# Plain Language Summary of H.R. 6197

This bill creates a new housing assistance program specifically for surviving spouses of disabled veterans. If a veteran passes away and was receiving disability benefits from the VA, their surviving spouse could potentially receive a grant to help pay for housing costs. The Department of Veterans Affairs would have one year from when this bill becomes law to set up the program and start accepting applications from eligible surviving spouses.

The program would prioritize help based on financial need, meaning those struggling the most to afford housing would get priority for the grants. To apply, a surviving spouse would need to submit an application to the VA with whatever information the department requires. The bill sets aside $250 million in funding to run this program over five years (2025 through 2029), which would be divided among all eligible applicants. The specific details about how much each grant would be, income limits, or other eligibility requirements aren't spelled out in the bill itself—those would be decided by the VA when they create the actual program.

This is aimed at helping a specific group: surviving spouses of veterans who were disabled and were already receiving dependency and indemnity compensation (a monthly payment from the VA). Without this program, these surviving spouses would have no special federal housing assistance available to them. The bill recognizes that losing a veteran spouse can create financial hardship, and housing is often one of the biggest expenses families face.