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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.
Homeowners who have experienced a financial hardship in Utah because of COVID-19 can apply for a portion of the approximately $53 million allocated to the state by submitting an application to the Utah Homeowner Assistance Fund Program. This program uses federal money to help eligible homeowners make mortgage payments and pay other home-related costs, like property taxes, homeowners' insurance, and utilities.
What Housing Costs Are Covered Under the Utah Homeowner Assistance Fund Program?
Homeowners can potentially use money from the Utah Homeowner Assistance Fund program to pay, for example:
utilities that the servicer advanced to protect their lien position
reasonably required legal fees, and
other fees or payments required to bring the homeowner's primary residence current.
Also, you might also be able to get funds to pay future payments.
Eligibility Requirements for the Utah Homeowner Assistance Fund 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 20, 2020, because of COVID-19. You also have to meet these guidelines:
You must have owned the home on or before January 1, 2020.
The property must be owner-occupied and located in Utah.
The property must be your primary residence.
Eligible properties include single-family, one- to four-unit dwellings, condominiums, manufactured/modular homes permanently affixed to real property and taxed as real estate, and manufactured/modular homes not permanently affixed to real property but with a Title Certificate or Statement of Ownership in the homeowner's name. (Second homes, investment properties, and vacant properties don't qualify.)
You must meet income eligibility requirements.
You must be at least 60 days delinquent.
How the Utah Homeowner Assistance Fund Program Works
Assistance is structured as 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.
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 Utah Homeowner Assistance Fund Program
If you need help with the application process or have questions about the Utah Homeowner Assistance Fund program, a HUD-approved housing counselor can assist you (for free). To find a counselor near you, go to HUD's website or call 800-569-4287.