State Launches $248M Homeowner Assistance Fund

Governor Larry Hogan today announced the launch of the Maryland Homeowner Assistance Fund. The fund, established by the American Rescue Plan Act, aims to help homeowners experiencing financial hardship amidst the COVID-19 public health crisis.

The Maryland Department of Housing and Community Development will receive $248 million in federal funding over three years to support mortgage relief, home repairs, housing counseling, and legal services.

Maryland Homeowner Assistance Fund

  • Approximately $171 million to provide loans to assist homeowners who have experienced financial hardship with their mortgages and $34 million to provide grants to assist with property tax, homeowner association, and other types of delinquencies
  • $10 million for the WholeHome program to help homeowners with necessary repairs and energy efficiency improvements
  • $8 million for housing counseling agencies and $3 million for legal services providers to help homeowners navigate the foreclosure process
  • $22 million for program case management, administration, and marketing, and outreach to ensure eligible homeowners, including minority populations and those in especially hard-hit areas

Program Portal

The Homeowner Assistance Fund will assist applicants who were unemployed or underemployed on or after January 21, 2020, resulting in mortgage delinquency or forbearance and other types of homeowner delinquencies.

Marylanders can determine their eligibility and apply by visiting homeownerassistance.maryland.gov.

For assistance in using or navigating the application portal, call 833-676-0119, Monday through Friday between 8:00 am – 7:00 pm or Saturday between 9:00 am – 4:00 pm.

Emergency Home Repairs

The Homeowner Assistance Fund WholeHome Grant will help Maryland homeowners who have an emergency repair in their primary residence that they cannot address because of the financial impact of COVID-19. Without addressing these repairs, it will cause the homeowner to be “involuntarily displaced” from the property.

Grants of up to $10,000 will address any emergency repairs — including mold remediation, asbestos and lead paint removal, no heat or air, electrical repairs, plumbing/septic repairs, and other structural and maintenance issues.

For more information and to apply, visit dhcd.maryland.gov/wholehome or call 877-568-6105.

Mortgage Servicer Help

The Office of the Commissioner of Financial Regulation (OCFR) within the Maryland Department of Labor is responsible for regulating the mortgage service industry in Maryland. Homeowners who believe their servicers are violating the terms of the fund may report their concern to OCFR by calling 410-230-6077 or visiting labor.maryland.gov/finance/consumers to submit a complaint.

Visit homeownerassistance.maryland.gov for additional program details, including eligibility information, a document checklist, and answers to frequently asked questions.