The state has launched $248 million Maryland Homeowner Assistance Fund to support mortgage relief, home repairs, housing counseling, and legal services.
The fund, which will be administered by the Maryland Department of Housing and Community Development (DHCD), will include monies to be in targeted amounts.
- Approximately $171 millionto 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 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, are aware of the relief
Marylanders currently experiencing issues with their mortgage should contact their mortgage servicer—the company that processes their monthly payment—to inquire about forbearance and loss mitigation options. To be connected to housing counseling and legal services, call 1-877-462-7555.
DHCD is awarding $4.4 million in fiscal year 2022 to 29 housing counseling and legal services agencies that can help Marylanders access Homeowner Assistance Fund relief. More than $930,000 went to agencies in the Baltimore metro area, including $100,000 to Diversified Housing Development, located in Windsor Mill.
Program Portal. The Homeowner Assistance Fund will assist applicants who were unemployed or underemployed on or after Jan. 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 and clicking on “Check Eligibility” under “Get Started.” For assistance in applying or navigating the application portal, call 833-676-0119, Monday through Friday between 8 a.m. and 7 p.m. or Saturday between 9 a.m. and 4 p.m.
Emergency Home Repairs. The Homeowner Assistance Fund WholeHome Grant will help Maryland homeowners who have an emergency repair in their primary residence that they are unable to 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. The grant will be capped at $10,000 and will be used to address any emergency repairs, including mold remediation, asbestos and lead paint removal, no heat or no air, electrical repairs, plumbing and 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. If a homeowner feels that their servicer is not properly participating in the Maryland Homeowner Assistance Fund, they may report their concern to Office of the Commissioner of Financial Regulation, which is responsible for regulating the mortgage service industry. Homeowners should call 410-230-6077 or visit 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.