Homeowner Assistance Fund Deadline Nears as Relief Program Winds Down

Homeowners who still need help with mortgage payments, property taxes, utilities or other housing costs should check their local Homeowner Assistance Fund program now. The federally funded program’s period of performance ends September 30, 2026, but state, territorial and Tribal programs may stop accepting applications earlier if their funds run out.

The U.S. Department of the Treasury issued updated closeout guidance on May 4, 2026, and released HAF compliance data through the first quarter of 2026 on July 21. The updates show that the program is entering its final assistance period.

September 30 is not a universal application deadline

Treasury provided $9.961 billion to states, U.S. territories and Tribal entities through the Homeowner Assistance Fund. Created under the American Rescue Plan, HAF was intended to help homeowners facing financial hardship connected to the COVID-19 pandemic and reduce mortgage delinquency, foreclosure, utility loss and displacement.

The federal period of performance ends September 30, 2026. Treasury’s closeout checklist says HAF recipients and subrecipients may not obligate award funds after that date for eligible program activities.

The closeout rules allow a limited 120-day liquidation period after September 30 for payment processing and final reporting. Treasury’s checklist identifies January 28, 2027, as the deadline for recipients’ final reports. That period does not extend the program for new prospective assistance. Obligations must be made by September 30, and Treasury says funds cannot cover housing-related costs for periods after that date or repair work occurring after September 30.

For homeowners, the practical deadline may come sooner. The Consumer Financial Protection Bureau says each state or territory operates its own program, with additional programs operated by Tribes, the Department of Hawaiian Home Lands and the District of Columbia. Funds are limited, and programs may stop accepting applications when their money is exhausted. Some may use waitlists or restrict assistance to particular expenses.

What the fund may cover

Depending on local rules, HAF assistance may help with:

• Current or past-due mortgage payments
• Property taxes
• Homeowners insurance
• Homeowners association fees
• Electricity, gas, water, wastewater and other utilities
• Internet service
• Certain home repairs

Not every program covers every expense on that list. The CFPB says assistance is usually provided as a grant, but some local programs may require repayment in specified circumstances, such as selling the home before a stated date. Submitting an application also does not guarantee payment if a program does not have enough money to fund every eligible applicant.

Who may qualify

Core requirements generally include a COVID-19-related financial hardship, assistance for a primary residence and compliance with the local program’s income rules. Applicants may need to document a hardship that occurred after January 21, 2020, such as job loss, reduced income, increased health-care costs or added caregiving expenses.

Income limits vary. CFPB guidance says many programs use a limit tied to 150% of area median income or $79,900, whichever is higher, while some programs apply lower limits or additional requirements. Homeowners should check the rules for their specific state, territory or Tribal program.

What homeowners should do now

Start by locating the HAF program for your state, territory or Tribal government. Confirm whether it is accepting applications, operating a waitlist or closed. Review the local rules before assuming that a particular bill, repair or type of property qualifies.

Gather mortgage statements, delinquency notices, property-tax records, insurance bills, utility or HOA documents, repair estimates and proof of income or hardship. If mortgage assistance is involved, contact your mortgage servicer and ask whether it participates in the local program and how an approved payment will be credited.

If you are behind on payments or facing foreclosure, do not assume that filing a HAF application automatically stops the process. For example, the CFPB says servicers for mortgages backed by Fannie Mae or Freddie Mac are generally required to pause foreclosure activities for up to 60 days after the HAF program notifies them of an application. For FHA-, VA- and USDA-backed loans, agencies strongly encourage a pause after notification but do not require it in the same way. Some state HAF programs may impose additional requirements.

Tell your servicer that you applied, ask whether foreclosure activity can be paused, and request information about loss-mitigation options. A HUD-approved housing counselor can help with the application, delinquency, forbearance and foreclosure questions, often at little or no cost.

Homeowners should also watch for scams. The CFPB says there is no cost to apply for HAF and warns against companies that demand an upfront fee to obtain mortgage relief or submit a government application.

Sources

• U.S. Treasury — Standard Closeout Checklist for HAF Awards
• CFPB — Get Homeowner Assistance Fund Help

Related News

• FDA food-safety alerts cover eggs, lettuce and frozen berries
• What Congress’s August Recess Could Mean for Federal Workers
• USDA farm-aid deadlines approach for specialty crops and disaster losses
• FDA Tracker Lists Four Unresolved Foodborne-Illness Investigations