The West Virginia Homeowner Rescue Program (WVHR)
West Virginia homeowners who are experiencing financial difficulties as a result of the COVID-19 epidemic will be able to get assistance from the West Virginia Homeowner Rescue Program (WVHR). WVHR is managed by the West Virginia Housing Development Fund (WVHDF). This program uses funds from the United States Treasury to help homeowners affected by the pandemics that began after January 21, 2020 (including a hardship that began before January 21, 2020, and continued after that date). These funds can be used to cover qualified mortgage or housing-related expenses to avoid delinquency, default, foreclosure, loss of utilities or home energy services, and displacement. Payments may be made directly to the lender, loan servicer, utility company, internet provider, insurance company, county tax department, or authorized third party.
Find out if you qualify for these programs here
Who Is Eligible for the West Virginia Homeowner Rescue Program?
To be eligible for the WV Homeowners Rescue Program certain requirements must be met such as:
- The applicant must own and occupy the property as their principal residence at the time of application. Members of the household who do not own home should not apply. WVHR funds may be used to eliminate or reduce past-due mortgage payments including property taxes, hazard insurance premiums, flood or wind insurance premiums, ground rents, condominium fees, cooperative maintenance fees, planned unit development fees, and homeowners’ association fees included in your mortgage payment.
- The property must be located in West Virginia.
- Household income cannot exceed 150% of the Area Median Income (AMI) or 100% of the median income for the United States, whichever is greater. Check the limit here. (Income from all household members 18 years and older is included)
- If a homeowner has endured financial difficulty as a result of the COVID-19 outbreak after January 21, 2020, they may be entitled to assistance (including a hardship that began before January 21, 2020, but continued after that date).
- After January 21, 2020, homeowners must describe the financial hardship, such as a job loss, a fall in household income, major healthcare costs, or other financial hardship caused, directly or indirectly, by the Covid-19 outbreak.
Eligible properties include single-family dwellings (attached or detached) located in WV and used as primary residences. This includes 1-4 family units with the applicant required to occupy one of the units, condominiums, townhouses, modular and manufactured homes, both double and single-wide homes affixed or unaffixed to real property.
Funds from the West Virginia Homeowner Rescue Program can be used for mortgage reinstatement and mortgage payment assistance, down payment (DPA) mortgage assistance, property charge assistance, and utility/internet assistance.
The applications will be reviewed according to WVHR Policies and Procedures designed to determine program eligibility. All interested homeowners must complete and sign the Application, Disclosures, Attestation, 3rd Party Authorization, and any other forms as specified by the WVHR Program.
