What you need to know about the PA Homeowner Assistance Fund

Beginning on February 1st 2022, PA Homeowner Assistance Fund applications will open to eligible PA homeowners. The PA Homeowner Assistance Fund (PAHAF) includes $350 Million in Covid-19 relief funds that are intended to address and assist the rising number of homeowners facing possible loss of their homes and foreclosure.

Call us to set up an appointment to help you file your application at (267) 765-2704.

What’s Covered?

The PAHAF program will provide assistance for the following mortgage and housing-related expenses to help prevent mortgage delinquencies, default, foreclosure, and displacement. The maximum amount of assistance for any homeowner under the PAHAF is $30,000 or up to 24 months of assistance.

  • Mortgage Reinstatement
    • Provides funds to bring a first mortgage current and to pay other housing-related costs, such as taxes and insurance, if included in the mortgage payment, related to a period of forbearance, delinquency, or up to the maximum per household assistance cap of the lesser of $30,000 or 24 months
  • Forward Mortgage Payment
    • Provides forward payment assistance for up to 6 months or until the maximum per household assistance cap of the lesser of $30,000 or 24 months is reached. This program element is only available to homeowners who also qualify for mortgage reinstatement assistance and is not available as a standalone option.
  • Property Charges
    • Provides funds for past due property taxes, reverse mortgage insurance premiums, homeowner association (HOA) fees, condominium fees, or common charges that put ownership of the property at-risk including mortgage foreclosures and displacement of homeowners. Maximum assistance falls under the maximum cap of $30,000 or 24 months and
      • $5,000 for delinquent property taxes
      • $3,000 for insurance premiums
      • $5,000 for delinquent homeowner/condominium fees
  • Delinquent Utilities
    • Provides funds to resolve delinquent payments for utility services, particularly for those utility bills where no program currently exists in the Commonwealth, and that there is imminent loss of utility disconnection, liens, possible foreclosure, or homeowner displacement. Utility assistance may be available in combination with mortgage reinstatement and mortgage payment assistance or as a standalone option for homeowners without a mortgage. As a standalone option, the maximum utility assistance is capped at 24 months or $3,000.

Am I Eligible?

Starting on February 1, 2022, the program will begin taking applications from eligible PA homeowners who meet the following criteria:

  • Homeowner owns and occupies the property as their primary residence
  • Property is in Pennsylvania
  • Homeowner has experienced a financial hardship after January 21, 2020 (including a hardship that began before that date and continued after that date)
  • Household Income is equal to or less than 150% area median income (AMI) Click HERE to determine your income eligibility for PAHAF
  • Homeowner’s first mortgage must have been, at the time of origination, not greater than the Fannie Mae/Freddie Mac conforming loan limit in effect at the time of loan origination
  • Homeowner has not already received or applied for assistance for mortgage payment, mortgage reinstatement, property charges, and/or utility payment from another federal, state, local, nonprofit, or tribal source

To apply for the PA Homeowner Assistance Fund, call us at (215) 563-5665.

Learn more about PAHAF here.