Many Veterans with certain service-connected disabilities face challenges in living as independently as possible. That’s why VA is announcing awards totaling nearly $800,000 in Specially Adapted Housing Assistive Technology (SAHAT) Grants to eligible individuals, researchers and organizations to develop new technology that may enhance Veterans’ and service members’ ability to live in specially adapted homes.
“VA administers the SAH benefit, which helps Veterans and service members with service-connected disabilities, purchase an adapted home or modify a home,” said VA acting Under Secretary for Benefits Thomas Murphy. “Typical adaptations include ramps, wider halls and doors, or wheelchair accessible bathrooms. New technology from the SAHAT Grant will be added to the list of home modification options as they become available.”
Congress authorized the SAHAT Grant program to design assistive technology to expand home modification options for Veterans who apply for VA’s Specially Adapted Housing (SAH) benefit. Grants of up to $200,000 are issued to selected grantees.
VA issued a Notice of Funding Availability in March for the SAHAT Grant program via the Federal Register and Grants.gov in order to foster competition and best serve the needs of Veterans and service members. VA did not limit the type of entity or individual eligible to apply. There was no restriction on the number of grants that could be awarded within the $1 million total funding limit.
VA also administers VA home loans in addition to the SAHAT program. SAHAT Grants allow outside entities, including non-profit and community organizations, to research and create innovative approaches for the development of assistive technology that is not currently available. The 2021 SAHAT Grant awardees are listed below:
2021 SAHAT Grants are awarded to:
| Grant Awardee | Technology | Funding Amount | Location |
| Livogis, LLC | Innovative Custom-Fit Ramp Technology for Improved Fit and Installation Time | $199,428 | Fulshear, TX |
| Prehensile Technologies | RoboTable 2.0: Robotic Table Gantry System to Enhance Independence | $199,833 | Arvada, CO |
| University of Pittsburgh | Mobius Stair Assist: Development and Evaluation of a Flexible Rail System to Anchor Interchangeable Home Modification | $200,000 | Pittsburgh, PA |
| Virtual Collaboration Research, Incorporated | HomeTwin: Digital Twins for Accessible Homes | $200,000 | Somerville, MA |
Craig Coleman is a public affairs specialist with VBA’s Office of Strategic Engagement.
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I also need to widen the doors in my house to use my electric wheelchair so I won*t tear the doors down,
I could use help some with wiping my butt. I have a lot of problems with getting in and out of my wheelchair to use the commode,
No wonder they REFUSED to grant me a walk in shower when I asked because of difficulties getting in and out of the tub. They’re too busy wasting money on finding new technology so people don’t actually have to wipe their butts after using the bathroom.