80 FR 61272 - Loan Guaranty: Assistance to Eligible Individuals in Acquiring Specially Adapted Housing; Cost-of-Construction Index

DEPARTMENT OF VETERANS AFFAIRS

Federal Register Volume 80, Issue 196 (October 9, 2015)

The U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) announces that the aggregate amounts of assistance available under the specially adapted housing (SAH) grant program will increase by 4.688 percent for fiscal year (FY) 2016.

[Federal Register Volume 80, Number 196 (Friday, October 9, 2015)]
[Notices]
[Page 61272]
From the Federal Register Online  [www.thefederalregister.org]
[FR Doc No: 2015-25792]


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DEPARTMENT OF VETERANS AFFAIRS


Loan Guaranty: Assistance to Eligible Individuals in Acquiring 
Specially Adapted Housing; Cost-of-Construction Index

AGENCY: Department of Veterans Affairs.

ACTION: Notice.

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SUMMARY: The U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) announces that 
the aggregate amounts of assistance available under the specially 
adapted housing (SAH) grant program will increase by 4.688 percent for 
fiscal year (FY) 2016.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: John Bell III, Assistant Director for 
Loan Policy and Valuation, Department of Veterans Affairs, 810 Vermont 
Avenue NW., Washington, DC 20420, (202) 632-8786 (not a toll-free 
number).

DATES: October 9, 2015.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: In accordance with 38 U.S.C. 2102(e) and 
2102A(b)(2) and 38 CFR 36.4411, the Secretary of Veterans Affairs 
announces for FY 2016 the aggregate amounts of assistance available to 
veterans and servicemembers eligible for SAH program grants.
    Public Law 110-289, the Housing and Economic Recovery Act of 2008, 
authorized the Secretary to increase the aggregate amounts of SAH 
assistance annually based on a residential home cost-of-construction 
index. The Secretary uses the Turner Building Cost Index for this 
purpose.
    In the most recent quarter for which the Turner Building Cost Index 
is available, quarter two FY 2015, the index showed an increase of 
4.688 percent over the index value in quarter two FY 2014. Pursuant to 
38 CFR 36.4411(a), therefore, the aggregate amounts of assistance for 
SAH grants made pursuant to 38 U.S.C. 2101(a) or 2101(b) will increase 
by 4.688 percent for FY 2016.
    Public Law 112-154, the Honoring America's Veterans and Caring for 
Camp Lejeune Families Act of 2012, required that the same percentage of 
increase apply to grants authorized pursuant to 38 U.S.C. 2102A. See 38 
U.S.C. 2102A(b)(2). As such, the maximum amount of assistance available 
under these grants, which are called grants for temporary residence 
adaptation (TRA grants), will also increase by 4.688 percent for FY 
2016.
    The increases are effective as of October 1, 2015.

Specially Adapted Housing: Aggregate Amounts of Assistance Available 
During Fiscal Year 2016

2101(a) Grants and TRA Grants

    Effective October 1, 2015, the aggregate amount of assistance 
available for SAH grants made pursuant to 38 U.S.C. 2101(a) is $73,768 
during FY 2016. The maximum TRA grant made to an individual who 
satisfies the eligibility criteria under 38 U.S.C. 2101(a) and 2102A is 
$32,384 during FY 2016.

2101(b) Grants and TRA Grants

    Effective October 1, 2015, the aggregate amount of assistance 
available for SAH grants made pursuant to 38 U.S.C. 2101(b) is $14,754 
during FY 2016. The maximum TRA grant made to an individual who 
satisfies the eligibility criteria under 38 U.S.C. 2101(b) and 2102A is 
$5,782 during FY 2016.

Signing Authority

    The Secretary of Veterans Affairs, or designee, approved this 
document and authorized the undersigned to sign and submit the document 
to the Office of the Federal Register for publication electronically as 
an official document of the Department of Veterans Affairs. Robert L. 
Nabors II, Chief of Staff, approved this document on September 11, 
2015, for publication.

    Dated: October 6, 2015.
William F. Russo,
Director, Office of Regulation Policy and Management, Office of General 
Counsel.
[FR Doc. 2015-25792 Filed 10-8-15; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 8320-01-P