Homeowner Assistance Fund
Public Comment Period: May 24 to June 7
Public comment hearing to be held June 7
The Department of Commerce (Commerce) invites the public to comment on the draft pilot for the Homeowner Assistance Fund (HAF). The public comment period is May 24 to June 7. A public comment hearing will be held on June 7 for those who prefer to provide verbal comments.
Background
The American Rescue Plan Act (ARPA), passed by Congress in March 2021, provided Washington state $173 million to prevent mortgage delinquencies and defaults, foreclosures, loss of utilities or home energy services, and displacement of homeowners experiencing hardships after Jan. 21, 2020. During the 2021 legislative session, the Washington state legislature authorized the Department of Commerce to use these funds. ARPA requires states to expend all HAF funds by Sept. 30, 2025.
The first step in securing this funding for Washington state was to enter into a contract with the U.S. Treasury. Commerce completed this step in early May 2021 and received 10% of the total allocation.
The next required step in the process is to submit a plan to the U.S. Treasury that explains the state’s approach to delivering the funds to those Washingtonians in need of homeownership assistance. Commerce is partnering with the Housing Finance Commission (the Commission) to create this plan and allocate the program funds.
The U.S. Treasury’s HAF Guidance encourages states to create pilot programs to deliver funds quickly to the targeted populations. Before submitting a formal plan to the U.S. Treasury, Commerce and the Commission intend to roll out a pilot program using a small portion (10%) of the HAF funding from July 1 to Dec. 31, 2021. The purpose of the pilot program is two-fold:
- To maintain and increase the state’s existing network of foreclosure prevention support for homeowners and begin offering mortgage assistance to households earning up to 100% of the Area Median Income.
- To help inform the planning for, and design of, the HAF program in order to submit a formal plan to the U.S. Treasury in the next few months.
The draft HAF pilot program can be viewed here. Please use this online form to submit your comments. The public comment period will close on June 7 at 5:00 pm.
If you prefer to provide your comments verbally, please plan to participate in the public hearing:
When: June 7, 1:00-2:30 pm
Where: Zoom meeting link
One tap mobile:
+12532158782,,84935482593#,,,,*244917# US (Tacoma)
+19712471195,,84935482593#,,,,*244917# US (Portland)
Dial by your location:
+1 253 215 8782 US (Tacoma)
+1 971 247 1195 US (Portland)
+1 213 338 8477 US (Los Angeles)
Click here to find your local number.
Meeting ID: 849 3548 2593
Passcode: 244917
If you currently face foreclosure and need a resource to help navigate the process, FREE housing counseling and civil legal aid for income-qualified individuals and families are currently available by contacting the Washington Homeownership Resource Center. The Center is open Monday through Friday from 8:00 am to 5:00 pm.
Toll-Free Number: 1–877–894-4663
|
