Legal Services for Veterans Programs
Legal Services for Homeless Veterans and Veterans At-Risk for Homelessness FY24 Grant Awards Announcement
Legal Services for Veterans Programs
Veterans who are homeless or at risk for homelessness often face legal issues that make it difficult for them to obtain or maintain stable housing. The Legal Services for Veterans (LSV) program aims to increase access to legal services to eligible Veterans through the award of grant funds and by promoting Medical Legal Partnerships and VA-affiliated legal clinics throughout the Veterans Health Administration (VHA). LSV is a component of the Veterans Justice Programs (VJP) within the VHA Homeless Programs Office.
The new Legal Services for Homeless Veterans and Veterans At-Risk for Homelessness Grants (LSV-H) will enable VA to deliver legal services to these Veterans. Legal services – particularly civil legal services that support accessing government benefits, navigating family law, ensuring access to safe housing, and assisting with debt – can all be critical to resolving or preventing homelessness. View the LSV-H Interim Final Rule.
In alignment with the United States Interagency Council on Homelessness’s goal to End Veteran Homelessness, this grant program will assist in furthering access to legal services for Veterans. LSV-H is authorized under sections 4202 & 5105 of the Johnny Isakson and David P. Roe, M.D., Veterans Health Care and Benefits Improvement Act of 2020 (P.L. 116-315), signed into law on January 5, 2021. LSV-H is further codified in 38 U.S.C. 2022A.
VA published a Notice of Funding Opportunity (NOFO) for more than $26 million in grants for public or nonprofit private entities to provide allowable legal services to eligible Veterans experiencing or at risk of homelessness. VA has awarded up to $300,000 in grant funding to 108 eligible organizations during a 14-month grant cycle, beginning August 1, 2024.
Some legal services that may be provided under these grants are:
- Legal services related to housing
- Legal services related to family law
- Legal services related to income support
- Legal services related to criminal defense in matters symptomatic of homelessness
- Legal services to request an upgrade to the character of discharge from the U.S. Armed Forces
- Protective orders and other legal matters related to domestic violence or intimate partner violence
- Legal services related to access to health care
- Legal services related to employment law
VA prioritized grant applications from organizations offering three or more allowable legal services; organizations equitably distributed across geographic regions including areas not being served by existing LSV-H awards, rural communities, tribal lands, and areas with a high number or percentage of Native Americans; and organizations with a demonstrated focus on providing legal services to women Veterans.
Grantees are expected to use at least 10% of grant funds to provide legal services to women Veterans.
List of Current LSV-H Grantees (August 1, 2023 - July 31, 2024)
The Grantees for the Fiscal Year 2023 LSV-H were announced on June 29, 2023. Click here to find a full list of current awarded grantees and their referral information. The LSV-H grant cycle began August 1, 2023.
Please note that the availability of legal services provided by each grantee is subject to certain limitations, including their experience and available resources. While these organizations strive to offer a wide range of legal services, not every grantee may be able to provide the specific legal services requested by eligible Veterans. For example, if a grantee’s entry on this list may note that it provides services in the area of Housing Law, that grantee may be able to provide one type of Housing Law service (e.g., eviction defense in state court) but not another (e.g., pursuing a claim of housing discrimination in Federal court). We encourage individuals seeking legal assistance to inquire about the services available with their selected grantee to ensure compatibility with their needs.
Please check back often for important updates. The LSV-H grant application period is currently closed.
For more information about the Legal Services for Veterans Grant Program, read our one-page overview, visit the LSV Provider website or contact LSVGrants@va.gov.
Additional Legal Services
If you are a service member or Veteran in need of legal assistance now, there are several resources available to assist you:
- Many legal service providers offer free legal clinics in VA facilities. Specific information can be found here: VA Medical Legal Partnerships/VA Affiliated Legal Clinic Listing.
- You may also visit StatesideLegal, ABA Federal Free Legal Answers, VetLex or ABA Pro Bono Resources for Veterans.
- Staff at your nearest VA Medical Center may be able to tell you more about available legal clinics and other community legal assistance resources.
- VHA Homeless Programs Office, Legal Services Resources: Legal Services Resources Flyer
Please note: VA assumes no responsibility for the professional ability or integrity of the legal service providers that appear on this list. VA does not endorse or recommend any of these organizations.
FAQs
Organizations that will be able to qualify include public or nonprofit private entities with the capacity to effectively administer the grant under sections 4202 & 5105 of P.L. 116-315 and as codified in 38 U.S.C. 2022A. Public entities include local governments, state governments, and federally recognized Indian tribal governments.
VA may prioritize grant awards to organizations providing three or more allowable legal services; organizations equitably distributed across geographic regions including areas not being served by existing LSV-H awards, rural communities, tribal lands, and areas with a high number or percentage of Native Americans; and organizations with a demonstrated focus on providing legal services to women Veterans.
Grantees are expected to use at least 10% of grant funds to provide legal services to women Veterans.
Grants will be awarded to organizations that provide legal services for homeless and at risk for homeless Veterans who are eligible, including primarily legal services related to housing, family law, income support, requested upgrade to the character of discharge from the U.S. Armed Forces, access to health care, and employment law. Please note that the availability of legal services provided by each grantee is subject to certain limitations, including their experience and available resources. While these organizations strive to offer a wide range of legal services, not every grantee may be able to provide the specific legal services requested by eligible Veterans. For example, if a grantee’s entry on this list may note that it provides services in the area of Housing Law, that grantee may be able to provide one type of Housing Law service (e.g., eviction defense in state court) but not another (e.g., pursuing a claim of housing discrimination in Federal court). We encourage individuals seeking legal assistance to inquire about the services available with their selected grantee to ensure compatibility with their needs.
Eligible individuals include Veterans who are homeless or at risk for homelessness who have a need for legal services authorized under the grant program.
The FY24 awarded grantees were announced July 1, 2024, with the 14 month grant cycle beginning August 1, 2024. The previous grant cycle was August 1, 2023 - July 31, 2024.
No, LSV-H is not part of SSVF and is not tied to nor led by SSVF (https://www.va.gov/homeless/ssvf/index.html). LSV-H is a standalone VA grant program specifically created pursuant to Sections 4202 & 5105 of the Johnny Isakson and David P. Roe, M.D., Veterans Health Care and Benefits Improvement Act of 2020, P.L. 116-315.
38 CFR 79 for the LSV-H grant can be found at the Federal Register.
For more information: How to Apply for Accreditation
For more information, contact us as lsv@va.gov
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