You might be eligible to get free money from the government to pay your mortgage and other housing-related costs through your state’s Homeowner Assistance Fund program.
Update: As of August 2023, many Homeowner Assistance Fund (HAF) programs described in the article below have used all of their funding and stopped taking applications. But in some states, programs are still open. If you need help making your housing payments, check your state's official HAF program website at the link in the chart below to find out if assistance is still available.
In early 2021, President Joe Biden signed the American Rescue Plan Act into law. This law created a Homeowner Assistance Fund, a federal program, to give $10 billion to the states to help households that fell behind on their mortgages and other housing-related expenses due to COVID-19.
The 50 states and the District of Columbia set up various programs with their allocated funding to distribute the money and assist distressed homeowners. While the programs vary considerably in the types of help offered and amounts provided, this article gives an overview of how they generally work. The chart below gives specifics for each state.
How Homeowner Assistance Fund Programs Generally Work
Again, programs vary from state to state but generally offer assistance with some or all of the following housing costs.
- Paying off delinquent mortgage payments (principal and interest) so that you can avoid a foreclosure. (You might also qualify for money to pay future mortgage payments.)
- Reinstating a mortgage after a forbearance.
- Covering other housing-related costs related to a period of delinquency or default, like homeowners' insurance, property taxes, flood insurance, and mortgage insurance.
- In some cases, paying utilities, like electric, gas, sewer, and water.
- Paying overdue homeowners' association or condominium owners' association fees or liens, special assessments, or other common charges.
Funds are normally distributed directly to the mortgage lender or servicer, county treasurer, local taxing authority, utility company, property insurance company, or homeowners' or condominium owners' association as appropriate.
Sometimes, like in Massachusetts, assistance is structured as a nonrecourse grant you don't have to repay. In other cases, like in the District of Columbia, the assistance is in the form of a loan.
Eligibility Requirements for Homeowner Assistance Fund Programs
Each program has its own eligibility requirements. But usually, you must have a financial hardship (a loss of income or increase in expenses), which occurred on or after January 21, 2020, because of the coronavirus crisis. Qualifying hardships normally include job loss, a reduction in income, increased costs due to healthcare, or the need to care for a family member.
Other eligibility requirements typically include some or all of the following.
- Your home must be in the state where you're applying for assistance.
- You must own and occupy the property.
- Your home must be an eligible property type (like a single-family attached or detached home, condominium unit, cooperative, mobile, or manufactured home).
- The property must be your primary residence. Second homes and investment properties typically don't qualify.
- Your household income can't exceed maximum income restrictions. Homeowners with household incomes at or below 100% or 150% of the applicable area median income (AMI) can qualify, depending on the program and the kind of assistance sought.
- The housing expense you're seeking assistance for must have become due on or after January 21, 2020.
- The original principal balance of the loan must have been less than the Fannie Mae/Freddie Mac conforming loan limits at the time of origination.
- You can't have an active bankruptcy case.
- A business, like an LLC or LP, can't own the home.
- You can't work out an alternative through your mortgage servicer (see "Forbearances and Other Mortgage Relief During the Coronavirus National Emergency" below).
How to Apply for a Homeowner Assistance Fund Program
To apply for funding from a state-specific program, go to your state's official Homeowner Assistance Fund website, shown in the chart below. Depending on the program, you'll usually need to provide some documentation with your application, like:
- paperwork showing your income (pay stubs, W2s, or other wage statements, IRS Form 1099s, tax filings, bank statements, or a statement of income from an employer)
- Social Security, child support, unemployment, and other income statements as applicable
- mortgage statements or other mortgage documents
- property tax statements from your city or town
- utility bills
- homeowners' or condominium owners' association bills, and
- identification, such as a state ID, driver's license, or passport.
How Long Will the Homeowner Assistance Fund Programs Last?
Most Homeowner Assistance Fund programs will continue until the earlier of sometime in 2025 or 2026, or when all of the funds allotted to the program have been exhausted. Many states plan to use all their funds well before this time.
So, if you think you might qualify for assistance under a particular program, it's best to apply as soon as possible.
Avoid Homeowner Assistance Fund Scams
If you get an unsolicited offer by phone, in the U.S. mail, through email, or by text message offering mortgage relief or foreclosure rescue services, be wary. Scammers are increasingly targeting homeowners who've been affected by COVID-19.
You don't have to pay a fee to apply to a Homeowner Assistance Fund program. If anyone asks you to pay a fee to get housing counseling or foreclosure prevention services from these kinds of programs, it's a scam.
Getting Help
Homeowners in all states are eligible to get free help applying to their state Homeowner Assistance Fund program from a HUD-approved housing counselor. To find a counselor near you, go to HUD's website or call 800-569-4287. You can also find a counselor by:
- calling the HOPE Hotline, open 24 hours a day, seven days a week, at 888-995-HOPE (4673)
- going to the Consumer Financial Protection Bureau (CFPB) "Find a housing counselor" website
- searching HUD's Office of Housing Counseling web page, or
- in some areas, using HUD's iPhone app, called "HUD Counselor Locator," available for free at Apple's App Store.
If you need information about how foreclosure works in your state or possible defenses to a foreclosure, consider talking to a foreclosure attorney.
Homeowner Assistance Fund Programs By State
To find out how the homeowner-relief program works in your state, review the chart below for a summary and click on your state's name to get specific information for where you live. Also, check out your state's official Homeowner Assistance Fund website.
| State | Funding Allocated to the State | Type of Available Assistance | Maximum Amount of Assistance Per Household | Structure of Program | State's Official Homeowner Assistance Fund Website |
| Alabama | $125 million |
Mortgage payment assistance Loan modification assistance Lien extinguishment |
$50,000 | A grant that you don't have to repay | https://www.mortgageassistanceal.com |
| Alaska | $50 million |
Reinstate a mortgage in forbearance, delinquency, or default (the program will provide up to 12 months of mortgage assistance) Pay utilities, like electricity, natural gas, trash removal, water, and sewer, as well as other home-energy costs, like home heating fuel or oil, propane, firewood, and wood pellets (but phone, cable, and internet costs aren't eligible) Pay property taxes, homeowners' insurance, homeowners' or condominium association fees, cooperative maintenance fees Cover a portion of your continuing payments if your financial hardship due to COVID-19 is ongoing |
See the state's official Homeowner Assistance Fund website | See the state's official Homeowner Assistance Fund website | https://www.alaskahousingrelief.org |
| Arizona | $197 million |
Utilities, including electric, gas, home energy, and water Internet service, including broadband internet access service Homeowners' insurance, flood insurance, and mortgage insurance Homeowners association fees or liens, condominium association fees, or common charges Other housing-related costs related to a period of forbearance, delinquency, or default |
See the state's official Homeowner Assistance Fund website | See the state's official Homeowner Assistance Fund website | https://haf.azhousing.gov |
| Arkansas | $54 million |
Mortgage delinquency Utility and internet access services Property taxes, hazard insurance premiums, flood or wind insurance premiums, ground rents, condominium fees, cooperative maintenance fees, planned unit development fees, homeowners' association fees, or utilities that the servicer advanced to protect lien position (if included within escrow) |
$40,000 | A grant you don't have to repay | https://arkansashaf.com |
| California | $1 billion | Delinquent housing payments (principal, interest, taxes, and insurance, plus any escrow shortages) or reverse mortgage arrearages | $80,000 | A nonrecourse grant that you don't have to repay | https://camortgagerelief.org |
| Colorado | $178 million | Three months of overdue housing payments or future mortgage payments, perhaps more in some circumstances | No maximum amount listed | A grant that you don't have to repay | https://cdola.colorado.gov/emergency-mortgage-assistance |
| Connecticut | $123 million |
Mortgage payments (overdue and ongoing) Non-mortgage payments, like property taxes, homeowners' insurance, water and sewer liens, etc. (overdue and ongoing) |
$30,000 | A grant that you don't have to repay | https://www.chfa.org/myhomect |
| Delaware | $50 million |
Delinquent mortgage payments and a principal curtailment, rate reduction, modification, or another resolution to make future mortgage payments more affordable Overdue homeowners' association fees, condominium association fees, property taxes, chattel loan payments, land lease payments, homeowners' insurance, and utilities (water and sewer only) |
$40,000 | A grant that you don't have to repay | https://demortgagehelp.com |
| District of Columbia | $50 million |
Mortgage payments Property charges, like HOA fees, homeowners' insurance, and taxes Utilities and internet |
$120,000 | A grant that you don't have to repay | https://haf.dc.gov |
| Florida | $676 million |
Mortgage payments (principal, interest, late fees, and charges for first mortgages and subordinate mortgages) Escrow payments Property taxes Homeowners' insurance Utilities (including electric, gas, home heating oil, water, sewer, and internet) Flood insurance Homeowners' association fees |
$50,000 | A grant that you don't have to repay | http://www.floridajobs.org/community-planning-and-development/homeowner-assistance/homeowner-assistance-fund |
| Georgia | $354 million |
Mortgage reinstatement plus three months of mortgage payments Money to pay for a recast, loan modification, or another loss mitigation option, plus three months of mortgage payments Overdue non-escrowed property taxes or homeowners' insurance, condominium or homeowners' association fees, and utility payments |
$50,000 | See the state's official Homeowner Assistance Fund website | https://georgiamortgageassistance.ga.gov |
| Hawaii | $50 million | The total amount from the federal government was split up and allocated to the counties of Maui, Kauai, Hawaii, and the island of Oahu. Programs vary. | $30,000 | A grant that you don't have to repay |
https://www.hawaiiancouncil.org/oahuhome http://hawaiicommunitylending.com/grants-loans https://www.meoinc.org/programs-services/community-services/housing-assistance |
| Idaho | $72 million |
Overdue mortgage payments, including reinstatement of a loan in forbearance, delinquency, or default Property taxes Homeowners' insurance premiums Homeowners' association fees and condominium dues Cooperative maintenance fees Utilities (in some instances), like power, sewer, trash, gas, and water |
$50,000 | An interest-free loan that must be repaid when you sell or transfer the home's ownership. The loan will be forgiven if the net proceeds from a sale don't cover the assistance amount received. And the loan might be forgivable after 10 years. | https://www.idahohousing.com/haf |
| Illinois | $387 million |
Overdue mortgage payments Mortgage reinstatement or other housing-related costs related to a COVID-related forbearance Past-due property taxes Delinquent homeowners' insurance and flood insurance Overdue homeowners' association, condominium association, or co-op association fees Delinquent rent for a mobile home lot Up to three months of future payments, if needed |
$30,000 | A grant that you don't have to repay | https://www.illinoishousinghelp.org/ilhaf |
| Indiana | $168 million | Mortgage payments (delinquent and future) and other escrowed home-related costs, like homeowners' association fees and property taxes | $35,000 |
Assistance is structured as a five-year, forgivable loan (forgiven at the rate of 20% each year for five years) |
https://haf.877gethope.org |
| Iowa | $50 million |
Mortgage payments Property taxes Homeowners' insurance (hazard, flood, and mortgage insurance) Homeowners' association fees Manufactured home/lot rent payments Land contract payments if you're buying under a legally recorded contract |
$25,000 | A grant you don't have to repay | https://www.iowafinance.com/ihaf |
| Kansas | $56 million |
Mortgage reinstatement Upcoming mortgage payments Other property charges, such as past-due property taxes, homeowners' and flood insurance, homeowners' association fees, condominium owners' association fees, cooperative maintenance charges, and common charges Overdue utility bills, including internet, broadband, electricity, gas, home energy, water, and wastewater costs |
$35,000 for mortgage reinstatement and mortgage payment assistance, and up to $10,000 for property charges and utilities | See the state's official Homeowner Assistance Fund website | https://kshousingcorp.org/kansas-homeowner-assistance-fund |
| Kentucky | $85 million |
Mortgage assistance for up to six months and mortgage reinstatement of overdue payments Payment of overdue, non-escrowed, property tax bills, homeowners' insurance, insurance bills Payment of homeowners' association/condominium dues and liens Payment of overdue utility (electric, gas/heat, water/sewer) bills |
$35,000 | A grant you don't have to repay | https://teamkyhaf.ky.gov |
| Louisiana | $146.7 million |
Mortgage reinstatement or other housing-related costs from a period of forbearance, delinquency, or default Mortgage payments Homeowners' insurance, homeowners' association fees, flood insurance, and mortgage insurance, if escrowed |
$25,000 | A grant, which you don't have to repay | https://haf.lacovidhousing.com |
| Maine | $50 million |
Past-due mortgage payments Mortgage reinstatement or other housing-related costs related to a period of forbearance, delinquency, or default Overdue homeowners' insurance, flood insurance, and mortgage insurance Delinquent property taxes to prevent tax foreclosures Overdue utility bills, such as electric, gas, sewage, and water bills Past-due amounts for internet, including broadband internet access service Delinquent homeowners' association or condominium owners' association fees Overdue manufactured home loan debt (chattel loan or retail installment contracts) |
$25,000 | A grant, which you don't have to repay | https://www.maine.gov/pfr/consumercredit/homeowner_assistance_fund.html |
| Maryland | $248 million | Overdue and future mortgage payments and other housing-related costs | Loan of up to $30,000 or a grant up to $10,000 | A loan or grant that you don't have to repay |
https://dhcd.maryland.gov/Residents/Pages/HomeownerAssistanceFund.aspx |
| Massachusetts | $180 million |
Mortgage loan principal and interest Homeowners' association (or condominium owners' association) fees Property taxes Homeowners' insurance Past-due mobile home loan payments and eligible utilities |
See the state's official Homeowner Assistance Fund website | A grant, which you don't have to repay | https://massmortgagehelp.org |
| Michigan | $242 million |
Overdue mortgage payments and other housing expenses, like property tax and insurance escrow shortages Delinquent land contract payments, mobile home consumer loan payments, or mobile home park lot payments Past-due non-escrowed property taxes Overdue condominium or homeowners' association fees Delinquent homeowner's insurance Overdue bills for utilities, gas, electric, water, sewer Delinquent internet broadband services |
$25,000 | A grant you don't have to repay | https://mihaf.michigan.gov/p/home |
| Minnesota | $128 million |
Past-due:
|
$35,000 | A grant you don't have to repay | https://homehelpmn.org |
| Mississippi | $72 million |
A reinstatement option, which includes up to three months of mortgage payment assistance The program can also help with a second mortgage lien And you might qualify for financial help to eliminate or reduce past-due payments associated with your mortgage, like delinquent property taxes |
$50,000 | A nonrecourse grant that you don't have to repay | https://www.mshomesaver.com |
| Missouri | $138 million |
First mortgage payments (principal and interest), escrow shortages or deficiencies, and any interest-bearing unpaid principal balance and any existing non-interest-bearing forbearance balance Subordinate mortgage payments (principal and interest) and a principal reduction or payoff of a non-profit/government bond second lien Manufactured or mobile home loan payments (principal and interest) |
$50,000 | A grant that you don't have to repay | https://www.safhrforhomeowners.com |
| Montana | $50 million |
Mortgage reinstatement costs Utilities Homeowners' insurance, flood insurance, and mortgage insurance Homeowners' association fees or liens, condominium owners' association fees, or common charges Delinquent property taxes Other housing-related expenses |
$25,000 (though the amount varies based on the type of assistance received) |
Some assistance is in the form of a 0% interest loan Other kinds of assistance are in the form of a grant that you don't have to repay |
https://arpa.mt.gov/Housing |
| Nebraska | $50 million |
Mortgage reinstatement Upcoming mortgage payments Property costs, like property taxes, insurance, HOA fees and liens, utility liens |
$30,000 | A grant you don't have to repay | https://nebraskahaf.com |
| Nevada | $120 million |
Unemployment Mortgage Assistance (UMA) program Mortgage Reinstatement Assistance Program (MRAP) |
UMA: The program provides up to $3,000 per month for up to 12 months ($54,000 total)
|
See the state's official Homeowner Assistance Fund website | https://nahac.org |
| New Hampshire | $50 million |
Mortgage loan reinstatement (up to $20,000) Other property charges, like overdue property taxes, homeowners' insurance, homeowners association or condominium fees, co-op maintenance, and lot rents (up to $20,000) Utility costs (electricity, gas, and heating fuel) and internet payments (up to $3,000) |
$20,000 |
If under $5,000, a nonrecourse grant that you don't have to repay Assistance equal to or more than $5,000 is structured as a two-year, non-interest bearing, non-amortizing, forgivable loan |
https://homehelpnh.org/homeowners |
| New Jersey | $325 million |
Reinstate a delinquent mortgage loan (principal, interest, taxes, and insurance), including payments that were missed because of a forbearance plan Mortgage payments of principal, interest, taxes, and insurance going forward (you can get a one-time payment to cover arrearages and up to four months of future mortgage-payment assistance) Overdue property taxes, municipal liens, or utility liens |
$35,000 | A subordinate lien recorded against the home that's forgivable after three years. You only have to repay the assistance if you sell your home or receive cash back from a refinancing within three years |
https://njerma.com |
| New Mexico | $55 million |
Mortgage reinstatement, principal reduction, lien extinguishment Monthly mortgage payments if you're receiving unemployment benefits Property taxes, homeowners' insurance, reverse mortgage escrow shortages, and taxes and insurance that are due up to 90 days after you apply |
$20,000 | A grant that you don't have to repay | https://nmhomefund.org/homeowners/ |
| New York | $539 million | Missed housing payments, to reduce mortgage debt to make monthly mortgage payments more affordable, and for unemployed homeowners, assistance with up to six months of future housing payments | $50,000 | Five-year, non-interest, non-amortizing forgivable loan. If the homeowner remains in the home for five years, the loan will be fully forgiven | https://www.nyhomeownerfund.org |
| North Carolina | $273 million |
Mortgage payments Mortgage reinstatement Property-related costs, like insurance, taxes, HOA fees |
$40,000 | A grant that you don't have to repay | https://nchaf.gov |
| North Dakota | $50 million |
Housing Reinstatement Program (HRP) Housing Payment Assistance Program (HPAP) Home Repair Program (HAFHR) |
$40,000 (HRP) $12,000 (HPAP) $30,000 (HAFHR) (Subject to program cap) |
A grant that you don't have to repay | https://www.applyforhelp.nd.gov/nd-help-homeowners |
| Ohio | $280 million |
Past-due mortgage payments and up to six months of upcoming mortgage payments Utility bills, property taxes, homeowners' association fees, and other housing costs, which aren't included in your mortgage payment |
$25,000 (mortgage) $10,000 (other housing costs) |
See the state's official Homeowner Assistance Fund website | https://savethedream.ohiohome.org |
| Oklahoma | $74 million |
Reinstatement of a delinquent mortgage Delinquent real estate taxes Restored or canceled homeowner's insurance Delinquent homeowners' association dues |
$20,000 | A grant that you don't have to repay | https://www.ohfa.org/haf |
| Oregon | $90 million |
Past-due housing payments, like mortgage payments, property taxes, homeowners' insurance, HOA fees, etc. Ongoing housing-related payments |
$60,000 | Assistance is in the form of a five-year, 0%-interest, forgivable loan | https://oregonhomeownerassistance.org/program |
| Pennsylvania | $350 million |
Mortgage reinstatement Future mortgage payments Past-due charges that put property ownership at risk Delinquent utility bills |
$30,000 | A grant that you don't have to repay | https://pahaf.org |
| Rhode Island | $50 million |
Overdue mortgage payments Upcoming monthly mortgage payments Principal reduction Property taxes, homeowners' association fees, and condominium association fees Utilities, flood insurance or mortgage insurance, and other housing-related expenses if you get assistance for one of the expenses listed above |
$50,000 | A grant that you don't have to repay | https://www.rihousing.com/hafri |
| South Carolina | $145 million |
Mortgage payments Mortgage reinstatement Delinquent property taxes, homeowners' association fees, and utilities Government or nonprofit down payment assistance loans |
See the state's official Homeowner Assistance Fund website | See the state's official Homeowner Assistance Fund website | https://www.schousing.com/Home/SC-Homeowner-Rescue |
| South Dakota | $50 million |
Overdue mortgage bills (principal and interest), property taxes, homeowners' insurance, late fees (up to $25,000) Utility costs and utility arrears, such as water, sewer, electricity, propane/natural gas, and trash costs ($300 per month, a maximum of $5,000 total) |
$25,000 |
Assistance for mortgage payments and other related costs is a 0% interest loan, with no payments due until you sell, refinance, transfer title, or move out Utility assistance is a grant, which you don't have to repay |
https://www.sdhda.org/social-programs/cares-act-housing-assistance-program/cares-act-housing-assistance-program-1 |
| Tennessee | $168 million |
Reinstatement Reinstatement plus future payments Reinstatement plus loss mitigation |
$40,000 | A grant that you don't have to repay | https://thda.org/help-for-homeowners/haf |
| Texas | $842 million |
Overdue mortgage payments, including money to put toward getting a loan modification if you can't afford your mortgage payments even after you get caught up Other past-due property expenses, like property taxes, homeowners' insurance, and homeowners' association or condo association fees |
$40,000 (mortgage payments) $25,000 (other property-related expenses) |
A grant that you don't have to repay | https://www.texashomeownerassistance.com |
| Utah | $53 million | Mortgage payments and pay other home-related costs, like property taxes, homeowners' insurance, utilities, etc. | $25,000 | A grant that you don't have to repay | https://jobs.utah.gov/covid19/homeowner.html |
| Vermont |
Mortgage payments, including reinstatement (enough to cover property tax and insurance escrow amounts, servicer advances, and fees) Homeowner's association fees or liens, condominium association fees, or other common charges Property taxes, and |
$30,000 | A grant that you don't have to repay | https://vermonthap.vhfa.org | |
| Virginia | $258 million |
Mortgage payments for first and subordinate mortgages, including down payment assistance loans provided by nonprofit or government entities Mortgage reinstatement or other housing-related costs related to a period of forbearance, delinquency, or default Homeowners' insurance, flood insurance, and mortgage insurance Homeowners' association fees or liens, condominium owners' association fees, special assessments, or common charges Personal property taxes and, in some cases, lot rental fees on unaffixed mobile homes. (You can't get money for lot rent under this program, but you might be eligible under the Virginia Rent Relief Program.) |
Assistance is limited to a maximum of the lesser of 20 months of eligible housing expenses or $30,000 per household. If you're getting other federal, state, or local housing assistance for the same expenses, you can't get assistance from this program. | A grant that you don't have to repay | https://www.virginiamortgagerelief.com |
| Washington | $173 million |
Mortgage payments, reduce mortgage principal, get a mortgage interest rate reduction Other housing-related costs, like homeowners' insurance, flood insurance, or mortgage insurance, delinquent property taxes, homeowners' association fees or liens, condominium association fees, or common charges, and similar costs payable under a unit occupancy agreement by a resident member/shareholder in a cooperative housing development, and down payment assistance loans that a nonprofit or government entity provided |
$60,000 | A grant that you don't have to repay | https://www.wshfc.org/buyers/HAF.htm |
| West Virginia | See the state's official Homeowner Assistance Fund website |
Delinquent mortgage payments, including escrow items (up to $15,000) Overdue utility bills (up to $2,500) Past-due property taxes, homeowners' insurance premiums, flood or wind insurance premiums, ground rents, condominium fees, cooperative maintenance fees, planned unit development fees, and homeowners' association fees not included in your monthly mortgage payment (up to $5,000) Overdue internet bills ($300) Some kinds of downpayment loans, like down payment assistance loans that a government entity or nonprofit provided. ($500) |
$15,000 | A grant that you don't have to repay | https://www.wvhdf.com/west-virginia-homeowners-rescue |
| Wisconsin | $92 million | Mortgage payments (including reinstatement costs), insurance, property taxes, utilities and home energy costs, homeowners' association and condominium fees, lot fees, and more | $40,000 |
Assistance below $10,000 is structured as a grant that you don't have to repay Amounts over $10,000 are structured as a one-year, non-interest bearing, non-amortizing forgivable loan |
https://doa.wi.gov/Pages/LocalGovtsGrants/Homeowner-Assistance.aspx |
| Wyoming | $50 million |
Mortgage reinstatement or other delinquent housing-related costs related to a period of forbearance, delinquency, or default Overdue property taxes, homeowners' insurance, and homeowners' association dues Past-due utility payments, including electricity, energy costs (fuel, oil, and propane), water, and sewer, but not internet |
$17,000 | A grant that you don't have to repay | https://dfs.wyo.gov/assistance-programs/home-utilities-energy-assistance/homeowner-assistance |
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