Frequently Asked Questions for Mortgage Assistance Through the Homeowner Assistance Fund | Sponsored

no citizenship required

Do I have to be a US citizen?

What if my family members are undocumented immigrants?

No, you do not need to be a US citizen to be eligible. We do not track citizenship or immigration status for you or any member of your household.

privacy and confidentiality

How will you ensure that my personal information remains secure and confidential? Will my name appear in any kind of government list? Will I be signed up for other government programs? Will you share or sell my information to anyone else?

The Hotline and Consultants will not sell or share your Personally Identifiable Information with any other government, public or private entity. Applications for federal HAF funding are private and secure, but some limited information may be subject to public records requests. Throughout the process, you should never be asked to provide citizenship or immigration status for you or any member of your family.

hotline

How do I get help?

Help is available now through the Washington Homeowner Hotline at 1-877-894-4663.

When is the hotline open?

Monday through Friday, 8:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m. PST. If you call after hours, leave a message and a hotline representative will return your call. or request a call back WashingtonHAF.org,

Is support available in languages ​​other than English?

Yes! Hotline support is available in over 220 languages.

Who are Housing Counselors and Why Should I Trust Them?

For many years, housing counselors have been an important part of Washington State’s network of nonprofit organizations dedicated to supporting homeowners with free, unbiased assistance. Their job is to advocate for you, help you find solutions to keep you in your home, and ensure the best possible outcome for your situation.

General

What is the HAF Program? what’s that for?

The Washington State Homeowners Assistance Fund provides individual assistance and federal relief funds – up to $60,000 per family – to eligible Washington homeowners on their mortgages due to the hardship of the pandemic.

I have seen some confusing information about the HAF program online and in social media. How can I tell what is true and accurate?

Unfortunately, there is a lot of misinformation on the Internet about this program, especially from scammers hoping to gain access to HAF funding. In addition, HAF programs in other states have different guidelines and funding limits than Washington HAFs. Call the Homeowner Hotline at 1-877-894-4663 for Washington State homeowners-specific assistance and accurate information.

How much money can I get?

Homeowners may be eligible for grants of up to $60,000, depending on their situation. A housing counselor will help you assess your needs and apply.

Where does the money come from?

HAF funds come from the US Treasury Department as part of the American Rescue Plan Act (ARPA) passed by Congress in 2021.

What kind of assistance does the program provide?

HAF connects you with a housing counselor who provides free and confidential assistance and can assist you with a variety of options for preventing foreclosure, including access to federal funds if needed. Call the hotline at 1-877-894-4663 and get a housing counselor in your area evaluated at no cost.

Who is the Washington State Housing Finance Commission (WSHFC)?

We are a self-supporting state agency dedicated to increasing housing access and affordability for the people of Washington since 1983. The commission administers the federal HAF program for our state and oversees a statewide network of non-profit housing counseling agencies.

Grants and Eligibility

Who can apply for funding? How do I know if I am eligible?

Any Washington homeowner can get help through the hotline. Eligibility for HAF funding is based on a variety of factors, including the hardship of the pandemic. When you call the hotline at 1-877-894-4663, a housing counselor will help you determine which assistance will be most helpful to you.

What is “pandemic difficulty”?

The HAF program will take into account a range of experiences that will be assessed on a case-by-case basis. Call the hotline at 1-877-894-4663 so we can assist you with this process and get you the best possible results.

Do I need to live in a property I own to receive assistance? What if I have a rental property or second home?

Yes, you must live in the property, and it must not have more than four (4) units. But you should still call the hotline at 1-877-894-4663 to see if other support is available to you.

If I have a COVID-19 loan modification, am I eligible?

A loan modification does not disqualify you from being eligible for assistance. Call the hotline at 1-877-894-4663 and a counselor will help you determine your eligibility. https://bit.ly/YakimaHerald-HAF

Can the program cover future mortgage payments?

No. The Washington HAF program can give you information about bills related to your home and try to negotiate more affordable mortgage payments going forward, but it does not provide funds for future mortgage payments.

I recently lost my home to foreclosure and I was not aware of this program. It is too late? Can I still apply for these funds retrospectively?

Unfortunately, homeowners who are already after foreclosure are not eligible for the HAF program. We still encourage you to call the hotline at 1-877-894-4663 so you can start making your way to a future homeownership.

Application Process

How do I apply? Will someone help me with the application?

Call the Washington Homeowner Hotline now at 1-877-894-4663. A housing counselor will support you every step of the way, including on the HAF application.

Does it cost anything to implement?

No, the program and application are completely free.

What type of material is required for the application process?

You will need a variety of documents related to your home loan and finances. A housing counselor will help you determine what you need based on your circumstances.

Can I apply to HAF myself? Yes, if you need less than $15,000, you can apply here wahafportal.org,

However, we strongly encourage you to contact the hotline at 1-877-894-4663 to obtain housing counselor assistance. A housing counselor can assist you with your application and ensure that you are properly assessed for all possible assistance programs, including reaching maximum HAF program benefits.

funding distribution

Are funds available now?

Funds available now. Whatever your situation, you should call the hotline at 1-877-894-4663 now to begin the process. https://bit.ly/YakimaHerald-HAF

What can I use the money for?

HAF funds can cover things like mortgage reinstatement, reducing the amount owed on your mortgage, lowering your interest rate, home-related insurance, homeowner’s association fees or liens, delinquent property taxes, and more.

How do I get money if I am eligible?

You will not get any direct payment. If you qualify for financial aid, the program will issue payments to entities to which you owe money, such as banks, insurance companies, tax collectors, homeowner associations, etc.

Is this a loan? Do I have to pay the money back?

No, HAF assistance is not a loan. Money will be released to your creditors to resolve your financial hardship.

How long will it take for the money to be disbursed after I apply?

It depends on various factors. The sooner you call the hotline at 1-877-894-4663, the sooner we can help. https://bit.ly/YakimaHerald-HAF

I am already in foreclosure. Will the money arrive in time to prevent the bank from taking my home?

It might not be too late. The sooner you call the hotline at 1-877-894-4663, the more likely we can help you save your home. https://bit.ly/YakimaHerald-HAF

spread the word

I want to share information about this program. Do you have material I can use?

Please don’t hesitate to refer people to the hotline at 1-877-894-4663. There are printable flyers and shareable social media graphics available online for you to download at: WashingtonHAF.org

Our non-profit housing consulting partners:

• Parkview Services
• Washington’s OIC
• American Financial Solutions (AFS)
• Urban League of Metropolitan Seattle
• Snap (Spokane Neighborhood Action Partners)
• race center
• Northwest Justice Project