A Lifeline Built from Federal Stimulus Dollars

When homeowners across Maryland hear the phrase “stimulus aid,” they usually think of the direct-deposit checks that landed in bank accounts during the pandemic. But a much larger and longer-lasting piece of that federal relief is still flowing into the state — and it is aimed squarely at keeping people in their homes. Maryland’s share of the American Rescue Plan’s Homeowner Assistance Fund (HAF) is roughly $248 million, administered by the Maryland Department of Housing and Community Development (DHCD) through the Community Development Administration. That pot of money pays for mortgage reinstatement loans, delinquency grants, critical home repairs, housing counseling, and legal services for Marylanders who fell behind because of COVID-era financial hardship.

The program is not a generic stimulus check. It is a targeted recovery fund, and it is still open. Under current U.S. Treasury guidance, Maryland’s HAF runs until September 30, 2026, or until the money is fully reserved — whichever comes first. For homeowners who never tapped into it, 2026 is effectively the final window.

What Maryland’s HAF Actually Pays For

Maryland built its HAF allocation around six funding categories. Understanding how the $248 million is carved up helps explain why some homeowners get a grant while others get a loan:

~$171 million for loans that help homeowners reinstate or reduce delinquent mortgages
~$34 million for grants covering property tax and other housing delinquencies
~$10 million for the WholeHome critical home repairs program
~$8 million for housing counseling agencies
~$3 million for legal services providers
~$22 million for case management, administration, and outreach

The Grant Track: Up to $10,000

The grant side of Maryland HAF is designed to stop displacement before it starts. Homeowners at or below 100% of Area Median Income (AMI) can receive up to $10,000 to cure a mortgage delinquency, pay past-due property taxes, or clear other housing-related debts that could trigger a foreclosure or tax sale. Because AMI is calculated county by county, the income ceiling varies — roughly $79,900 to $95,100 in Maryland’s lower-cost counties for a single-person household, and $90,300 to $170,300 in higher-cost jurisdictions like Montgomery and Howard counties. Grants do not have to be repaid.

The Loan Track: Up to $30,000 at 0% Interest

Homeowners whose income lands between 100% and 150% of AMI are directed to the HAF loan track. This product is unusual: it offers up to $30,000 at zero interest, with payments deferred until the home is sold or the primary mortgage is satisfied. Depending on circumstances, a portion may even be forgiven. Funds can be used to bring a mortgage fully current or to buy down the monthly payment so housing costs do not exceed 40% of gross household income. For a homeowner who has been trapped in forbearance limbo, that can be the difference between keeping the house and losing it.

The Newest Piece: WholeHome Critical Repairs

On January 22, 2026, DHCD opened a new round of the HAF-funded WholeHome Critical Home Repairs Grant Program, with more than $3.5 million in fresh grants available. Individual awards are capped at $10,000 and are designed to cover exactly the kinds of repairs that push financially stretched owners toward abandoning their homes:

Roof repair or replacement
Heating or cooling system repairs
Electrical or plumbing fixes
Mold or mildew remediation

Eligibility reaches households at or below 150% of county AMI, and applications are processed on a first-come, first-served basis until the money runs out. DHCD Secretary Jake Day framed the launch as protecting “stability and dignity by helping homeowners address urgent health and safety issues before they become crises.” For many Maryland families, a failing furnace or a leaking roof is the event that turns a stable mortgage into a foreclosure filing, so the WholeHome track fits inside the broader anti-displacement strategy.

How to Apply

All three tracks — grants, loans, and WholeHome repairs — share a single front door. Homeowners can start an application or check status at the state’s portal, which now redirects through DHCD’s main homeowner page. Before applying, pull together:

Proof of Maryland residency and that the property is a primary residence
Mortgage statements showing delinquency or hardship
Income documentation for every household adult (for the AMI check)
Any tax-sale, HOA, or utility notices if those debts are part of the hardship
A brief explanation of the COVID-era or post-COVID financial hardship

Homeowners who are unsure where to start — or who are already in active foreclosure — should call Maryland’s HOPE Hotline at 877-462-7555. That number routes callers to HUD-approved housing counselors and legal aid providers whose services are paid for out of the HAF allocation, meaning there is no out-of-pocket cost to the homeowner.

Why 2026 Matters

Because HAF was funded by a one-time federal appropriation and is required to wind down by September 30, 2026, the calendar itself has become the biggest eligibility factor. States that have already exhausted their HAF dollars have closed intake entirely, and Maryland’s grant pool — the $10,000 delinquency grants in particular — is the fastest-moving bucket. Homeowners who think they might qualify should apply now rather than wait, even if they are not yet in default. Approval of a reinstatement loan can take weeks, and servicers will not pause collection or foreclosure timelines simply because an application is pending unless it is formally submitted and acknowledged.

The Bottom Line

Maryland’s homeowner stimulus aid is not a mystery program and it is not a scam call — it is a real, federally funded, state-run relief fund with specific grant and loan amounts, clear income tiers, and a hard deadline. If your household is at or below 150% of AMI, if your hardship traces back to the pandemic-era economy, and if the alternative is falling further behind on a mortgage, property tax, or critical repair, the Maryland HAF is built exactly for you. The program has already helped tens of thousands of Marylanders stay in their homes. With the September 30, 2026 sunset now less than six months away, the remaining window is narrow — but it is still open.

Maryland Stimulus Aid for Homeowners: Mortgage Grants and HAF Relief Explained