Legal Services for Veterans
Current Legal Services for Homeless Veterans and Veterans At-Risk for Homelessness (LSV-H) Grantee Referral Information:
Please note that the availability of legal services provided by each grantee is subject to certain limitations, including their experience and available resources. While these organizations strive to offer a wide range of legal services, not every grantee may be able to provide the specific legal services requested by eligible Veterans. For example, if a grantee’s entry on this list may note that it provides services in the area of Housing Law, that grantee may be able to provide one type of Housing Law service (e.g., eviction defense in state court) but not another (e.g., pursuing a claim of housing discrimination in Federal court). We encourage individuals seeking legal assistance to inquire about the services available with their selected grantee to ensure compatibility with their needs.
Veterans who are homeless or at risk for homelessness often face legal issues that make it difficult for them to obtain or maintain stable housing. The Legal Services for Veterans (LSV) program aims to increase access to legal services to eligible Veterans through the award of grant funds and by promoting Medical Legal Partnerships and VA-affiliated legal clinics throughout the Veterans Health Administration (VHA). LSV is a component of the Veterans Justice Programs (VJP) within the VHA Homeless Programs Office.
The new Legal Services for Homeless Veterans and Veterans At-Risk for Homelessness Grants (LSV-H) will enable VA to deliver legal services to these Veterans. Legal services – particularly civil legal services that support accessing government benefits, navigating family law, ensuring access to safe housing, and assisting with debt – can all be critical to resolving or preventing homelessness. View the LSV-H Final Rule.
In alignment with the United States Interagency Council on Homelessness’s goal to End Veteran Homelessness, this grant program will assist in furthering access to legal services for Veterans. LSV-H is authorized under sections 4202 & 5105 of the Johnny Isakson and David P. Roe, M.D., Veterans Health Care and Benefits Improvement Act of 2020 (P.L. 116-315), signed into law on January 5, 2021. LSV-H is further codified in 38 U.S.C. 2022A.
VA published a Notice of Funding Opportunity (NOFO) for approximately $42 million in grants for public or nonprofit private entities to provide allowable legal services to eligible Veterans experiencing or at risk of homelessness. VA has awarded up to $500,000 in grant funding to 92 eligible organizations for a two-year grant cycle, beginning October 1, 2025.
Some legal services that may be provided under these grants are:
- Legal services related to housing
- Legal services related to family law
- Legal services related to income support
- Legal services related to criminal defense in matters symptomatic of homelessness
- Legal services to request an upgrade to the character of discharge from the U.S. Armed Forces
- Protective orders and other legal matters related to domestic violence or intimate partner violence
- Legal services related to access to health care
- Legal services related to employment law
VA prioritized grant applications from organizations proposing to directly provide four or more allowable legal services; organizations equitably distributed across geographic regions, and organizations with a demonstrated focus on providing legal services to women Veterans.
Grantees are expected to use at least 10% of grant funds to provide legal services to women Veterans.
Grantee Resource Center
Regulations, Guides & Notice of Funding Opportunities
Regulations & Guides:
- 38 C.F.R. Part 79 – Legal Services for Homeless Veterans and Veterans At-Risk for Homelessness Grant Program
- LSV-H Grant Recipient Guide
- Beneficiary Notice of Religious Protections
Notice of Funding Opportunity (NOFO):
- Legal Services for Homeless Veterans (LSV-H) NOFO (published 06/05/2025)
- Legal Services for Homeless Veterans (LSV-H) NOFO (published 12/18/2023)
- Legal Services for Homeless Veterans (LSV-H) NOFO (published 10/06/2022)
Fiscal Information
Payment Management System (PMS):
- LSV grantees will need to register with the Payment Management System and set up direct deposit:
- UPDATED: Payment Management System (PMS) Access Process
- Payment Management System
- Payment Management System – New User Access Request
- Update Banking | HHS Payment Management System
- Guide for Registering or updating account information in PMS
SF 425 Resources:
- Download the SF-425 Federal Financial Report here from Grants.gov
- Due Dates for the SF-425
- For the new current FY26 grants, a year one SF-425 is due by January 28, 2027.
- A final SF-425 for the full two-year period is due by January 28, 2028.
- Grantees will email the completed SF-425 form with supporting documentation (general ledger) to LSV425@va.gov. (NOTE: please be sure to open the newest version of the SF-425 on grants.gov. Once you have selected the most current PDF link, you must save the document to your computer first, and then open the document from the saved location and click Enable All Features).
System for Award Management (SAM):
- All grantees are required to maintain an Active status on www.SAM.gov in order to receive payment for all LSV grants.
Other Fiscal Resources/Information:
Program Management & Operations
FY26 LSV-H Quarterly Report Dates & Caseload Tracker:
- Grantees must submit a performance report to LSV Program Office, through eGMS, on a quarterly basis. This report is cumulative in nature and should include all cases that were started in FY26 (closed and open). Open cases that are still being worked from previous grant years (FY22 Awards or FY24 Awards) should continue to get tracked on the Caseload Tracking Tool but they should not be reported in the Quarterly Report.
- These are due no later than 30 days after the end of each fiscal quarter:
- Quarter 1: October 1st – December 31st / Report due by January 30th
Quarter 2: January 1st – March 31st, Report due by April 30th- Effective April 1, 2026, the Quarter 2 reporting requirement is Cancelled. Quarter reporting requirements will resume with Q3, and the Q3 report will be due by July 30, 2026.
- Quarter 3: April 1st – June 30th / Report due by July 30th
- Quarter 4: July 1st – September 30th / Report due by October 30th
- These are due no later than 30 days after the end of each fiscal quarter:
- Caseload Tracking Tool (please find a copy in the Grants Management System) – V5 For The FY26 Award Beginning October 1, 2025
Checklists:
Grants Management System How-to Guides & SQUARES Information
Electronic Grants Management System (eGMS):
- How-to: Login to eGMS
- How-to: Navigate eGMS
- How-to: Navigate Contacts, Tasks, Requests, & File Spaces
- How-to: Upload an Indirect Cost Rate Agreement
- How-to: Submit a Payment Request
- How-to: Submit a Quarterly Report
- How-to: Submit a Budget Modification
- How-to: Retrieve Executed Grant Agreements
SQUARES:
- SQUARES 3.0 Website To access: from the link, click “I am a VA Business Partner”, then click the SQUARES portal. You will then sign in with ID.me
Resources and Grantee FAQs
LSV-H Grant Veterans Survey
News
NEW The proposed rule for the VA Legal Services for Veterans – Legal Assistance for Access to VA Programs (LSV-A) Grant Program has been published to the Federal Register. This proposed grant program would fund entities that provide legal assistance to help Veterans and former service members improve their military discharge status or characterization of service, subsequently increasing access VA programs and benefits. VA anticipates a notice of funding opportunity to be available following the publication of the Final Rule.
Proposed Rule: Federal Register :: Legal Services for Veterans-Legal Assistance for Access to VA Programs Grant Program
For more information about the Legal Services for Veterans Grant Program, read our one-page overview, or contact LSVGrants@va.gov.
Additional Legal Resources
If you are a service member or Veteran in need of legal assistance now, there are several resources available to assist you:
- Many legal service providers offer free legal clinics in VA facilities. Specific information can be found here: VA Medical Legal Partnerships/VA Affiliated Legal Clinic Listing.
- You may also visit StatesideLegal, ABA Federal Free Legal Answers, VetLex or ABA Pro Bono Resources for Veterans.
- Staff at your nearest VA Medical Center may be able to tell you more about available legal clinics and other community legal assistance resources.
- VHA Homeless Programs Office, Legal Services Resources: Legal Services Resources Flyer
- National Veterans Financial Resource Center Home | FINVET | National Veterans Financial Resource Center – MIRECC / CoE (va.gov)
Please note: VA assumes no responsibility for the professional ability or integrity of the legal service providers that appear on this list. VA does not endorse or recommend any of these organizations.
FAQs
What organizations are eligible for the Legal Services for Homeless Veterans and Veterans At-Risk for Homelessness Grants Program (LSV-H)?
Organizations that will be able to qualify include public or nonprofit private entities with the capacity to effectively administer the grant under sections 4202 & 5105 of P.L. 116-315 and as codified in 38 U.S.C. 2022A. Public entities include local governments, state governments, and federally recognized Indian tribal governments.
Will the grant program prioritize award distribution to special populations for FY26?
VA may prioritize grant awards to organizations directly providing four or more allowable legal services; organizations equitably distributed across geographic regions including areas not being served by existing LSV-H awards, or rural communities, and organizations with a demonstrated focus on providing legal services to women Veterans.
Grantees are expected to use at least 10% of grant funds to provide legal services to women Veterans.
What services will the grant program provide?
Grants will be awarded to organizations that provide legal services for homeless and at risk for homeless Veterans who are eligible, including primarily legal services related to housing, family law, income support, requested upgrade to the character of discharge from the U.S. Armed Forces, access to health care, and employment law. Please note that the availability of legal services provided by each grantee is subject to certain limitations, including their experience and available resources. While these organizations strive to offer a wide range of legal services, not every grantee may be able to provide the specific legal services requested by eligible Veterans. For example, if a grantee’s entry on this list may note that it provides services in the area of Housing Law, that grantee may be able to provide one type of Housing Law service (e.g., eviction defense in state court) but not another (e.g., pursuing a claim of housing discrimination in Federal court). We encourage individuals seeking legal assistance to inquire about the services available with their selected grantee to ensure compatibility with their needs.
Who are “eligible individuals?”
Eligible individuals are Veterans who meet the definition of Veteran found at 38 U.S.C. 101(2) and meet the length of service requirement found at 38 U.S.C. 5303A. These individuals must also be homeless or at risk for homelessness (as defined by 38 C.F.R. 79.15).
When will the LSV-H grant be implemented?
The LSV-H Grant was implemented in August 2023. The FY26 grantees were announced in September 2025, with the two-year grant cycle beginning October 1, 2025.
Is LSV-H the same as the Supportive Services for Veteran Families national grant program?
No, LSV-H is not part of Supportive Services for Veteran Families (SSVF) and is not tied to nor led by SSVF. LSV-H is a standalone VA grant program specifically created pursuant to Sections 4202 & 5105 of the Johnny Isakson and David P. Roe, M.D., Veterans Health Care and Benefits Improvement Act of 2020, P.L. 116-315.
Where can i find the Code of Federal Regulations (CFR)?
38 CFR 79 for the LSV-H grant can be found at the Federal Register.
How to apply for VA Accreditation as an Attorney or Claims Agent?
For more information: How to Apply for Accreditation
How can I find more information on LSV?
For more information, contact us as lsv@va.gov