$128M in Mortgage Relief Available to Minnesota Homeowners

Eligible homeowners in Minnesota can get up to $35,000 to pay past-due mortgage payments and cover other overdue housing-related expenses.

By , Attorney


Update: Minnesota's HomeHelpMN program scheduled to expire on August 17, 2022. But the program is being extended and increased because recent trends show foreclosure and eviction rates are rising for people affected by COVID-19. In addition to removing the application deadline, the program is increasing the assistance cap from $35,000 to $50,000 and will now accept past-due expenses incurred before January 21, 2020 as eligible for financial assistance.

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 around $10 billion to the states to help households that are behind on their mortgages and other housing expenses due to COVID-19.

Eligible homeowners in Minnesota who've experienced a financial hardship because of the pandemic can get a portion of the approximately $128 million allocated to the state—up to $35,000 per household—by applying to the HomeHelpMN program. This program uses federal money to help homeowners pay overdue mortgage payments and other home costs.

What Costs Are Covered By the HomeHelpMN Program?

You can use money from the HomeHelpMN program to pay past-due:

Overdue housing-related expenses, like property taxes, homeowners' insurance, lot rent, and homeowners' association fees, are eligible for financial assistance even if you don't have a mortgage so long as you own the home.

Eligibility Requirements for the HomeHelpMN Program

To qualify for relief from this program, you must have suffered a financial hardship (a material reduction in income or an increase in living expenses) after January 21, 2020, because of the coronavirus pandemic.

You also have to meet these guidelines.

  • The property must be owner-occupied and located in Minnesota.
  • Your household income must be below certain income limits.
  • The property must be your primary residence. Second homes, investment properties, and vacant properties don't qualify.
  • The property must be a one- to four-unit dwelling (and you must live in one unit as a primary residence). Eligible property types include single-family homes, townhomes, condominiums, duplexes, cooperatives, and mobile or manufactured homes.
  • You must have overdue mortgage payments or other housing-related expenses that became past due on or after January 21, 2020.
  • The property must belong to the homeowner who occupies the property and is applying for assistance. This means that the home's title must be in the homeowner's name. So, ineligible forms of ownership interest include, but are not limited to, business entities (LLC, LP, LLP, etc.) and rent-to-own relationships.

How the HomeHelpMN Program Works

Assistance is in the form of a grant that you don't have to repay. Payments from the program go directly to the loan servicer or other approved entity, not to homeowners.

How to Apply to the HomeHelpMN Fund Program

The application period for the HomeHelpMN program runs from May 17, 2022 through June 17, 2022 at 5:00 p.m. CST. Apply at HomeHelpMN.org or by contacting the call center at 800-388-3226.

You'll have to provide specific documents with your application, like mortgage statements, proof of homeownership, proof of income (such as pay stubs or tax returns), and a government-issued ID (like a driver's license).

Funds are limited, and demand is expected to be high. So, if you think you might qualify, you should start collecting your documents and apply as soon as possible after the application window opens.

Avoid Homeowner Assistance Fund Scams

Be wary if you get an unsolicited offer by phone, mail, email, or text message offering mortgage relief or foreclosure rescue services. Scammers are increasingly targeting homeowners who've been affected by COVID-19. Homeowner Assistance Fund programs are free. If anyone asks you to pay a fee to get housing counseling or to receive foreclosure prevention services from this program, it's a scam.

Learn More About the HomeHelpMN Program

Call 800-388-3226 or access the HomeHelpMN live chat to find out more about the program. You can also sign up for updates. And be sure to review the HomeHelpMN FAQs and Resources page.

You may also get help by going to HUD's website or calling 800-569-4287 to contact a housing counselor. A HUD-approved housing counselor will assist you at no cost.

Effective date: May 17, 2022