CALIFORNIA MORTGAGE RELIEF - CHFA

CALIFORNIA HOUSING FINANCE AGENCY


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  • CALIFORNIA HOUSING FINANCE AGENCY
    Sacramento, Sacramento
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  • HUD-Certified Housing Counselor
    800-569-4287
  • Toll-Free
    888-840-2594

FOR COVID-19 PANDEMIC-RELATED SITUATIONS ONLY

The California Mortgage Relief Program uses federal Homeowner Assistance Funds to help homeowners get caught up on their housing payments. The program is absolutely free and the funds do not need to be repaid.
The California Mortgage Relief Program is part of the state’s Housing is Key initiative. 

Mortgage relief funds are now available to California homeowners who have fallen behind on their housing payments during the COVID-19 Pandemic. Qualified homeowners will not have to pay back funds that are awarded.

The California Mortgage Relief Program is funded by the 2021 American Rescue Plan Act’s Homeowners Assistance Fund. It was designed to provide assistance to qualified homeowners who have fallen behind on their housing payments due to pandemic-related financial hardships. The program will be provided to homeowners through the CalHFA Homeowner Relief Corporation as part of the state’s Housing is Key initiative.

Participating Mortgage Servicers
See a list of mortgage servicers participating in the California Mortgage Relief Program. Program guidelines dictate that funding for approved applications goes directly to the mortgage servicer. In order for an application to be processed, a homeowner’s servicer must be participating in the program. If your servicer is not listed, you may reach out to them and request that they sign up to participate in the program. View the full list at https://camortgagerelief.org/mortgage-servicers

Apply
Check your eligibility and apply: https://calhfa-prod.onair-gov.osaas.app/eligibility-navigator
If you need help filling out the online application, please contact your mortgage servicer or a HUD-certified housing counselor at 1-800-569-4287.

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)
Visit https://camortgagerelief.org/about/#faq

Q: How much assistance is available to me?
Mortgage assistance grants are a one-time grant directly tied to the past due amount the homeowner owes their lender, up to a maximum of $80,000 per household. Funds awarded for mortgage reinstatement will be sent directly to the homeowner’s lender or mortgage servicer. Homeowners who receive these grants should talk with a tax professional about any impact this may have on their income taxes.
Q: What information does an applicant need to provide?
A sample list of documents to gather before completing the application includes:
  1. Mortgage statement
  2. Bank statements
  3. Utility bill
  4. Income documentation (i.e. paystubs, tax returns, or unemployment document)
Depending on their unique circumstances, some applicants will be asked to provide other kinds of information as well.
Q: My application was denied. Is there an appeals process? Can I re-apply?
If your application was denied, you may reapply. If you would like to appeal the decision, please email appeals@camortgagerelief.org and include the reason why you believe the decision should be reversed.

Assistance with past due property taxes
What kind of property tax assistance is available? 
Beginning June 13, 2022, unpaid property taxes for all eligible homeowners will be covered by the program.  
Assistance with past-due property taxes will extend to mortgage-free homeowners and those whose mortgage payments are current. Previously, property taxes were only covered for reverse mortgage holders or as part of a complete reinstatement for homeowners who were also behind on their mortgage. 

Who is eligible for this new property tax assistance? 
California homeowners who are past due on their property taxes may be eligible if they meet the following requirements:   
  • Household income is at or below the county income limit (150% of their county’s Area Median Income, based on federal limits set for this program); Own a single-family home, condo or permanently affixed manufactured home in California.   
  • Experienced a pandemic-related financial hardship after Jan. 21, 2020 - either a loss of income or increase in household expenses.   
  • Missed a property tax payment before May 31, 2022 
How much assistance is available?  
For homeowners who pay their property taxes directly to their county, grants would fund the past due amount that is owed to their county tax collector, up to$20,000 per household.    
The assistance provided through the California Mortgage Relief Program is not a loan and does not need to be paid back. Homeowners who receive these one-time grants should talk with a tax professional about any impact this may have on their income taxes.

More Information
For more info. visit the California Mortgage Relief website at https://camortgagerelief.org or call 888-840-2594.

Contact CalHFA
Do you have questions? Send an email to receive a response within 24-48 hours.
info@camortgagerelief.org

If you need immediate assistance:
  • Contact your mortgage servicer.
  • Contact a HUD-certified housing counselor at 1-800-569-4287.
  • Visit the state’s Housing is Key website for more information on resources currently offered, such as rental assistance. Learn more at https://housing.ca.gov.
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