Blog
November 11th is Veterans Day. According to the most recent US Census data, there are more than 1.6 million veterans currently living in Texas, and that number could increase as soldiers return from wars that are winding down.
These brave men and women whose job is to protect our country need access to programs and services that can help them fully participate in the communities they worked to protect.
TSAHC offers two programs to help Texas veterans become homeowners:
- Homes for Texas Heroes Program: provides access to fixed-rate mortgage financing, down payment assistance grants and mortgage credit certificates to low and moderate-income veteran households.
- Affordable Communities of Texas Veterans Housing Initiative (ACT-VET): provides discounted and donated homes to veterans who are disabled and/or low-to-moderate income.
And TSAHC is not the only organization providing help to veterans. According to recent article in the Daily Herald, the number of homeownership programs geared specifically to veterans has grown significantly over the past couple of years. Together these programs help ensure that veterans can achieve their dream of having a home to call their own.
Below is a list of 10 additional programs and services that can help Texas veterans buy a home, as well as find employment, access legal resources, and obtain other important services.
Homeownership Programs
- U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs: provides a home loan guaranty benefit to help veterans buy, build, repair, retain or adapt a home to suit their occupancy needs. Although VA loans require zero down payment, they can also be paired with other programs such as TSAHC’s Homes for Texas Heroes program, offering down payment and closing cost assistance.
- Texas Veteran’s Land Board: provides low-interest land, home, and home improvement loans that require little or no down payment. The home loan program also offers an interest rate reduction to qualifying veterans with a disability.
- Pen-Fed Foundation: periodically offers grants for down payments to veterans who are first-time homebuyers.
Employment Resources
- Texas Workforce Commission: connects returning veterans with employment and training resources, as well as medical, benefits and educational assistance.
- HireHeroesUSA: provides personalized employment training and corporate engagement to create job opportunities for veterans and their spouses.
Update: Here’s a link to another employment resource provided to us by the kids of the Brenham Community Center: http://www.commercialcapitaltraining.com/business-resources/business-ideas/veteran-business-ideas/
Thanks, Brenham Community Center!
Update: Here are a few links provided by Cadet Ryan Cirbo to help veterans thinking of starting their own business.
https://www.sba.gov/business-guide/plan-your-business/fund-your-business
https://www.fundera.com/resources/veterans-guide-starting-financing-small-business
Legal Resources
- State Bar of Texas: supports pro bono legal clinics throughout Texas for military veterans who cannot afford to access the legal services they need
- Texas Legal Services Center: provides free legal assistance via telephone to Texas veterans, with an emphasis on serving disabled veterans in rural areas of the state
Additional Resources
More about TSAHC’s Homes for Texas Heroes Program
The Homes for Texas Heroes Program provides Texas veterans with up to 5% down payment assistance in the form or a grant or 2nd lien that can be put towards your down payment and closing costs. Texas Veterans are also eligible to use TSAHC’s Mortgage Credit Certificate Program which provides a tax credit that can save you thousands of dollars over the life of your home loan.
Take our Eligibility Quiz to see if you qualify for one or both assistance options. You can also compare assistance options by using our Program Comparison Calculator.
On the House blog posts are meant to provide general information on various housing-related issues, research and programs. We are not liable for any errors or inaccuracies in the information provided by blog sources. Furthermore, this blog is not legal advice and should not be used as a substitute for legal advice from a licensed professional attorney.
Subscribe to Our Newsletter
Sign up to have TSAHC news & updates delivered to your inbox.