82 FR 60096 - Loan Guaranty: Assistance to Eligible Individuals in Acquiring Specially Adapted Housing; Cost-of-Construction Index

DEPARTMENT OF VETERANS AFFAIRS

Federal Register Volume 82, Issue 241 (December 18, 2017)

The Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) announces that the aggregate amounts of assistance available under the Specially Adapted Housing (SAH) grant program will increase by 4.88 percent for Fiscal Year (FY) 2018.

[Federal Register Volume 82, Number 241 (Monday, December 18, 2017)]
[Notices]
[Pages 60096-60097]
From the Federal Register Online  [www.thefederalregister.org]
[FR Doc No: 2017-27162]


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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 Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) announces that the 
aggregate amounts of assistance available under the Specially Adapted 
Housing (SAH) grant program will increase by 4.88 percent for Fiscal 
Year (FY) 2018.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Andrew Trevayne, Assistant Director, 
Loan Guaranty (26), Veterans Benefits Administration, Department of 
Veterans Affairs, 810 Vermont Avenue NW, Washington, DC 20420, (202) 
632-8795. (This is not a toll-free number.)

DATES: Effective Date: This notice is applicable December 18, 2017.
    Applicability Date: The provisions of this notice shall apply on 
October 1, 2017.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: In accordance with 38 U.S.C. 2102(e) and 38 
U.S.C. 2102A(b)(2) and 38 CFR 36.4411, the Secretary of Veterans 
Affairs announces for FY 2018 the aggregate amounts of assistance 
available to veterans and servicemembers eligible for SAH program 
grants.
    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. Public Law 110-
289, Sec.  2605, 122 Stat. 2654, 2861. Per 38 CFR 36.4411(a), 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, 2nd Quarter 2017, the index showed an increase of 4.88 
percent over the index value listed by 2nd Quarter 2016. 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) and 2101(b) will increase by 
4.88 percent for FY 2018.
    The Honoring America's Veterans and Caring for Camp Lejeune 
Families Act of 2012, requires that the same percentage of increase 
apply to grants authorized pursuant to 38 U.S.C. 2102A. Public Law 112-
154, Sec.  205, 126 Stat. 1165, 1178. 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 4.88 
percent for FY 2018.
    The increases are effective as of October 1, 2017. See 38 U.S.C. 
2102(e) and 2102A(b)(2).

Specially Adapted Housing: Aggregate Amounts of Assistance Available 
During Fiscal Year 2018

2101(a) Grants and TRA Grants

    Effective October 1, 2017, the aggregate amount of assistance 
available for SAH grants made pursuant to 38 U.S.C. 2101(a) will be 
$81,080 during FY 2018. The maximum TRA grant made to an individual who 
satisfies the eligibility criteria under 38 U.S.C. 2101(a) and 2102A 
will be $35,593 during FY 2018.

[[Page 60097]]

2101(b) Grants and TRA Grants

    Effective as of October 1, 2017, the aggregate amount of assistance 
available for SAH grants made pursuant to 38 U.S.C. 2101(b) will be 
$16,217 during FY 2018. The maximum TRA grant made to an individual who 
satisfies the eligibility criteria under 38 U.S.C. 2101(b) and 2102A 
will be $6,355 during FY 2018.

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. Gina S. 
Farrisee, Deputy Chief of Staff, Department of Veterans Affairs, 
approved this document on December 6, 2017, for publication.

    Dated: December 6, 2017.
Jeffrey Martin,
Impact Analyst, Office of Regulation Policy & Management, Office of the 
Secretary, Department of Veterans Affairs.
[FR Doc. 2017-27162 Filed 12-15-17; 8:45 am]
 BILLING CODE 8320-01-P