GREENSBURG, Pa. – Starting tomorrow, applications for the Pennsylvania Homeowner Assistance Fund, or PHFA, will be available, according to Sen. Kim Ward (R-39).
“As Pennsylvania continues to manage out of the COVID-19 pandemic, we continue to make key investments in areas where people have been hardest hit including housing,” said Senate Majority Leader Kim Ward. “Earlier this year, we were able to provide renters with rental assistance. Tomorrow, we will begin taking applications to provide similar relief to Pennsylvania homeowners.”
The Commonwealth of Pennsylvania was awarded more than $350 million in American Rescue Plan Act funds through the U.S. Department of the Treasury’s Homeowner Assistance Fund (HAF). The fund supports Pennsylvania homeowners whose household income is at or below 150% of the area median income (AMI) that now must grapple with additional unforeseen financial hardships because of the COVID-19 pandemic. PAHAF will use these funds to provide eligible Pennsylvania homeowners with assistance to prevent and/or ease mortgage delinquencies, defaults, foreclosures, displacement, and utility disconnection.
“PHFA stands ready to assist qualified Pennsylvanians in overcoming housing challenges that were created due to the pandemic,” added Ward. “Applications will be available on February 1st.”
To qualify for this assistance, eligible Pennsylvania homeowners must have experienced a reduction of income or increase in living expenses due to the COVID-19 pandemic after January 21, 2020. They also must currently own and occupy their home in Pennsylvania as their primary residence. To see the full list of eligibility requirements, visit https://pahaf.org/am-i-eligible/.
Available PAHAF assistance programs include mortgage reinstatement assistance, forward mortgage payment assistance, assistance related to housing property charges and utility payment assistance to avoid displacement. Funds will be distributed directly to mortgage lenders, servicers, utility providers and other authorized third parties, not to homeowners. Homeowners and other interested parties are encouraged to visit www.pahaf.org to explore PAHAF resources and information.
Applications will be available online. Homeowners can learn about PAHAF and see a list of organizations that can assist them by visiting www.pahaf.org or by calling the PAHAF call center at 888-987-2423.
Contact: Erica Clayton Wright, (717) 787-6063