Skip to content

Veterans Foreclosure Crisis

Closing the gap that puts veterans out of their homes

THE RECORD

Every claim on this site traces to a document you can open.

Four views of one record: what happened and when, what is claimed and how confirmed, and where each of it comes from.

28 dated events. 58 registered claims. 143 sources, 112 of them archived against link rot. 37 sources still carry a provisional title and say so in their own row.

CHRONOLOGY

What happened, in order, with the document that proves each step

Rows with no source say so rather than going quiet.

March 2020

CARES Act forbearance begins. Federal agencies issue written guidance to FHA, VA and USDA servicers stating paused payments are repaid over time and a lump sum is not required.

Federal agencies (interagency) to Servicers · CARES forbearance fact sheet

S049 CARES Act Forbearance Fact Sheet for FHA VA and USDA servicers · archived

Oct 28, 2022

The COVID-19 Veterans Assistance Partial Claim Payment program expires by regulation. VA will not accept a request for a partial claim payment after October 28, 2022. No replacement tool exists for VA borrowers exiting forbearance.

38 CFR 36.4809(c); 86 FR 28708 (May 28, 2021)

2022 to 2024

The years with no partial claim. Families exit forbearance on terms the 2020 guidance ruled out.

S021 eCFR Title 38 Part 36 (VA loan regulations)

Nov 30, 2023

VBA Circular 26-23-25. VA strongly encourages a foreclosure moratorium on all VA-guaranteed loans through May 31, 2024, urging servicers to cease initiating, continuing or completing foreclosures. Stated reason includes the pending availability of VASP, which the circular places in March 2024.

VA to Servicers · VBA Circular 26-23-25

VBA Circular 26-23-25

Feb 15, 2024

House Veterans' Affairs Committee hearing. The partial claim gap and foreclosure exposure are raised directly, three months before VASP launches.

Witnesses at hearing to House VA Committee · HVAC printed hearing record

S056 Hearing transcript, HVAC Subcommittee on Economic Opportunity, February 15 2024 (Hearing 118-53)

Apr 10, 2024

VA announces VASP, stating the program will help more than 40,000 veterans stay in their homes, and says it has strongly encouraged a foreclosure moratorium through May 31, 2024.

VA to The public and servicers · VA news release

VA news release 2024-04-10

May 29, 2024

VBA Circular 26-24-12, Loan Repayment Relief for Borrowers. VA announces a targeted foreclosure moratorium on VA-guaranteed loans running through December 31, 2024, stating its purpose is to give servicers time to implement VASP. Servicers may implement beginning May 31, 2024. VA expects full implementation not later than October 1, 2024. Circular valid until January 1, 2025.

VA to Servicers · VBA Circular 26-24-12

VBA Circular 26-24-12

May 29, 2024

VA press release announcing the extension. Describes the moratorium as originally slated to expire May 31 and states that VASP officially launches May 31 and mortgage servicers must have it fully implemented by October 1, 2024. Under Secretary for Benefits Josh Jacobs is quoted calling on servicers to follow the targeted moratorium.

VA (Under Sec. Josh Jacobs) to Servicers and the public · VA press release

VA press release 2026-05-29

May 31, 2024

VASP is implemented as the final option in the VA Home Retention Waterfall.

26-25-02

Oct 1, 2024

VA's own full-implementation deadline for VASP. From this date to the May 1, 2025 rescission is roughly seven months of broadly usable program, not the twelve months the period is commonly described as.

VBA Circular 26-24-12

Dec 12, 2024

Mortgage Bankers Association publishes a white paper on the coming gap in VA loss-mitigation options.

Mortgage Bankers Association to VA and the public · Published white paper

SOURCE PENDING

Mar 11, 2025

MBA testifies to the House VA Subcommittee on Economic Opportunity. Asked what happens without the rescue program, Elizabeth Balce answers: the short answer is foreclosure. Period.

Mortgage Bankers Association (Elizabeth Balce) to House VA Subcommittee on Economic Opportunity · Subcommittee hearing testimony

S009 'Foreclosure. Period.' warning (Balce) · archived

Apr 23, 2025

VBA Circular 26-25-2 issued, announcing the VASP program wind down.

VA to Servicers · VBA Circular 26-25-2

26-25-02

May 1, 2025

VA rescinds the VA Home Retention Waterfall. VASP ends. 10,000 or more veteran families have already lost homes.

26-25-02

Jul 30, 2025

H.R. 1815 signed into law, unanimous in both chambers. Creates the Partial Claim Program at 38 U.S.C. 3737. Section 3737(h) permits the Secretary to act by administrative guidance before regulations.

Congress to VA · Public Law 119-31

S010 H.R. 1815, VA Home Loan Program Reform Act - Pub. L. 119-31 · archived

Nov 12, 2025

38 U.S.C. 3737 amended by Pub. L. 119-37, div. G, title III, sec 7307(b) to (e). The 3720(h) foreclosure protection is narrowed.

Congress · Public Law 119-37

S019 Pub. L. 119-37 §7307(e); 38 U.S.C. §3737(h) as amended · archived

Mar 26, 2026

NCLC testifies that the draft policy would push roughly 30,000 veterans into average payment increases of about 150 dollars per month.

National Consumer Law Center (Alys Cohen) to House VA Committee · HVAC hearing

S003 NCLC analysis to HVAC EO Subcommittee (Cohen) · archived

Apr 2, 2026

NPR reports that the VA's decision to end its rescue program is driving veteran foreclosures.

NPR (Chris Arnold and Quil Lawrence) to The public · National reporting

S002 NPR VA foreclosure investigation (Arnold/Lawrence) · archived

May 14, 2026

VFW letter to the VA Secretary calling for a foreclosure moratorium until the partial claim is operational.

Veterans of Foreign Wars to VA Secretary · Letter

SOURCE PENDING

May 19, 2026

Rules Committee. The H.R. 6047 funding-fee fight comes to a head.

S100 House bill / 6047 · archived

May 20, 2026

Senate Veterans' Affairs Committee. Sec. Collins commits under oath to a June 15, 2026 partial-claim standup date.

Sec. Doug Collins to SVAC · SVAC hearing

S096 Veterans affairs secretary collins testifies on 2026 budget request / 679573

May 20, 2026

Senate Veterans' Affairs Committee. Chairman Moran asks the VA Chief Financial Officer to explain a proposed restructuring of how VA reports healthcare spending. The CFO answers that the account structure co-mingles costs and concludes: We do not know what we are managing.

Asst. Sec. Richard Topping, VA Chief Financial Officer to Senate Veterans' Affairs Committee (Chairman Moran) · SVAC hearing, May 20 2026

C-SPAN program 679573

May 26, 2026

Twenty-eight members of Congress, led by Rep. Chris Pappas, demand a targeted foreclosure moratorium and the VA's legal basis if it refuses. Written response required by June 2.

28 members of Congress to VA · Letter

S015 Rep. Pappas + 27 colleagues (28 signers), foreclosure-moratorium letter · archived

Jun 1, 2026

VA issues Transmittal Sheet Change 14 and creates M26-4 Chapter 22, the Partial Claim chapter, effective June 1 2026. Ten qualifying criteria in section 22.02, seven of which do not appear in 38 U.S.C. 3737.

VA Loan Guaranty Service (Patrick J. Zondervan) to Regional Loan Center personnel and Loan Administration participants · Transmittal Sheet Change 14

KnowVA 554400000324998

Jun 15, 2026

VA Partial Claim Program is available and live, per Transmittal Change 14.

VA to Servicers · VA announcement

KnowVA 554400000324998

~Jun 15, 2026

NCLC launch-day release renews the demand that VA direct servicers to hold off foreclosing until the program is actually operational.

National Consumer Law Center to VA · Public release

S120 VA Must Pause Foreclosures Until New Mortgage Assistance Program Is Accessible · archived

Jun 19, 2026

Military.com reports the launched program carries equity-stripping and re-foreclosure risk, and restates the 25 percent reinstatement cap.

Military.com (Derricke Dennis) to The public · News report

S116 New VA Mortgage Assistance Program Warning for Veterans Facing Foreclosure · archived

Nov 28, 2026

Full implementation deadline. Transmittal Change 14 states full implementation is expected no later than 180 days from publication of the final policy. 180 days from June 1 2026.

VA to Servicers · VA handbook and email

KnowVA 554400000324998

CLAIMS REGISTER

Every claim, what it rests on, and what it does not prove

Each entry carries the source it traces to and the limitation on it. The limitation is not a disclaimer. It is what stops a figure being carried further than the document behind it can hold.

DOCUMENTED FACT 54 entries

DOCUMENTED FACT, 54 of 58 registered claims
ID Claim What it rests on What it does not prove Source Checked
C001 At least 15,000 veteran families have already been foreclosed on or displaced. Figure stated by Sen. Blumenthal at SVAC 5/20/26 Spring 2026 count; no newer figure published; true number likely higher (stale-stats rule) S001 archived 2026-07-15
C002 More than 90,000 veteran homeowners are behind on their loans or in the foreclosure process. NPR/ICE data 4/2/26; NCLC put ~31,500 in active foreclosure Spring 2026; stale-stats rule applies S002 archived 2026-07-15
C003 About 160,000 veteran families are impacted in total. Foreclosed + in the pipeline + forced into unaffordable modifications or short sales Campaign-compiled sum of the three tiers; not an official single figure; never merge into one number S001 archived · S002 archived 2026-07-15
C004 The permanent partial claim was scored as net savings; foreclosure is the more expensive option. $147 million in net savings over ten years (CBO; H. Rept. 119-104) CBO estimate over the ten-year scoring window S005 archived 2026-07-22
C005 The average VA foreclosure loss is roughly $72,000 to $74,000. NCLC ~$72,000; CRL ~$74,000 (~$73,750 per disposition) Cite whichever figure with its own source label; do not blend S003 archived · S004 archived 2026-07-15
C006 Congress granted permanent partial-claim authority and a directed waterfall; it did not write the exclusionary gates. Active-default, current-servicer, and 3-month-trial requirements are VA design choices in M26-4 Ch.22 Codified cite verified: bill Sec. 3(h) = 38 U.S.C. § 3737(h). Confirm UPB/rate caps against M26-4 Ch.22 S010 archived · S013 2026-07-15
C007 CARES Act forbearance was universal; only VA borrowers lost their same-rate exit. Civilian comparison: FHA/Fannie/Freddie kept a permanent same-rate exit Lead argument; confirm the FHA/GSE deferral-exit citation before for-the-record use S014 archived 2026-07-15
C008 Biden's VA ended the COVID partial claim in Oct 2022; Trump's VA killed VASP in May 2025. Two-administrations framing; VASP killed effective 5/1/25 on ~8 days notice Foreseeability, not intent; never assert intent to foreclose S011 archived 2026-07-15
C009 The VA takes about 75% of foreclosed veteran homes into its REO inventory. Auction.com data; +428% YoY auction supply Industry data source; confirm current figure S008 archived 2026-07-15
C010 The VA says it helped 173,000 veterans avoid foreclosure in FY2025. VA's counter-number, stated in its own 6/15/26 launch press release Verified that VA said it, not that 173,000 families kept their homes; lumps forbearances, higher-rate mods and short sales with retention; no bucket breakdown published S007 archived 2026-07-25
C011 The partial claim is not actually available until servicers implement it, deadline Nov 28, 2026. Two problems, prong 2: until a servicer publishes its own ETA, assume available nowhere Available, not implemented S006 2026-07-15
C012 The VA had separate authority all year to protect families immediately and chose not to use it. Part 36 tools + Section 3(h); the exclusion of displaced families is reversible without new legislation Preempts VA's 'our hands are tied' deflection S010 archived · S013 2026-07-15
C013 CBO projected $294 million in avoided foreclosure-related payments. Component of the fiscal case, H. Rept. 119-104 CBO estimate over the ten-year scoring window S005 archived 2026-07-22
C014 In November 2025 Congress expanded the Secretary's emergency authority to help veteran families before regulations issue. Pub. L. 119-37 §7307(e) removed the requirement that a loan have been in default on the day H.R. 1815 was signed; Secretary may issue administrative guidance for the Partial Claim Program and required loss-mitigation options, including any additional terms the Secretary determines necessary (38 U.S.C. §3737(h) as amended; 139 Stat. 651) Statutory text as amended S019 archived 2026-07-22
C015 The program running today operates under exactly this authority: VA's June 1 2026 handbook is pre-regulation guidance invoking the Secretary's §3737 discretion. M26-4 Ch. 22 is pre-regulation guidance under §3737 Agency guidance, pre-rulemaking S013 · S006 2026-07-22
C017 When VASP was cancelled, roughly 75,000 veteran borrowers were three or more payments behind; about 17,000 had been accepted into the program; 58,000+ had no path in. ICE Mortgage Technology via NPR 4/2/26 and CNN 4/30/25; only a servicer could submit a borrower, not the veteran 58,000+ is derived by subtraction (75,000 minus ~17,000 accepted); labeled derived S002 archived · S020 archived 2026-07-23
C018 The partial-claim rule's only borrower-capacity test is whether the veteran can resume the scheduled monthly payment. 38 C.F.R. section 36.4803(d); no resolved-hardship condition (that belongs to the modification rule) Rule text S021 2026-07-23
C019 Loan modifications require a resolved hardship and cap the rate at one percent above the existing rate absent prior VA approval. 38 C.F.R. section 36.4315(a)(2) and (a)(8) Rule text S021 2026-07-23
C020 Regulation X required servicers to evaluate a complete application against all options in 30 days, give a specific reason per denial, and not dual-track. 12 C.F.R. section 1024.41(c)(1),(d),(f),(g); Not Reviewed is not a specific reason Rule text, binding 2022-2026 S022 2026-07-23
C021 VA has described its loss-mitigation options as a hierarchy for review, and paid servicer incentives on it, since 2008. 38 C.F.R. section 36.4319(a) Rule text S021 2026-07-23
C022 VA built VALERI to determine servicer compliance and may inspect a servicer's complete delinquent-loan file on request. 38 C.F.R. section 36.4350(j); M26-4 Ch. 5 section 5.11 Rule/handbook text S021 2026-07-23
C023 VA's April 2024 launch materials stated it had existing authority to establish VASP under 38 U.S.C. section 3732 and section 3720. Said twice in April 2024: launch materials, and on the record to HVAC 4/11/24 where Sec. McDonough described VASP as building on existing authority Attribution: launched under Sec. McDonough, terminated 2025 under Sec. Collins; the existing-authority statement is the prior administration's S023 archived · S051 archived 2026-07-25
C024 Post-foreclosure evictions of veteran families are filed in the Secretary's name via a VA REO contractor under a federal contract with a ceiling near $374 million. VRM REO/eviction contract ceiling (USASpending/FPDS) Contract record; confirm current ceiling S024 archived 2026-07-23
C025 The 180-day servicer implementation runway was the mortgage industry's own request, granted in full. MBA and CHLA each asked VA for at least 180 days in March 2026 comment letters; VA set exactly 180 days from the June 1 publication, landing 11/28/26 Industry letters reported by HousingWire 3/12/26; the 180-day figure is confirmed in VA's own servicer FAQ S026 archived · S025 2026-07-25
C026 Foreclosure activity is climbing while the partial claim is still not running. 227,548 filings H1 2026 (+21% YoY, +28% vs H1 2024); VA delinquency 4.99% vs 2.75% conventional; industry forecast of FHA/VA foreclosures more than doubling by autumn 2027 ATTOM counts all residential property not veteran households; delinquency is survey data; the doubling figure is a practitioner forecast, cite as warning not projection S028 archived · S029 archived · S030 archived · S033 archived 2026-07-25
C027 The outcome was named in advance, repeatedly, by the industry, advocates, national press and Congress. Chronological warning record Mar 2025 - Jul 2026 Foreseeability, not intent; never cite as evidence that any official intended the outcome S009 archived · S020 archived · S030 archived · S026 archived · S002 archived · S034 archived · S029 archived · S001 archived · S027 · S032 archived · S028 archived · S033 archived 2026-07-25
C028 Low-income veteran households get inadequate or no professional legal help for the overwhelming majority of their civil legal problems. LSC 2017 Justice Gap: 71% had a civil legal problem; sought help for 21%; est. 88% received inadequate or no professional legal help 2017 data, predates this crisis; measures civil legal need generally not foreclosure defence; veteran estimates based on fewer than 100 reported problems S047 archived 2026-07-25
C029 Families who took a COVID-19 forbearance were told, in VA's own guidance, that the missed payments would not have to be repaid in a single payment. VA CARES Act guidance: up to 180 days + 180 more on request; payments missed during forbearance do not have to be made up in a single payment Guidance as issued in 2020; establishes what families were told, not what any servicer later offered S048 · S049 archived 2026-07-25
C030 The partial claim veterans used during the pandemic came from CARES Act authority that expired in 2021, leaving VA the only federal home loan program without one. H.R. 1815 sponsor summary: CARES partial-claim authority expired 2021; every other federal home loan program offers a partial claim except VA Sponsor summary is an advocacy document; cite for legislative rationale on the record, not neutral analysis S050 · S010 archived 2026-07-25
C031 The bill that creates the VA partial claim also eliminates judicial review of VA's decision to take a secured interest in a veteran's defaulted home loan. CBO Mandates section: by not allowing judicial review of VA's decision to obtain secured interest in a veteran's defaulted home loan, the bill would eliminate an existing right of action; no cost assigned because judicial review does not result in monetary damages Scores H.R. 1815 as reported in 2025; the authority was enacted via Pub. L. 119-37 s7307 and whether the enacted text carries the same provision is not verified here S005 archived 2026-07-25
C032 The partial claim was scored for roughly 12,200 claims averaging $27,200, with the authority expiring five years after enactment. CBO: ~12,200 partial claims at $27,200 average on VA-provided loan volume; 37% subsidy rate; $124M subsidy costs 2025-2035; authority expires five years after enactment; 25% cap or 30% if delinquent before May 1 2025 12,200 is a take-up projection, not a statutory cap; scores H.R. 1815 as reported, not enacted Pub. L. 119-37; cohort tiers are counted differently S005 archived 2026-07-25
C033 VA's regulation pays a servicer at most $1,000 for a successful loss-mitigation outcome, and the largest incentive in the schedule is for a short sale. 38 CFR 36.4319(b) incentive schedule by tier: repayment plan 200/160/120/0; special forbearance same; loan modification 700/500/300/0; short sale 1000/800/600/0; deed-in-lieu 350/250/150/0; 36.4319(e) lets the Secretary stop payment for inadequate servicing Incentives are one input into servicer behaviour, not the whole picture; tier ranking is itself a performance mechanism S021 2026-07-25
C035 VA told Congress in February 2024 that it could not offer a partial claim, and explained the risk-share reason why. VA: unlike HUD and USDA it has no explicit authority to advance guaranty funds as loss mitigation and cannot offer a partial claim pulling from the guaranty; longstanding public position that Congress never authorized a partial advance without termination of the loan; lack of authority may be because VA carries only 25% of default risk where other federal programs carry 90% or more; COVID-VAPCP expired 10/28/2022 VA's position as of Feb 2024, before Congress created the permanent partial claim in Pub. L. 119-31 (7/30/25); explains the pre-2025 gap, not VA's authority today S052 2026-07-25
C036 VA's own February 2024 numbers: more than 200,000 veterans affected by the COVID-19 emergency, more than 50,000 assisted through its temporary retention options. Also 145,000+ retained homes and avoided foreclosure over the prior year VA's figures on VA's definitions; the 145,000 covers roughly the year to Feb 2024, a different period and measure from the 173,000 in the June 2026 launch release; cohort tiers are not derived from or merged with either S052 2026-07-25
C037 A year before Congress acted, independent analysts had documented that VA had the most limited loss-mitigation options of any federal program and told Congress what was needed. Urban Institute 7/2024: VA has the most limited loss mitigation options lacking both portfolio and partial claim authority; Congress needs to grant VA partial claim authority and fund a more robust waterfall Independent analysis not a government finding; the paper names funds acquired July 2021 and expired Oct 2022, and the Refund Modification operated on and off after the partial claim authority expired July 2022 - a run of short extensions rather than one end date; this site uses VA's own COVID-VAPCP expiry of 10/28/2022 S053 archived · S052 2026-07-25
C038 Uneven servicer implementation of VASP was predicted in print, before the harm, because VA never defined the standard servicers had to apply. Urban Institute 7/2024: lack of clear servicer guidance on 'exhausted all other options' gives servicers a good deal of discretion and assures implementation will be uneven; borrowers could not apply for VASP directly A prediction about VASP as designed in 2024, published before VASP was terminated; evidence of foreseeability not a measurement of servicer behaviour S053 archived 2026-07-25
C039 Analysts noted at the time that VA could have built a more flexible modification under the authority it already had. Urban Institute 7/2024: VA with its existing authority could have introduced a more flexible modification rather than the flat 2.5 percent; proposed 20-25 percent payment-reduction target with a 2.5 percent floor at lower cost to government Concerns VASP's 2024 design and the scope of VA's existing discretion; not a statement about the June 2026 partial-claim policy whose ceilings Congress set in statute S053 archived 2026-07-25
C040 VA's own borrower FAQ warned that short sale and deed in lieu could result in a loss or reduction in your future home loan benefit. CARES Act FAQ question 13 attaches the italicised future-benefit caution to short sale and deed in lieu VA's statement of consequence in borrower guidance, not a finding about any family's entitlement S054 archived 2026-07-25
C041 Both COVID-era partial-claim options were gated on a borrower's status in March 2020 and closed on fixed dates. COVID-VAPCP 7/27/21-10/28/22, current or within 30 days of current on 3/1/20; Refund Modification 7/27/21-7/1/23, within 120 days current on 3/1/20 Records the gates as VA published them, not how many families they excluded S054 archived 2026-07-25
C042 Entry into CARES forbearance was mandatory on request, without documentation, regardless of whether the borrower was already behind. Interagency servicer fact sheet: servicer must give the forbearance requested; no documentation required; available regardless of delinquency status; VA servicers cannot require a lump sum immediately on exit The duty attaches to entry and to the lump-sum prohibition on exit; it does not make any exit option mandatory S049 archived · S054 archived 2026-07-25
C043 VA instructed servicers not to start foreclosure or its alternatives at Step D, and recorded in the same circular that servicers had been doing exactly that. Circular 26-24-2: servicer is not to initiate foreclosure or alternatives at this point; VA observed servicers may have begun foreclosure or offered deed-in-lieu or short sale before VA had the opportunity to determine whether another option could help the borrower retain the home; all Step D loans to be referred to VA VA's general observation about servicer conduct under earlier circulars, Feb 2024; not a finding about any individual servicer or loan S055 archived 2026-07-25
C044 The COVID-19 Home Retention Waterfall's own entry test was broader than the partial-claim test: current or less than 120 days past due as of March 1 2020, or a loan made on or after that date. Circular 26-24-2 section 5; Step C targets 31 pct of gross monthly household income without VA purchase exceeding 30 pct of UPB, and where achievable the servicer offers the Refund Modification regardless of the percentage of payment reduction The waterfall entry test, distinct from the COVID-VAPCP test in C041; a borrower could fall outside one and inside the other S055 archived 2026-07-25
C045 In February 2024 VA told servicers it could purchase a delinquent loan outright under its section 3732 refunding authority. Step D options at VA's sole discretion include exercising loan refunding authority under 38 USC 3732 to purchase a delinquent loan from the holder and assume primary servicing Describes what VA may do at its sole discretion; does not record how often it was used S055 archived 2026-07-25
C046 The servicer guidance said arrears could be paid back over time, and that a borrower could end a forbearance simply by resuming the regular monthly payment. Interagency CARES fact sheet: missed payments must be repaid although it may be paid back over time; inform borrowers they can resume making their regular monthly mortgage payment to end the forbearance and discuss repayment options; servicers of VA loans cannot require a lump sum immediately after exit; M26-4 Chapter 5 options Records what the guidance instructed; not a finding that any particular servicer departed from it S049 archived 2026-07-25
C047 VA named its VASP authority on the record in February 2024, three months before launch: 38 U.S.C. 3732 and 38 C.F.R. Part 4320. Bell: 'Yes, sir, 38 USC 3732, as an authorization for VASP, as well as our current regulation at 38 CFR 4320'; 40,000 borrowers sought; 6 months of payments required on a modification in the waterfall VA's assertion of authority, contested at the hearing by the subcommittee chair; records what VA claimed and when, not a finding that the authority existed; predates the April 2024 launch materials at C023 by three months S056 2026-07-25
C048 The standard was set on the record, by the subcommittee's own chair: whether VA has authority to keep veterans in their homes is a veterans question, not a partisan one. Van Orden 2/15/24: 'I have concerns now, and I do not care who is in the White House, because this affects our veterans and is not political'; substantive objection was no statutory authority for a below-market-rate modification, very little confidence in VA's ability to administer, VA 'simply making this up'; VA answered 38 USC 3732 and 38 CFR 4320; program terminated eleven months later on ~8 days notice The standard as stated at that hearing, quoted in full and in context; this project applies it to the entire record before and after January 2025 and to every party in it; it does not characterize any member's later positions or motives - what each party said and when is on News & Record and the Accountability Tracker S056 2026-07-25
C049 Sixteen months before the replacement was terminated, Congress and VA were already arguing about the interest rate on a modification - from opposite directions. Chair pressed on intentional default for a lower payment, noting most veteran borrowers exceed 3%; Bell: almost 90% of portfolio at 2.5-3% coupon Hearing record of a policy argument, not evidence about what any servicer offered any borrower; community-reported accounts of market-rate modification offers are recorded separately under their own label and not merged S056 2026-07-25
C050 Veterans were told to pay the full arrears or lose the house, after VA had announced a foreclosure pause. Servicer: you have to pay the full amount back or you're going into foreclosure; pause message did not appear to be trickling down; ~$20,000 arrears Press reporting of one family's account, not a finding about any servicer's conduct generally S058 2026-07-25
C051 The alternative offered in place of a lump sum raised the monthly payment. Told arrears would move to the back end of a 30-year mortgage; then $57,000 demanded or a modification; modification raised payment $1,300/mo to $3,600 One family's reported terms; consistent with C033/C034 but not a pattern on its own S058 2026-07-25
C052 VA active-foreclosure volume diverged from FHA and GSE volumes after the moratorium ended and VA's assistance program ended. NPR analysis of ICE data indexed to 100 in Jan 2018: VA ~123 by late 2023, FHA ~63, GSE ~55; chart marks VA ending its assistance program News analysis of proprietary servicing data read from the published chart, so index values are approximate S057 archived 2026-07-25
C053 VA's 2023 foreclosure pause was temporary and ran only to May 31, 2024, with 40,000 VA borrowers in foreclosure or delinquent. Secretary: pause through May 31 2024 for the additional time that we need; 40,000 in foreclosure or delinquent without a modification; VA met with servicers of 90%+ of VA loans Figures as reported Dec 2023; the 40,000 is point-in-time on the reporter's sourcing, not a VA publication, and is not merged with the cohort tiers S058 2026-07-25
C055 The committee that ended VASP argued for the partial claim on cost grounds - and put the arithmetic on the record. Apr 3 2025 joint statement: intent to establish a partial claim so veterans can stay in their homes 'while still protecting the American taxpayer'; $22,500 average delinquency vs $292,000 average loan purchased (now $320,000); a partial claim 'could solve the majority of delinquent loans at a much less expensive clip to the taxpayer' The quoted words and figures are the committee majority's own; establishes the standard its authors set for themselves; the characterisation of why VASP was created is theirs, quoted not adopted S059 archived 2026-07-25
C057 Within six days of the VASP announcement, the ranking members of three committees of jurisdiction warned the Secretary in writing that the closure would push veterans into foreclosure. Apr 9 2025 letter signed by 22 Democrats and Independents; Takano's 80,000 figure the same month; Jul 2025 bipartisan bicameral statement describing the replacement as a tool to keep veterans in their homes Statements of the members who made them, quoted as made; the 80,000 figure is Takano's and is not adopted or merged with the cohort tiers S060 · S061 archived · S062 archived 2026-07-26
C058 The Take Care of America's Veterans Act is paid for by raising VA home loan fees and by codifying future disability-rating cuts. IRRRL funding fee 0.5% to 1.42%; loan-assumption fee 0.5% to 1.0%; Section 108 codifies an estimated $57B in future rating reductions for tinnitus and sleep apnea; Common Defense estimates $8,000+ added over an average loan; VFW and DAV oppose the offsets; led by Reps. Bost and Van Orden and Sen. Moran Records the offsets as written and the organisations' stated opposition; asserts no member's motive; the site's reading is labelled PROJECT ANALYSIS separately S031 archived · S041 archived 2026-07-26

PROJECT ANALYSIS 4 entries

PROJECT ANALYSIS, 4 of 58 registered claims
ID Claim What it rests on What it does not prove Source Checked
C016 The Department cannot say it lacks authority to reach the families its eligibility gates exclude; the gates are handbook choices, reversible by the same pen that wrote them. Authority exists, Congress broadened it, and VA is actively using it for everyone except the families already harmed Interpretation grounded in statute and agency guidance cited S010 archived · S013 2026-07-22
C034 The money in VA's rules does not point toward keeping families in their homes. Top-tier modification pays the servicer $700 while CBO records VA typically pays lenders up to 25% of the outstanding balance on foreclosure (up to $75,000 on a $300,000 balance) Our reading, not rule text; incentive goes to the servicer and guaranty to the holder, often but not always the same company; a guaranty payment reimburses loss rather than producing profit; not a finding that any servicer profits by foreclosing S021 · S005 archived 2026-07-25
C054 On the government's own numbers, foreclosure is the spending and retention is the offset - the gates that exclude the cohort move federal money to the more expensive outcome. CBO: decrease in net direct spending, $294M avoided foreclosure-related payments, ~$27,200 per claim; project model ~$2.3B to foreclose on the 31,500 in active foreclosure; 38 CFR 36.4319(b) caps retention incentive at $1,000 with largest incentive for short sale; VA REO eviction contract up to $374.4M Project conclusion, not a government finding; $2.3B is our model from published per-foreclosure figures; CBO scores H.R. 1815 as reported; two of three official statements await Congressional Record or committee-video citation S005 archived · S003 archived · S021 · S024 archived 2026-07-25
C056 Measured against the standard its own authors set, the partial claim has not yet done what it was said to do. VASP ended 5/1/25 on ~8 days notice; partial claim authorised 7/30/25, final policy 6/1/26, submissions 6/15/26, servicer deadline 11/28/26 - more than 18 months; Ch. 22 handbook gates exclude the cohort the withdrawal exposed; CBO scored the partial claim as a decrease in net direct spending against ~$2.3B modelled for the 31,500 in active foreclosure Project conclusion from the cited record, not a government finding; dated commitments measured against dated implementation; establishes that commitment and outcome diverged and who made the commitment, not why; $2.3B is this project's model S059 archived · S010 archived · S006 · S013 · S005 archived · S003 archived 2026-07-25

SOURCE REGISTER

Every source, with an archived copy wherever one exists

Congressional URLs reorganise between Congresses. The archived link is the one that will still resolve in two years.

Source register, 143 entries, as of 2026-08-09
IDTitlePublisherDateStatusLinks
S001 Sen. Blumenthal remarks, SVAC hearing (15,000+ figure) U.S. Senate Veterans' Affairs Committee 2026-05-20 verified source · archived
S002 NPR VA foreclosure investigation (Arnold/Lawrence) NPR 2026-04-02 verified source · archived
S003 NCLC analysis to HVAC EO Subcommittee (Cohen) National Consumer Law Center 2026-03 verified-needs-url source · archived
S004 Foreclosure-loss analysis Center for Responsible Lending URL pending verified-needs-url source · archived
S005 CBO score, H. Rept. 119-104 Sec. 3 Congressional Budget Office / U.S. House 2025 verified source · archived
S006 VA Partial Claim final policy U.S. Dept. of Veterans Affairs 2026-06-01 verified source
S007 VA program-launch press release (173,000 avoided foreclosure FY2025) U.S. Dept. of Veterans Affairs 2026-06-15 verified source · archived
S008 REO / auction supply data Auction.com 2025-07 verified source · archived
S009 'Foreclosure. Period.' warning (Balce) Mortgage Bankers Association 2025-03 verified source · archived
S010 H.R. 1815, VA Home Loan Program Reform Act - Pub. L. 119-31 Congress.gov 2025-07-30 verified source · archived
S011 VASP program record U.S. Dept. of Veterans Affairs 2024-05-31 verified source · archived
S012 GAO report on HUD-VASH referrals (GAO-26-107517) U.S. Government Accountability Office 2026-03-30 verified source · archived
S013 M26-4 Chapter 22 (VA loss-mitigation / partial-claim policy) U.S. Dept. of Veterans Affairs 2026-06 verified source
S014 CARES Act forbearance provisions U.S. Congress / federal agencies 2020 verified source · archived
S015 Rep. Pappas + 27 colleagues (28 signers), foreclosure-moratorium letter U.S. House (Rep. Chris Pappas) 2026-05-26 verified source · archived
S016 NCLC + NFHA moratorium call, Takano-Pappas press conference U.S. House Democrats (Veterans) 2025-05-20 verified source · archived
S017 Rising veteran homelessness / voucher-to-unit gap National Coalition for Homeless Veterans URL pending verified source · archived
S018 VA Homeless Programs FY25 budget breakdown (VA own) U.S. Dept. of Veterans Affairs 2025 verified source · archived
S019 Pub. L. 119-37 §7307(e); 38 U.S.C. §3737(h) as amended U.S. Congress / Cornell LII 2025-11 verified source · archived
S020 VASP behind/accepted figures CNN 2025-04-30 verified source · archived
S021 eCFR Title 38 Part 36 (VA loan regulations) U.S. Government / eCFR 2026 verified source
S022 eCFR Title 12 section 1024.41 (Regulation X loss mitigation) U.S. Government / eCFR 2026 verified source
S023 VASP launch materials - VA Circular 26-24-16 (existing-authority statement) U.S. Dept. of Veterans Affairs 2024 verified source · archived
S024 VRM REO / eviction contract record (PIID VA119A17C0062) USASpending / FPDS 2026 verified source · archived
S025 VA Partial Claim / Loss Mitigation Waterfall FAQs for servicers U.S. Dept. of Veterans Affairs 2026-06-16 verified source
S026 Mortgage-industry comment letters on the draft policy (MBA, CHLA) HousingWire (Sarah Wolak) 2026-03-12 verified source · archived
S027 ABA analysis of the final Ch. 5 / Ch. 22 policy ABA Banking Journal 2026-06-05 verified source
S028 ATTOM 2026 Mid-Year U.S. Foreclosure Market Report ATTOM Data Solutions 2026-07-16 verified source · archived
S029 MBA National Delinquency Survey, Q1 2026 Mortgage Bankers Association 2026-05-14 verified source · archived
S030 FHA and VA foreclosures could more than double by next fall Mortgage Professional America (Donna Schmidt https://www.mpamag.com/us/mortgage-industry/market-updates/fha-and-va-foreclosures-could-more-than-double-by-next-fall-executive-predicts/583520 industry source · archived
S031 VA home loan refinancing fee would nearly triple under GOP-led bill Stars and Stripes (Linda F. Hersey) 2026-06-15 verified source · archived
S032 VA home foreclosures surge as veterans are urged to call servicers early WRDW / WAGT 12 On Your Side 2026-06-23 verified source · archived
S033 US Foreclosures Rise 21% - FHA and VA Loans Show the Most Stress The Close 2026-07-21 verified source · archived
S034 Veterans Face Housing Squeeze as VA Pulls Back Help and New Homes Stall Newsweek 2026-05-02 verified source · archived
S035 Realtor.com on the Partial Claim launch and the foreclosure process Realtor.com 2026 verified source · archived
S036 What is a loan modification and who qualifies Military.com 2026 verified source · archived
S037 4 years until time expires on new VA mortgage program to avoid foreclosure Military.com 2026 verified source · archived
S038 H.R. 6644, 21st Century Veterans Affairs Benefits Delivery Act - enrolled text GovInfo / U.S. Congress 2026 verified source · archived
S039 Investors list more homes after Road to Housing Act but impact may stay local HousingWire 2026-07-21 verified source · archived
S040 House roll call 249 - motion to recommit, Take Care of America's Veterans Act (H.R. 9237) Office of the Clerk US House 2026-07-16 verified source · archived
S041 Take Care of America's Veterans Act (H.R. 9237), 119th Congress - bill record Congress.gov 2026 verified source · archived
S042 H.R. 8532, VA Home Loan Affordability Act - bill text Congress.gov 2026 verified source
S043 Sen. Murray on Legal Services Corporation funding, FY2026 Office of Sen. Patty Murray 2026 verified source · archived
S044 Legal Services Corporation FY2027 budget request Legal Services Corporation 2026 verified source · archived
S045 LSC on unmet civil legal needs (press release) Legal Services Corporation 2026 verified source · archived
S046 LSC seeks $2.14B as White House pushes to slash funding Law360 2026 verified source · archived
S047 LSC Justice Gap - Special Focus: Veterans and military personnel (2017) Legal Services Corporation / NORC 2017 verified source · archived
S048 VA CARES Act guidance for borrowers with VA-guaranteed home loans US Dept of Veterans Affairs / VBA 2020 verified source
S049 CARES Act Forbearance Fact Sheet for FHA VA and USDA servicers Federal interagency 2020 verified source · archived
S050 VA Home Loan Program Reform Act of 2025 - sponsor summary US House 2025 verified source
S051 HVAC hearing April 11 2024 - VA budget request FY2025 and FY2026 US House Committee on Veterans Affairs (118th Cong 2d Sess) 2024-04-11 verified source · archived
S052 Written statement of John Bell III, VA Executive Director Loan Guaranty Service, HVAC Subcommittee on Economic Opportunity U.S. House Committee on Veterans' Affairs 2024-02-15 verified-needs-url source
S053 Preventing Foreclosures: How the Pandemic Reshaped the Loss Mitigation Toolkit Urban Institute Housing Finance Policy Center 2024-07 verified source · archived
S054 Information for VA home loan borrowers during COVID-19 - CARES Act frequently asked questions U.S. Dept. of Veterans Affairs 2021 verified source · archived
S055 VA Circular 26-24-2 - Updates to VA's COVID-19 Home Retention Waterfall and COVID-19 Refund Modification U.S. Dept. of Veterans Affairs 2024-02-09 verified source · archived
S056 Hearing transcript, HVAC Subcommittee on Economic Opportunity, February 15 2024 (Hearing 118-53) U.S. House Committee on Veterans' Affairs 2024-02-15 verified source
S057 NPR investigation: veterans face foreclosure after VA ends a COVID forbearance program NPR (Arnold/Lawrence; data analysis Benincasa) 2023-11-11 verified source · archived
S058 NPR reporting carried by OPB: veterans fear the VA's new foreclosure rescue plan won't help them NPR via OPB 2023-12-01 verified source
S059 Chairman Bost, Van Orden Issue Joint Statement on Phase Out of VASP Program U.S. House Committee on Veterans' Affairs (majority) 2025-04-03 verified source · archived
S060 Blumenthal, Warren & Takano to Collins: Stop Pushing Thousands of Veterans into Foreclosure Senate Committee on Veterans' Affairs (Minority) 2025-04-09 verified source
S061 Ranking Member Takano statement on the termination of VASP House Veterans' Affairs Committee (Democrats) 2025-04 verified source · archived
S062 Senate and House VA Committee leaders' statement on passage of the VA home loan legislation Senate Committee on Veterans' Affairs 2025-07 verified source · archived
S063 Report more than 10000 veterans have lost homes since va changes ABA Banking Journal registered-needs-title-and-date source · archived
S064 Bost home tax Common Defense registered-needs-title-and-date source · archived
S065 Va not for sale Common Defense registered-needs-title-and-date source · archived
S066 GOP Doubles Down on VA Refinancing Fee Hikes; Veterans Demand Course Correction Common Defense verified-needs-date source · archived
S067 Takano Rejects GOP Push to Make Disabled Veterans Fund Others’ Benefits House Veterans' Affairs Committee (Minority) 2025-12-03 verified source · archived
S068 Expanding the Mission: The Future of the National Center for Warrior Independence in West LA | Committee Repository U.S. House of Representatives (Committee Repository) verified-needs-date source · archived
S069 “Legislative Hearing on: H.R: 6733, The “VISN Reform Act of 2025”; H.R.6580, The “VA National Formulary Act of 2025”; H.R.6599, The “Leasing and Infrastructure Act of 2025”; H.R.65 U.S. House of Representatives (Committee Repository) verified-needs-date source · archived
S070 VR00 / 20240215 U.S. House of Representatives (Committee Repository) registered-needs-title-and-date source
S071 HHRG 119 VR00 Wstate PrinceT 20260304 U.S. House of Representatives (Committee Repository) registered-needs-title-and-date source · archived
S072 HHRG 119 VR00 Wstate DesmondM 20260520 U.S. House of Representatives (Committee Repository) registered-needs-title-and-date source · archived
S073 HHRG 119 VR10 Wstate CohenA 20260326 U.S. House of Representatives (Committee Repository) registered-needs-title-and-date source · archived
S074 #195: Addressing The Issues - Secretary Of Veterans Affairs Doug Collins Green Beret Foundation 2026-05-01 verified source · archived
S075 VA calls for extension of Veteran foreclosure moratorium through Dec. 31, 2024 U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs 2024-05-29 verified source · archived
S076 MBA Advocacy Update: MAA Advocacy in August Underway; MBA Comments on FTC's Proposed AI Policy Statement, more Mortgage Bankers Association 2026-08-07 verified source · archived
S077 Wounded Warrior Project Applauds House Passage of the Briley Edmundson Veterans Benefits Act Wounded Warrior Project 2026-05-21 verified source · archived
S078 2026 05 8 DVO Letter to OIG FINAL House Veterans' Affairs Committee (Majority) registered-needs-title-and-date source
S079 “A Grim March Toward Death”: What HUD’s New Homeless Policy Looks Like on the Ground Shelterforce 2026-04-20 verified source · archived
S080 5887769 watch live doug collins veterans affairs budget senate hearing The Hill registered-needs-title-and-date source
S081 Van Orden, Pappas Introduce Bill to Require VA to Provide Timely Equitable Relief for Administrative Errors Office of Rep. Derek Van Orden 2024-04-12 verified source · archived
S082 Hearings House Veterans' Affairs Committee registered-needs-title-and-date source · archived
S083 Hearings House Veterans' Affairs Committee registered-needs-title-and-date source · archived
S084 Economic Opportunity Subcommittee Chairman Van Orden Leads on Affordability, Cutting Red Tape in VA Home Loan Program for Veterans and their Families House Veterans' Affairs Committee 2026-03-26 verified source
S085 Committee Launches Investigation into George Washington University on Accusations of Defrauding Student Veterans House Veterans' Affairs Committee 2026-05-08 verified source · archived
S086 Chairman Bost Opens Hearing on Plan to Reform and Improve Homelessness Services for Veterans in West LA Region House Veterans' Affairs Committee 2026-05-13 verified source · archived
S087 What They’re Saying: Briley and Edmundson Family’s Highlight Impact H.R. 6047 Would Have on Thousands of American Families House Veterans' Affairs Committee 2026-05-18 verified source · archived
S088 Chairman Bost Speaks at Rules Committee on Key Bills to Expand Benefits for Disabled Veterans and Survivors, Restore Constitutional Rights House Veterans' Affairs Committee 2026-05-19 verified source · archived
S089 2026 05 8 dvo letter to gw final House Veterans' Affairs Committee registered-needs-title-and-date source · archived
S090 Veterans issues take center stage at roundtable hosted by Derrick Van Orden and Doug Collins AOL News 2026-05-08 verified source · archived
S091 Circulars / 26 23 25.pdf U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs, VBA registered-needs-title-and-date source · archived
S092 Circulars / 26 24 12.pdf U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs, VBA registered-needs-title-and-date source · archived
S093 Vasp mba servicer faqs U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs, VBA registered-needs-title-and-date source · archived
S094 Boozman Holds Hearing Examining FY27 Budget Request for Department of Veterans Affairs Office of Sen. John Boozman 2026-04-30 verified source · archived
S095 Secy. Doug Collins Testifies on Veterans Affairs Priorities & Budget C-SPAN 2026-05-20 verified source · archived
S096 Veterans affairs secretary collins testifies on 2026 budget request / 679573 C-SPAN registered-needs-title-and-date source
S097 Publication / 62209 Congressional Budget Office registered-needs-title-and-date source · archived
S098 PLAW 119publ31 U.S. Congress registered-needs-title-and-date source · archived
S099 PLAW 119publ37 U.S. Congress registered-needs-title-and-date source
S100 House bill / 6047 U.S. Congress registered-needs-title-and-date source · archived
S101 History U.S. Congress registered-needs-title-and-date source
S102 Text U.S. Congress registered-needs-title-and-date source
S103 12 CFR 1024.35 - Error resolution procedures Electronic Code of Federal Regulations verified-needs-date source
S104 38 CFR 36.4809 -- Expiration of the COVID-19 Veterans Assistance Partial Claim Payment program. Electronic Code of Federal Regulations verified-needs-date source · archived
S105 38 CFR 36.4315 - Loan modifications Electronic Code of Federal Regulations verified-needs-date source
S106 38 CFR 36.4319 -- Servicer loss-mitigation options and incentives. Electronic Code of Federal Regulations verified-needs-date source
S107 38 CFR 36.4350 - Servicing procedures for holders Electronic Code of Federal Regulations verified-needs-date source
S108 38 CFR 36.4803 -- General requirements of the COVID-19 Veterans Assistance Partial Claim Payment program. Electronic Code of Federal Regulations verified-needs-date source
S109 Elizabeth Dole Foundation applauds House passage of the Sharri Briley and Eric Edmundson Veterans Benefits Expansion Act Elizabeth Dole Foundation verified-needs-date source · archived
S110 Gao 26 108070 Government Accountability Office registered-needs-title-and-date source · archived
S111 Gao 26 108943 Government Accountability Office registered-needs-title-and-date source · archived
S112 House Report 119-104 U.S. Government Publishing Office verified-needs-date source · archived
S113 Trump's big promise for veteran housing is AWOL in VA budget proposal, mystifying vets Los Angeles Times 2026-04-22 verified source · archived
S114 Legion weighs in on multiple pieces of veteran-friendly legislation The American Legion verified-needs-date source · archived
S115 The Justice Gap: Measuring the Unmet Civil Legal Needs of Low-income Americans Legal Services Corporation verified-needs-date source · archived
S116 New VA Mortgage Assistance Program Warning for Veterans Facing Foreclosure www.military.com 2026-06-19 verified source · archived
S117 FHA and VA foreclosures could more than double by next fall, executive predicts Mortgage Professional America 2026-07-23 verified source · archived
S118 Ar AA22DeJG MSN registered-needs-title-and-date source · archived
S119 After Duffy Refuses to Answer Basic Ethics Questions in Angry Outburst at Senate Hearing, Senator Murray Calls for Inspector General to Investigate Duffy’s Corporate-Sponsored Road Office of Sen. Patty Murray 2026-05-20 verified source · archived
S120 VA Must Pause Foreclosures Until New Mortgage Assistance Program Is Accessible National Consumer Law Center 2026-06-15 verified source · archived
S121 Are you a veteran pushed into a higher-cost VA loan, or at risk of foreclosure? NPR 2023-11-10 verified source · archived
S122 Thousands of vets fell victim to a bait-and-switch...by the VA? Lawmakers want a fix NPR 2024-02-17 verified source · archived
S123 Veterans mortgage foreclosure va loan NPR registered-needs-title-and-date source
S124 Abrupt End of VASP Program Leaves Veterans, Families at Risk of Home Loss Center for Responsible Lending 2025-05-01 verified source · archived
S125 Veterans housing crisis trump 1235248932 Rolling Stone registered-needs-title-and-date source
S126 Congress Is debating the details. Our military families are living the consequences. Stars and Stripes 2026-05-18 verified source · archived
S127 Bill to increase benefits for critically wounded veterans hits a roadblock: Who will pay for it? Stars and Stripes 2025-12-03 verified source · archived
S128 House passes 2027 VA budget and funding for military construction projects Stars and Stripes 2026-05-18 verified source · archived
S129 2 high-profile veterans bills move toward a final House vote Stars and Stripes 2026-05-19 verified source · archived
S130 House Democrats move to force a vote on Major Richard Star Act Stars and Stripes 2026-05-21 verified source · archived
S131 The End of a Veterans Affairs Program Could Put Military Borrowers at Risk of Foreclosure Urban Institute verified-needs-date source · archived
S132 VA announces new program to help more than 40,000 Veterans stay in their homes | VA Wilmington health care U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs 2024-04-10 verified source · archived
S133 7D72EC12 57AB 4AF5 8DC8 E213A4350D8B Senate Veterans' Affairs Committee registered-needs-title-and-date source · archived
S134 Pending Legislation Veterans of Foreign Wars verified-needs-date source · archived
S135 Watch YouTube registered-needs-title-and-date source · archived
S136 Watch YouTube registered-needs-title-and-date source · archived
S137 Watch YouTube registered-needs-title-and-date source
S138 Watch YouTube registered-needs-title-and-date source · archived
S139 Watch YouTube registered-needs-title-and-date source · archived
S140 Watch YouTube registered-needs-title-and-date source · archived
S141 Watch YouTube registered-needs-title-and-date source · archived
S142 AYOZezavoTQ YouTube registered-needs-title-and-date source
S143 SiXAagTOA8w YouTube registered-needs-title-and-date source