SAH, HISA, and Texas HEROES Grants — San Antonio
Disabled Veterans in Texas can combine federal and state help to adapt a home in San Antonio. SAH funds major accessibility changes, HISA covers medically necessary improvements, and Texas HEROES assists low income households with modifications and repairs through Texas Veterans Commission partners.
What These Grants Do
- SAH funds construction or major adaptations for barrier free living.
- HISA funds medically necessary changes like ramps or accessible showers.
- Texas HEROES funds accessibility projects and critical repairs statewide.
How Much You Can Receive
- SAH maximum is $126,526 for FY twenty twenty six.
- HISA lifetime maximum is $6,800 for service connected conditions.
- Texas HEROES awards vary by grantee and verified household need.
Who Qualifies
- SAH requires qualifying service connected disabilities and home ownership intent.
- HISA requires a VA prescription for medically necessary alterations.
- Texas HEROES prioritizes low income Veterans and surviving spouses.
Start Here
- Apply SAH or SHA online with VA Form twenty six four five five five.
- Request HISA through your VA prosthetics team with a physician prescription.
- Contact Texas Veterans Commission partners for HEROES intake.
Official resources: VA disability housing grants · How to apply for SAH or SHA · HISA guidance · Texas HEROES program overview
Key Takeaways
- SAH supports major accessibility projects for qualifying service connected disabilities, including building or adapting a San Antonio home to barrier free standards that fit daily mobility and care needs.
- HISA funds medically necessary changes prescribed by a VA clinician, such as ramps, door widening, and shower conversions, with a lifetime maximum of six thousand eight hundred dollars for service connected conditions.
- Texas HEROES grants, administered by Texas Veterans Commission partners, prioritize low income Veterans and surviving spouses for accessibility modifications, critical repairs, and weatherization that improve safety and independence.
- SAH funds can be used up to six times across your lifetime, allowing phased projects as needs change or when moving between San Antonio properties and family support settings.
- Plan projects with permits, bids, and accessibility standards early. Coordinate lender requirements, appraisals, and occupancy timelines if adaptations connect to a VA loan purchase in Bexar County.
- Confirm current maximums and application steps on official VA and Texas Veterans Commission pages, since amounts adjust with construction costs and program guidance each fiscal year.
What SAH and HISA Cover in San Antonio
SAH supports barrier free construction or substantial modifications for qualifying service connected disabilities. Review the official overview of disability housing grants to confirm categories and eligibility specific to your situation in San Antonio. For medically necessary alterations like ramps and shower conversions, HISA guidance explains covered work and lifetime caps for service connected conditions.
See: VA disability housing grants overview and HISA program page.
- SAH scope: Build, buy, or adapt a home for barrier free use with features like ramps, wider doors, open floor paths, and roll in showers that match clinical guidance.
- HISA scope: Add medically necessary changes prescribed by a VA clinician, including grab bars, hand held shower fixtures, lever handles, and threshold adjustments for safer daily movement.
- Lifetime usage: SAH funds can be disbursed up to six times across your lifetime, which allows phased work as needs evolve in Bexar County housing.
- Local fit: Coordinate plans with San Antonio permitting and neighborhood guidelines, then schedule around contractor lead times that vary by season and product availability.
Grant Amounts and Timing for FY 2026
For the current fiscal year, the SAH maximum is one hundred twenty six thousand five hundred twenty six dollars as published in the Federal Register. HISA provides a lifetime maximum of six thousand eight hundred dollars for service connected conditions. Always confirm current amounts before finalizing bids since caps adjust by fiscal year.
See: Federal Register notice for FY 2026 SAH amounts.
- SAH maximum: Use the published figure to size scope correctly and avoid change orders if pricing rises during construction materials cycles in San Antonio.
- HISA maximum: Apply the lifetime cap to the most clinically important access points first, then plan follow on phases funded by other sources if needed.
- Disbursement pacing: Expect staged approvals, builder bids, and inspections tied to milestones, especially when projects involve structural work or plumbing relocation.
- Schedule alignment: Align grant timing with move dates, loan deadlines, and any temporary housing plans to avoid gaps in care or access.
Texas HEROES Grant for Accessibility and Repairs
Texas HEROES is a state program that funds accessibility modifications, critical repairs, and weatherization through Texas Veterans Commission partners. It prioritizes low income Veterans and surviving spouses and supports ramps, door widening, accessible bathrooms, and urgent systems repairs in communities across San Antonio.
See: Texas Veterans Commission Housing for Texas Heroes program.
- Eligibility focus: Very low or low income Veterans and surviving spouses receive priority, with funding caps set by address and program guidance published by the Commission.
- Common projects: Permanent ramps, wider doors, safer bathrooms, pathway improvements, and critical repairs to electrical, plumbing, roofing, or windows that restore safety and efficiency.
- Local partners: Intake and construction flow through approved nonprofit or municipal partners that manage bids, inspections, and quality checks for completed work.
- Stacking strategy: Use Texas HEROES alongside SAH or HISA when scopes do not overlap and program rules allow, to finish a complete accessibility plan.
How to Apply Step by Step
For SAH or SHA, apply online or review instructions for VA Form twenty six four five five five. For HISA, meet your VA provider for a prescription and submit your prosthetics packet with itemized bids and photos. Keep copies of everything and store digital backups for easy follow up.
See: How to apply for adapted housing grants and About VA Form 26 4555.
- SAH start: Apply online or by mail, then expect outreach from a VA agent to review eligibility and project scope with your builder and design professional.
- HISA start: Meet your VA provider to document medical necessity, then submit a prosthetics packet with photos and a detailed bid that matches the prescription.
- Texas HEROES start: Contact a Commission partner for intake, income verification, and a home visit that prioritizes urgent safety items and accessibility barriers.
- Build readiness: Collect two competitive bids, verify insurance and registrations, and plan for inspections and punch lists before final payments release.
Grant Comparison Table
Use this table to compare programs at a glance. Confirm amounts and categories on official pages since values update each fiscal year.
| Program | Maximum Amount | Primary Purpose | Lifetime Use | Administered By |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| SAH | $126,526 for FY 2026 | Build, buy, or adapt a home for barrier free living | Up to six disbursements | U S Department of Veterans Affairs |
| HISA | $6,800 lifetime for service connected | Medically necessary access to essential home facilities | Lifetime cap | U S Department of Veterans Affairs |
| Texas HEROES | Varies by grantee and need | Accessibility, critical repairs, and weatherization | Per program rules | Texas Veterans Commission |
Application Timeline and Documents
Prepare documents early and keep a moving style binder for contacts, permits, and receipts. Add digital backups for photos, prescriptions, and bids. This timeline summarizes major steps so your project remains organized from intake to final inspection in San Antonio.
See: VA Prosthetics housing adaptation fact sheet.
| Stage | Primary Action | Who | Typical Timing |
|---|---|---|---|
| Eligibility and intake | Confirm program fit and gather medical and income documentation | Veteran, VA team, TVC partner | One to three weeks |
| Bids and scope | Obtain detailed estimates, photos, and sketches that match prescriptions | Veteran, contractors | One to four weeks |
| Approvals | Program review, permit checks, scheduled start date | VA or TVC partner | Two to six weeks |
| Construction | Complete work, pass inspections, resolve punch list items | Contractor, inspectors | One to eight weeks |
| Closeout | Final photos, receipts, and documents for record keeping | Veteran, program staff | Within one week of completion |
- VA disability housing grants overview and SAH eligibility: VA.gov
- FY 2026 SAH, SHA, and TRA amounts published in the Federal Register: FederalRegister.gov
- HISA program rules and lifetime caps for service connected conditions: VA Prosthetics
- How to apply for adapted housing grants and online application guidance: VA.gov How to Apply
- VA Form twenty six four five five five details and alternatives to paper submission: About VA Form 26 4555
- Texas Veterans Commission Housing for Texas Heroes program description and contacts: TVC Grantseekers
The Bottom Line
SAH, HISA, and Texas HEROES together can deliver a complete accessibility plan for Disabled Veterans in San Antonio.
Confirm current caps, document medical necessity, and assemble detailed bids with photos to streamline reviews.
Use the adapted housing application and prosthetics process to stage work in milestones.
Coordinate permits and inspections, and match funding sources to scope so your project stays predictable, safe, and aligned with your timeline and budget.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the difference between SAH and HISA for Disabled Veterans?
SAH funds major construction or adaptation to create barrier free living in a home you own or will own. HISA funds medically necessary improvements like ramps or shower conversions when prescribed by a VA clinician and reviewed by prosthetics.
How much SAH funding is available in the current fiscal year?
For the current fiscal year, the SAH maximum is one hundred twenty six thousand five hundred twenty six dollars. The VA adjusts this amount annually based on construction costs and publishes updates in the Federal Register and on VA pages.
How much HISA funding can I receive and what does it cover?
HISA provides a lifetime maximum of six thousand eight hundred dollars for service connected conditions. It covers medically necessary improvements that support treatment continuity and safe access to essential home areas like bathrooms and entryways.
Who qualifies for Texas HEROES funding and what projects are typical?
Texas HEROES prioritizes very low or low income Veterans and surviving spouses. Typical projects include ramps, wider doors, accessible bathrooms, and urgent repairs to electrical, plumbing, roofing, windows, and entries that restore safety and independence.
Can I use SAH funds more than once if needs change later?
Yes. SAH funds can be disbursed up to six times across your lifetime, which supports phased projects and moves. Keep detailed records for each draw and coordinate inspections and closeout before requesting additional disbursements.
How do I start an SAH application in San Antonio?
Apply online or by mail with VA Form twenty six four five five five. After submission, a VA representative reviews eligibility, confirms property plans, and explains documentation, inspections, and disbursement steps for your chosen builder.
How do I request HISA and what documentation is required?
Meet with your VA provider to document medical necessity. Submit a prosthetics packet with the prescription, photos, and an itemized bid that matches the clinical plan. Keep copies of receipts and before and after photos for your records.
Can state funds like Texas HEROES be combined with SAH or HISA?
Often yes, when scopes do not overlap and program rules allow. Discuss sequencing with your VA agent and the Texas Veterans Commission partner so permits, inspections, and payments align cleanly with your chosen contractor timeline.
Do these grants work with a VA home purchase in Bexar County?
Yes. SAH can support adaptations in a home you will own, while HISA covers medically necessary changes after clinical review. Coordinate with your lender on appraisal, escrow timing, and contractor start dates to avoid closing delays.
Where can I verify current amounts and find local contacts?
Review SAH and HISA pages on VA.gov and contact your prosthetics team for HISA specifics. For Texas HEROES, start with the Texas Veterans Commission program directory and ask for partner organizations serving Bexar County.
