Oregon Homeowner Aid: Last Chance Before HAF Portal Closes Dec. 20

One Week Left: Portal Shuts at Noon Dec. 20

Oregon Housing and Community Services (OHCS) is urging homeowners behind on their mortgage, property taxes, utilities, or HOA dues to submit a Homeowner Assistance Fund (HAF) application before the state's online portal stops accepting new submissions at noon Pacific time on Wednesday, December 20, 2023. The agency announced the closure on December 5, 2023, citing the need to avoid overcommitting the small balance of federal funds still available.

"We're encouraging homeowners who are at imminent risk of housing displacement ... to apply for HAF assistance before noon Dec. 20," said Ryan Vanden Brink, Assistant Director of Homeowner Assistance Programs at OHCS. Vanden Brink cautioned that "although we are accepting new applications, there may not be enough funds for everyone."

Where the $72 Million Has Gone

Oregon's HAF program was launched with $72 million from the American Rescue Plan Act to help homeowners who suffered pandemic-related financial hardship avoid foreclosure and loss of housing. As of December 4, 2023, OHCS reported:

• 1,745 applications approved, totaling approximately $46.9 million in awards
• More than $35 million already disbursed to approved homeowners
• An average award of about $27,000 per approved household
• 859 additional applications under review, which could total $23.2 million if approved
• Roughly $1.9 million in remaining uncommitted funds

With pending applications potentially exceeding the remaining balance, OHCS said continuing to accept new submissions indefinitely would risk promising help the program cannot deliver.

Who Should Apply Right Now

OHCS is specifically urging homeowners in the following situations to file before the deadline:

• Homeowners facing foreclosure or scheduled foreclosure sales
• Socially disadvantaged individuals as defined by the U.S. Treasury
• Households at imminent risk of housing displacement
• Homeowners who have been unable to reach a workable solution with their mortgage servicer

Eligible uses of HAF funds in Oregon include past-due mortgage payments, reinstatement, loan modification assistance, delinquent property taxes, homeowners association or condo fees, and certain utility arrears.

After the Portal Closes: Foreclosure Exception

The December 20 cutoff is not the absolute end of the program. Homeowners already in active judicial foreclosure, or in nonjudicial foreclosure with a scheduled sale date, can still apply after the portal closes by working through a HUD-certified housing counselor or HAF intake partner. Those partners will be permitted to submit applications on the homeowner's behalf if funds remain after previously submitted applications are processed.

Homeowners outside the foreclosure track who miss the December 20 deadline will not be able to apply to HAF, although OHCS says other resources remain available.

Oregon's Foreclosure Picture

Programs like HAF have helped keep Oregon's foreclosure numbers well below historical norms. OHCS reported Oregon's foreclosure rate at 0.16 percent as of August 2023, with 1,016 residential foreclosures statewide. That is sharply lower than the 20-year state average of 1.03 percent.

Other Options for Homeowners

Even if HAF funds run out, Oregon homeowners in distress have other avenues:

• Free counseling with a HUD-certified housing counselor
• Direct loss-mitigation conversations with their mortgage servicer about forbearance, modification, or repayment plans
• Reporting suspected fraud or scams to the Consumer Financial Protection Bureau, the Oregon Department of Justice, or the U.S. Treasury Office of Inspector General

Applications submitted before the noon December 20, 2023 deadline will continue to be reviewed in the order received until the remaining funds are fully committed. Homeowners can start an application and find program details on the OHCS Homeowner Assistance Fund page.