IHCDA COVID-19 update: A message from Jake

Last week, in celebration of Black History Month, we recognized the work being done by the Indiana Commission on the Social Status of Black Males (ICSSBM). This week I want to highlight another statewide organization: the Indiana Consortium of State and Local Human Rights Agencies.

Established in 1972, the Indiana Consortium of State and Local Human Rights Agencies, is an organization of civil and human rights enforcement agencies from across the state. The group meets quarterly for training and to discuss statewide human rights policy. The association also holds an annual training conference.

This year the conference is being held from June 8-10 in Michigan City with both an option to attend in person and virtually. The title of the conference is: Covid, Civil Unrest & Our Human Relations Response.

I would like to take a moment and thank this organization and its members for their leadership and focus on protecting human and civil rights throughout the state. Many of these organizations have served as key partners in helping us and other state and local agencies distribute vital information and assistance resources to their communities during this unprecedented time.

In other news this week, the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD) announced the extension of the timeframe for homeowners to request the start of a COVID-19 Forbearance from their mortgage servicer through June 30, 2021. This extension provides homeowners with additional time to request a forbearance from their mortgage servicer.

The extension of the foreclosure and eviction moratoriums applies to all homeowners with an FHA-insured forward or Home Equity Conversion Mortgage (HECM) loan, and homeowners with a Section 184 or Section 184A mortgage loan, except for properties that are legally vacant or abandoned, through June 30, 2021.

HUD prohibits servicers from initiating or proceeding with foreclosure and foreclosure-related eviction actions during the moratoriums.

Indiana homeowners in forbearance with their mortgage lender may still be eligible for mortgage assistance through Indiana’s Hardest Hit Fund. For more information, please visit: 877gethope.org.

Whether an individual owns or rents their home, I encourage anyone in need of housing and utility assistance resources to subscribe and receive updates here. We will inform individuals subscribed to this list as new resources become available. A current listing of COVID-19 Housing and Utility Resources can be found in the state’s Coronavirus Eviction and Foreclosure Prevention guide.

The team at IHCDA remains available to offer support and assistance to you and your organization. Please feel free to continue reaching out to us at any time. We are #INthistogether.