Do You Qualify for $30K in Mortgage Help?
Help is available to Pennsylvania homeowners who have fallen behind on mortgage payments as a result of the Covid-19 crisis after January 21, 2020, (including a hardship that began before January 21, 2020, and continued after that date). The Pennsylvania Homeowner Assistance Fund (PAHAF), administered by the Pennsylvania Housing Finance Agency (PHFA), uses funds from the American Rescue plan of 2021 to help its eligible residents. Pennsylvania received $350 million in total for this fund, and $8,655,636.00 has been disbursed, so far, helping 863 applicants.
A program dashboard is available to the public, with totals and information about the program at the state and county levels. It shows the number of PAHAF applications that have been submitted and accepted, as well as the sum of funds that have been disbursed and the amount that applicants are seeking.
Under the PAHAF, a homeowner can receive up to $30,000.00 in aid of up to 24 months of support. These funds can cover mortgage reinstatement, forward mortgage payment, property charges, and delinquent utilities. The funds will be sent to the mortgage servicers, utility companies, or another third-party authorized to collect qualified charges.
To be eligible, there are certain requirements that must be met by both the homeowner and the property. The applicants must own the home as their primary residence and it must be located within the State of Pennsylvania. Residential structures with one to four units, such as single-family homes, condominium units, housing cooperatives, and manufactured/mobile homes, are all eligible. Applicants must be at least 30 days behind on mortgage payments or other housing expenses, as a result of the pandemic that began after Jan. 21, 2020. There are requirements regarding the household income, as well. It must be equal to or less than 150 % of the Area Median Income, with priority given to households with an income at or below 100% of the AMI.
“The Homeowner Assistance Fund will prioritize individuals and families with the greatest need, as well as those who are socially disadvantaged. I am grateful that the U.S. Treasury has approved Pennsylvania’s plan, and we can start the new year by distributing this critical funding to homeowners,” said Governor Wolf.
To begin the application process, visit the Pennsylvania Homeowner Assistance Fund program’s official site. The following documents are necessary to apply: a copy of a government-issued photo ID, a copy of your Social Security or tax identification card, proof of current income, home ownership, and more. You can contact the program’s customer service line at 888-987-2423 if you need help completing the application after you’ve created your account. Monday through Friday, 8 a.m. to 8 p.m., and Saturday, 8 a.m. to 5 p.m., the line is open.
