Oregon Homeowner Assistance Fund Helps Nearly 1,300 Households Stay in Their Homes

A Pandemic-Era Lifeline Reaches a Milestone

Oregon Housing and Community Services (OHCS) announced that the Oregon Homeowner Assistance Fund (HAF) has helped 1,295 households stay in their homes since the program launched. The announcement, made in late October 2023, marked a key milestone for the federally funded pandemic relief program that targets homeowners facing foreclosure or housing instability due to COVID-19-related financial hardship.

How Much Help Has Been Delivered

Of Oregon's $72 million HAF allocation from the U.S. Department of the Treasury, OHCS reported that $44 million had been approved in assistance, with $35 million already scheduled for payment to mortgage servicers, tax collectors, and other housing-cost recipients. The average award across the 1,295 households was approximately $27,000. At that pace, OHCS estimated roughly $3 million in remaining capacity, enough to assist about 111 more applicants at the current average award level.

Who Qualifies and What HAF Covers

HAF is designed for low- and moderate-income homeowners who experienced a qualifying financial hardship after January 21, 2020. Eligible homeowners can receive up to $50,000 toward past-due mortgage payments, property taxes, homeowners insurance, homeowners association dues, and related housing expenses. Low-income homeowners may receive an additional $10,000 to cover up to six months of ongoing monthly mortgage and housing costs, providing a bridge to longer-term stability.

Focus on Historically Underserved Communities

OHCS built HAF's eligibility criteria and outreach strategy to prioritize communities that historically have been underserved by mortgage relief programs, including Black, Indigenous, Latino/a/x, Asian, and Pacific Islander households, as well as members of federally recognized Tribes. Of the 1,295 households assisted at the milestone, roughly 500 live in rural Oregon, reflecting statewide reach beyond the Portland metro area.

What Officials Said

"For many Oregonians, homeownership is an important part of building generational wealth," OHCS Director Andrea Bell said in announcing the milestone. OHCS also encouraged homeowners at risk of foreclosure to connect with HUD-certified housing counselors to review all loss-mitigation options available through their loan servicer, in addition to applying for HAF.

How to Apply

Homeowners could apply through the Oregon HAF portal at haf.oregon.gov. OHCS urged applicants to gather mortgage statements, proof of income, and documentation of a pandemic-related hardship before starting the application, and to contact a certified housing counselor for help navigating the process. Funding was limited, and OHCS noted that HAF would close to new applications once the remaining dollars were committed.