearly half of veterans over age 45 report needing modifications to something as essential as a bathroom, it points to a disconnect between housing policy and the realities many veterans face. 

Much of the current policy conversation remains focused on housing supply and affordability, but long-term housing stability depends on whether people can continue living safely in their homes as their needs change over time. 

Federal, state and local policymakers who place greater emphasis on housing preservation strategies will help veterans remain safely housed – strategies like expanding support for Veterans Administration housing adaptation grants, supporting home repair and accessibility programs and encouraging states and municipalities to incorporate aging-in-place considerations into broader housing policy and planning efforts. 

Policymakers could also explore stronger coordination between housing and healthcare systems. Medicare and Medicaid programs, for example, may be able to play a larger role in supporting preventive home modifications tied to health and safety needs by identifying housing-related risks earlier and connecting veterans with available assistance before challenges become severe. 

Straightforward solutions for long-term stability

In many cases, the solutions are relatively straightforward: install grab bars and accessibility ramps, widen doorways, improve lighting or repair essential home systems such as heating, plumbing and roofing. These types of modifications can help make homes safer and more functional for aging residents and people living with disabilities.

Identifying strategic, aging-in-place solutions does not diminish the importance of addressing homelessness or affordability. But focusing only on those issues overlooks a significant portion of veterans. They may not be severely cost-burdened, but they are often one preventable barrier away from losing the stability they have worked so hard to maintain. 

At its core, this issue is about whether housing policy fully accounts for the long-term needs of veterans as they age. It is about whether we honor service in a way that is tangible and sustained, and whether we ensure veterans are not only housed, but able to live safely, independently and with dignity in the homes they already have. 

Maureen Carlson is President and CEO of Rebuilding Together
This column does not necessarily reflect the opinion of HousingWire’s editorial department and its owners. To contact the editor responsible for this piece: zeb@hwmedia.com.