Georgia Homeowners: $354M Mortgage and Utility Aid Program Details

$354 Million for Georgia Homeowners

Georgia received $354 million from the U.S. Department of the Treasury's Homeowner Assistance Fund (HAF), a federal program established by the American Rescue Plan Act of 2021. The money funded Georgia Mortgage Assistance, run by the Georgia Department of Community Affairs (DCA), which helped eligible homeowners catch up on housing-related bills that fell behind because of the COVID-19 pandemic.

Types of Assistance

Eligible homeowners could receive up to $50,000 in combined aid, paid directly to the mortgage servicer, tax office, insurance carrier, utility company, or homeowners association. Assistance categories included:

• Up to three months of mortgage payments to help resolve forbearance or delinquency
• Up to three months of mortgage payments following a permanent loss of income, paired with loan modification or other loss mitigation options with the servicer
• Past-due property taxes
• Homeowners insurance, flood insurance, and mortgage insurance premiums
• Condominium or homeowner association fees
• Delinquent utility payments, including electric, gas, water, sewer, and internet services

Assistance was structured as a grant rather than a loan, meaning homeowners did not have to repay the funds as long as they met program rules.

Eligibility Requirements

To qualify, homeowners needed to meet several core conditions, including:

• Georgia residency with the home serving as a primary residence
• A financial hardship that occurred after, or continued after, January 21, 2020, as a result of the pandemic
• Household income at or below 150 percent of the area median income (AMI) or 100 percent of the U.S. median income, whichever was greater
• Ownership of the property (single-family homes, condos, townhomes, and manufactured homes on owned land)

How Applications Worked

Homeowners applied through the Georgia HAF portal at GeorgiaMortgageAssistance.ga.gov. Applicants uploaded documentation including identification, proof of income, a hardship attestation, mortgage statements, utility bills, and other supporting records. DCA's program administrators reviewed applications, worked with loan servicers and other payees, and disbursed funds directly on the homeowner's behalf.

Timeline and Impact

Georgia's HAF program launched in 2022 following approval from the U.S. Treasury. Over the course of the program, DCA and its partners processed tens of thousands of applications. Due to high volume and limited funding, the program stopped accepting new applications; according to DCA's most recent updates, Georgia Mortgage Assistance closed to new applicants as funds were committed.

Coordination with Congress and Partners

The program launch drew attention from Congress. Representative David Scott and DCA Commissioner Christopher Nunn publicly highlighted the program alongside local leaders, with community partners including housing counseling agencies, legal aid organizations, and faith-based groups helping homeowners complete applications and gather documentation.

For Homeowners Who Missed the Program

Homeowners currently facing hardship should still contact their loan servicer to discuss options, including forbearance, loan modification, and repayment plans. HUD-approved housing counseling agencies offer free or low-cost guidance on foreclosure prevention. Nonprofit organizations such as NeighborWorks affiliates, Habitat for Humanity, and United Way 2-1-1 can connect Georgia homeowners with state and local assistance that remains available.

Why the Program Mattered

HAF programs across the country have helped hundreds of thousands of homeowners avoid foreclosure during one of the most challenging financial periods in recent history. Georgia's $354 million allocation represented a significant investment in housing stability for families whose income was disrupted by the pandemic, with clear positive effects on neighborhoods and communities.