If you are a veteran in Maine planning repairs or accessibility work on your home, here is the direct answer: Maine runs no grant or loan program of its own for veteran home repairs. Its value shows up through a property tax exemption tied to federal grant status, plus a non-veteran-specific repair grant that can stack with your federal award. Here is how the federal money works, what Maine adds, and how to apply.
The four federal VA grants#
The U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) offers four grant and health-benefit programs nationwide, and Maine veterans qualify the same as veterans anywhere. Specially Adapted Housing (SAH) pays up to $126,526 in FY2026 for severe, permanent service-connected disabilities, such as loss of use of both legs or blindness rated 20/200 or worse. Special Home Adaptation (SHA) pays up to $25,350 in FY2026 for conditions like loss of use of both hands or certain respiratory injuries. Both are grants, not loans, so nothing is repaid. Apply with VA Form 26-4555; SAH or SHA can be used up to six times over your lifetime as funds remain.
Temporary Residence Adaptation (TRA) helps if you are living temporarily in a family member's home. In FY2026 it pays up to $50,961 through the SAH path or $9,100 through the SHA path. TRA can only be used once, counts as one of your six lifetime uses, and draws down whichever grant total, SAH or SHA, you qualify under. Congress currently authorizes TRA through September 30, 2026.
Home Improvements and Structural Alterations (HISA) is a VA health benefit, not a housing grant, so you apply through the VA medical center's Prosthetics and Sensory Aids Service with VA Form 10-0103 and a provider's prescription. Service-connected veterans can receive up to $6,800 over their lifetime; other eligible veterans can receive up to $2,000. Renters can use HISA with the landlord's notarized permission. SAH and SHA construction runs through a contractor holding a VA Builder ID, a registration, not an approval rating.
What Maine adds#
Maine's own agency for veterans is the Bureau of Maine Veterans' Services (BVS), at maine.gov/veterans, 207-287-7020. BVS runs no home repair, improvement, or adaptation grant or loan program; its benefits cover claims assistance, education, healthcare coordination, housing referrals, recreational licenses, and tax exemptions. Maine's real contribution is a property tax exemption under 36 M.R.S. § 653, plus a separate state repair grant open to income-qualified homeowners generally.
Under § 653, a wartime veteran age 62 or older, or one receiving a 100% disability pension or compensation, qualifies for a standard $6,000 exemption of the home's just value. A veteran who is paraplegic under 38 U.S.C. § 2101 and who received a federal SAH grant qualifies for a $50,000 exemption on the adapted housing unit instead. That is a direct reward for using the federal SAH benefit. An unremarried surviving spouse keeps the same exemption. Apply with your local municipal assessor, using the Maine Revenue Services Veteran Exemption Application, by April 1.
MaineHousing's Home Accessibility and Repair Program (HARP) is not veteran-specific, but income-qualified veterans can use it alongside a federal VA grant. HARP is a grant covering accessibility improvements for people with disabilities, plus roof, heating, structural, and window and door repairs. You must have owned and occupied the home at least one year, with household income at or below 80% of area median income. Apply through your regional community agency.
How to apply in Maine#
Finding a provider who knows VA paperwork: Not every contractor has handled SAH, SHA, or HISA projects. Adapta Home USA verifies providers' VA Builder ID Verified status, so you can filter for those who have. Find Home Modifications & Remodeling providers in Maine with VA Builder ID Verified status →
For the federal VA grants, BVS veterans service officers help you file VA Form 26-4555 and related claims at no charge, from field offices in Augusta, Bangor, Caribou, Lewiston, Machias, Portland, Springvale, and Togus, plus itinerant stops statewide. For the § 653 exemption, file with your municipal assessor, not BVS. For HARP, apply through your regional community action agency. Start at maine.gov/veterans to find your nearest office.
How the programs stack together#
The federal VA grants pay for construction, so start there, since that money never has to be repaid. Maine's § 653 exemption does not fund a project, but it cuts or removes your property tax bill going forward, and pays out at its highest tier because you used a federal SAH grant. HARP can add further repair dollars for income-qualified veterans, since it stacks with federal grant money rather than replacing it. Separately, BVS and FEDCAP jointly run the Veterans' Emergency Financial Assistance Program for urgent rent, mortgage, and utility needs, not repairs.
For more, see our VA home modification grants guide, VA grant decision tree, guide to paying for home modifications, and wheelchair ramp cost guide.
Figures on this page were verified against maine.gov and mainehousing.org in July 2026.
FAQ#
Does Maine have a state program that pays for veteran home repairs or modifications?#
No. BVS runs no repair or adaptation grant. MaineHousing's HARP, open to income-qualified homeowners generally, can help, alongside the four federal VA grants.
How much is the Maine property tax exemption for disabled veterans?#
The standard exemption under 36 M.R.S. § 653 is $6,000 of just value. A paraplegic veteran who received a federal SAH grant qualifies for a $50,000 exemption on the adapted housing unit instead.
Does a VA Specially Adapted Housing grant increase the Maine property tax exemption?#
Yes. A paraplegic veteran who received a federal SAH grant qualifies for the $50,000 exemption under § 653, above the standard $6,000, and an unremarried surviving spouse keeps it.
Who helps Maine veterans apply for VA housing grants for free?#
BVS veterans service officers, in field offices across the state including Augusta, Bangor, and Portland, help with VA Form 26-4555 and other federal claims at no cost.
Find a verified provider near you#
Search Home Modifications & Remodeling providers in Maine and filter for VA Builder ID Verified status. Our wheelchair ramp cost guide can help you plan your budget.
This article is for general educational purposes only and does not constitute medical, legal, or financial advice. Consult a qualified professional about your specific situation.
Program amounts, eligibility rules, and application procedures change. Figures on this page were verified against official government sources on the date shown, but you should confirm current details at VA.gov or with the administering agency before making decisions. Adapta Home USA is not affiliated with the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs or any government agency.