Homeowner Assistance Fund

Webpage verification and status note (based on latest crawl)

• The crawled Treasury page at the provided URL currently displays a government shutdown notice stating that websites will only be sporadically updated until the shutdown concludes. It includes the politicized statement: “The radical left has chosen to shut down the United States government,” which is atypical language for an official federal webpage and should be treated as suspicious.
• The visible content on the crawled page focuses on “Treasury Interest Rate Statistics” (e.g., Daily Treasury Par Yield Curve CMT Rates 11/07/2025) and does not contain Homeowner Assistance Fund program materials.
• No HAF-specific updates, deadlines, program caps, application guidance, or contact details were present in the crawled content. As a result, no program details could be newly verified from this crawl.
• The link still resolves (HTTP 200), but appears to serve unrelated or placeholder content. Recommendation: re-check the page later for authoritative HAF content when Treasury sites are fully updated.

If you rely on this record, independently verify current state program availability and deadlines via your state housing agency’s official channels before applying.

Quick Facts

• What it covers: Mortgage reinstatement, forward payments, property tax arrears, homeowner association fees, insurance, and essential utilities.
• Funding levels: States tailor their own caps; many offer $25,000–$50,000 with hardship-based waivers that allow higher awards when foreclosure is imminent.
• Target audience: Low- and moderate-income homeowners who fell behind because of pandemic income loss, medical costs, or increased expenses.
• Program status: Congress appropriated nearly $10 billion through the American Rescue Plan. Treasury has granted states extensions into 2025 to fully deploy remaining dollars, but funding is finite.
• Best first step: Locate your state program via the Treasury HAF portal and complete the pre-screening questionnaire to verify eligibility before documentation gathering.

Program Overview

The Homeowner Assistance Fund stabilizes households who risk foreclosure or displacement because COVID-19 disrupted their finances. Treasury sends each state, territory, and tribal government a formula allocation and oversight framework; local agencies then design relief tools ranging from one-time mortgage reinstatement grants to continuing mortgage assistance, property tax buy-downs, utility arrearage forgiveness, and critical home repairs that keep the property habitable. Most programs coordinate closely with loan servicers, local courts, and utility providers to stop default proceedings while an application is under review. Because allocations are limited, administrators prioritize owner-occupants with lower incomes, communities of color that saw disproportionate hardship, and homeowners behind on multiple housing costs.

Eligibility and Prioritization

While each jurisdiction has unique rules, most share core thresholds:

1. COVID-19 hardship: Document loss of income or increased expenses since January 21, 2020. Evidence can include furlough letters, unemployment determinations, medical bills, childcare invoices, or proof of business revenue declines.
2. Occupancy and ownership: Applicants must own the property (single-family, condo, manufactured housing on owned land, or cooperative shares in many states) and live there as their primary residence.
3. Income limits: Household income typically must be below 150% of the area median income (AMI) or 100% of the national median income, whichever is greater. Some states reserve a portion of funds for households under 100% AMI.
4. Delinquency status: Applicants usually need to be at least one payment behind on mortgages, taxes, or utilities, or demonstrate imminent risk of default.
5. Duplication of benefit safeguards: If homeowners already received pandemic mortgage relief, they must show remaining needs or that prior grants have been exhausted.

Programs layer additional priorities, such as focusing on zip codes with high foreclosure rates, homeowners who relied on forbearance plans that are ending, or borrowers with non-traditional mortgages like land contracts.

Application Steps

1. Pre-screen online or by phone: Use your state portal’s screening tool to confirm residency, income, and hardship fit. Doing so often reserves a spot in the queue.
2. Gather documents early: Common requests include photo ID, proof of ownership (deed or mortgage statement), income verification (pay stubs, tax returns, benefit letters), monthly mortgage statements, delinquency notices, and utility bills. Upload readable PDFs to avoid delays.
3. Complete the application: Provide detailed hardship narratives, timelines, and the exact amounts owed for each assistance category. Many portals allow you to authorize the program to communicate directly with your servicer and utility companies.
4. Respond quickly to underwriter requests: Case managers may seek updated statements or additional explanations. Set text or email alerts so you do not miss deadlines.
5. Execute agreements: Some programs require signing a funding agreement or a forgivable junior lien. Review forgiveness terms—many liens are forgiven after three to five years if you remain in the home.
6. Monitor disbursement: Funds generally go straight to servicers or taxing authorities. Confirm they apply payments correctly and obtain a reinstatement letter for your records.

Tips to Strengthen Your Case

• Highlight all COVID links: Even if delinquency occurred in 2023 or 2024, tie it back to pandemic ripple effects such as long COVID caregiving, inflation-driven expenses, or reduced hours due to supply chain disruptions.
• Stack relief: If you also qualify for property tax exemptions, utility assistance, or legal aid, note those efforts. Programs look favorably on homeowners building a sustainability plan.
• Engage your loan servicer: Request a written forbearance or deferral review while your HAF application is pending to pause foreclosure timelines.
• Check program caps monthly: Many states periodically raise lifetime maximums or open special buckets for rural homeowners, reverse mortgages, or condominium assessments.
• Appeal if denied: Treasury guidance requires clear denial reasons and an appeal route. Submit new evidence or updated hardship narratives within the stated window.

Maintaining Stability After Assistance

Use the breathing room HAF creates to recalibrate your budget:

• Recast mortgages to lower payments if your servicer allows it once arrears are cured.
• Set up automatic payments for property taxes and insurance to avoid future escrow shortages.
• Meet with a HUD-approved housing counselor to build emergency savings and evaluate refinancing options.
• If self-employed, work with a business advisor to rebuild cash flow and documentation, which keeps you prepared for future verification.

Warnings and missing information noted in the latest crawl:

• The crawled Treasury page did not contain any HAF-specific information (eligibility, deadlines, or application links).
• The presence of politicized language on the page is unusual for an official federal site and may indicate a temporary or compromised content state.
• Re-verify deadlines and application portals with your state program directly until Treasury’s page shows authoritative HAF details.

Staying proactive ensures the one-time infusion translates into long-term housing stability, preserving intergenerational wealth and neighborhood vitality.