More than 20,000 veterans, active-duty troops and reservists lost their homes last year. That’s the highest number since 2003…yet, it could’ve been worse. Loans from private banks that are guaranteed by Veterans Affairs have outperformed other categories of mortgages, and helped 66,000 other military families avoid foreclosure. USA Today reports, the Pentagon’s expanded Homeowners Assistance Program makes up most of the difference in price for service members who have to sell their homes for less than they owe. Sometimes, the program will buy the houses outright. Requests for assistance has increased by 19-percent in just the past year.

This story is part of Federal News Radio’s daily DoD Report. For more defense news, click here.

Copyright © 2024 Federal News Network. All rights reserved. This website is not intended for users located within the European Economic Area.