As the economy rebounds and more veterans think about a new home purchase, many will consider a home loan whose eligibility guidelines are determined by the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs.

Veterans can apply for a VA loan with any mortgage lender that participates in the VA home loan program, but a certificate of eligibility from VA must be obtained to prove to the lender that you are eligible for a VA loan.

To be considered for the VA home loan program, a borrower must meet military service requirements, which vary depending on when the service was completed. Generally, the requirements include 90 days of active duty during wartime, 181 days of continuous active duty during peacetime and 6 years of service for Reserve/National Guard applicants.

Eligible VA loan borrowers will have no down payment, no private mortgage insurance requirement, relaxed qualifying standards, competitive interest rates, no penalties for mortgage prepayment, cash-out and debt consolidation, and a streamlined rate reduction.

Ultimately, the VA determines whether a veteran is eligible for VA home loan benefits. Applications involving military discharges that are other than honorable are determined on a case-by-case basis. A page that offers frequently asked questions about VA home loans should be read first. It’s available online at http://www.homeloans.va.gov/lgyfaq.htm.

For more information on eligibility, call the Department of Veterans Affairs regional loan service center in Manchester, N.H., to speak with a VA loan professional at (800) 827-6311 or -0336. You may also send e-mail to http://ww.vba.va.gov/ro/manchester/lgymain/loans.html.

Rules finalized

Officials from the Department of Veterans’ Affairs recently finalized and published the eligibility requirements for businesses to obtain verified status as a veteran-owned small business under VA’s Service-Disabled Veteran-Owned Small Business Program.

Veterans will be allowed only one company at a time in the contracting program and must work full time in the business. The final rules with request for comments were published recently in a Feb. 5 filing in the Federal Register at http://edocket.access.gpo.gov/2010/2010-2648.htm.

Written comments may be submitted online at http://www.regulations.gov/search/Regs/home.html#home or mailed to the Director, Regulations Management (02REG), Department of Veterans Affairs, 810 Vermont Ave., NW., Room 1068, Washington, DC 20420. Comments should indicate that they are submitted in response to RIN 2900-AM78-VA Veteran-Owned Small Business Verification Guidelines.

New clinic offers care to Iraq veterans

The Providence VA Medical Center, at 830 Chalkstone Ave., has established an Operation Enduring Freedom/Operation Iraqi Freedom new patient care clinic, providing new veterans one-stop shopping for iprimary and behavioral health care as well as an opportunity to seek after-hours care.

Doctors Michael O’Connell and Joan Karl are available to provide physical examinations, and Dr. Karl also offers women’s health care. The clinic is staffed by two patient-care assistants, an eligibility clerk, a clinician and the program manager.

The clinic also includes representatives from the Providence VA regional office on Westminster Street, as well as a consultant from Operation Vets who offers advice regarding VA benefits, jobs, colleges and the new Post 9/11 Montgomery GI Bill.

The new clinic is open Mondays from 3 to 6 p.m. in the medical center’s Special Populations Clinic in the main building. For more clinic information or to make an appointment, call program manager Rochelle Fortin Monday through Friday, 7:30 a.m. to 4 p.m., at (401) 273-7100, ext. 6137.

Benefits seminars for female veterans

A benefits seminar for female veterans sponsored by the Department of Veterans Affairs will be held Wednesday, March 10, at the Community College of Rhode Island’s Warwick campus in first-floor conference Room 1130, from 6 to 9 p.m. A second session will be held in the same location on Saturday, March 13, from 9 a.m. to 1 p.m. Admission is free to this seminar, which is intended to inform female vets about their entitlements and benefits. For more information, call VA benefits specialist Carla Murchelano at (401) 223-3651.

Meetings

Governor’s Veterans’ Affairs Advisory Council meets Monday at 1 p.m., at the Rhode Island Veterans Home, south building conference room, 480 Metacom Ave., Bristol.

American Legion and Auxiliary: Balfour-Cole Post 64, 170 Pleasant View Ave., Smithfield, will meet Wednesday at 7:30 p.m.; the state Auxiliary Department executive committee will meet on Thursday at Shields Post 43, 662 West Shore Rd., Warwick at 7:30 p.m.

Italian American War Veterans of the U.S. Department and Auxiliary meetings will be held Wednesday at the VA Medical Center, 830 Chalkstone Ave., Providence, at 7:30 p.m. in Classrooms 3 and 1, respectively, on the fifth floor.

Military Order of the Purple Heart Chapter 1812 will meet Thursday at VFW Post 4487, 52 Underwood Lane, Middletown, at 2 p.m.

Disabled American Veterans Department executive committee will meet Thursday at 7 p.m. in the fifth-floor conference room at the VA Medical Center in Providence.

Military Order of Foreign Wars Rhode Island Commandery will have a speakers’ meeting on Friday at 6 p.m., at the Quonset O Club in North Kingstown; for more information, call William Henry at (401) 275-4205 or (401) 354-6804.

Veterans of Foreign Wars Johnson-Gilchrist-Goff Post, 176 Washington St., Warwick, will conduct a meat raffle every Saturday until April 10 with proceeds going to the Wish Come True program; call (401) 467-8940 for more information.

Combat Veterans Motorcycle Association Rhode Island Chapter will meet Sunday at 10 a.m., at the Armory of Mounted Commands, 1051 North Main St., Providence.

Send veterans’ meeting and news items to George W. Reilly at VeteransColumn@verizon.net or write to The Veterans’ Journal Column at The Providence Journal, 75 Fountain St., Providence, RI 02902. Veterans’ meeting and feature items can be read and posted for free at projothebeat.com.