What to Know About the Homeowner Assistance Fund (HAF)
April 04, 2022
To help families affected by the COVID-19 pandemic, an assistance program has been created with the help of $9.961 billion to help homeowners behind on their mortgages and other housing-related expenses.
American Rescue Plan of 2021
As part of the American Rescue Plan of 2021, the federal government recognized that 10 million homeowners were behind on mortgage payments and other housing-related expenses. This plan provides $10 billion to help homeowners with late mortgage and utility payments, and those facing foreclosure or eviction.
Homeowner Assistance Fund (HAF)
The Homeowner Assistance Fund (HAF) is overseen by the U.S. Treasury Department and administered by the states, territories, and tribes.
More than 31 states, Guam, and Puerto Rico have launched their HAF programs, and others are working diligently to get theirs approved and running quickly.
To help homeowners sooner, some states have been administering pilot assistance programs while they finalize their full HAF programs.
But we want any veteran readers to be wary of scammers. You do not have to pay anyone for processing a request or for help in accessing the funds. You can see if you qualify online at your state or city website.
We recommend using trusted information like the National Conference of State Housing Boards.
Resources Available for Qualifying Homeowners
People that qualify for the Homeowner Assistance Fund can receive up to $25,000 to pay a delinquent mortgage, utility, and other property-related bills. The HAF prioritizes funds for homeowners who have experienced the greatest hardship in an effort to:
- Prevent mortgage delinquencies, defaults, and foreclosures, by providing financial assistance
- Avoid loss of utilities or home energy services, through payment assistance
- Assist homeowners who have experienced financial hardship after January 21, 2020
- Cover qualified expenses for a homeowner’s primary residence
Eligibility Criteria
To qualify for the Homeowner Assistance Fund, individuals must have:
- A household income less than 50% of the Area Median Income (AMI)
- Must own and occupy the property as their primary residence
- Homeowners must have and explain a financial hardship directly related to COVID-19 on or after January 21, 2020
At Legal Help For Veterans, PLLC, we do not assist in this type of federal program but feel that it’s important for all veterans to know about the assistance programs available to them. If you are a veteran or know of a veteran who has a disability from service, or needs an increase in their VA disability rating, please contact our office at (800) 693-4800.