The federal government has allocated funding to help pay the mortgages of qualified homeowners who are unemployed or underemployed through no fault of their own. Troubled homeowners in all 67 counties who want to apply for HHF financial assistance will be able to do so via this website.
Homeowners who qualify for financial assistance may receive up to six (6) months of monthly mortgage payments (including escrowed mortgage-related payments) and/or funds to pay past due mortgage payments to bring the mortgage current; these funds are paid directly to the loan servicer/lender.
More than 10,000 unemployed or underemployed Florida homeowners have applied for federal money since April 18.
Yet the federal Hardest Hit Fund program could help another 30,000 struggling homeowners in Florida. Eligible applicants could receive up to $18,000.
Program requirements
An eligible homeowner:
- Must be a Florida resident;
- Must occupy property as primary residence (the property cannot be vacant, abandoned or rented);
- Borrower/co-borrower must be unemployed or underemployed through no fault of his/her own, which makes the first mortgage unaffordable;
- Must have documented total household income at or below 140% of the area median income (AMI), adjusted for household size;
- Must have an active checking/savings account that can be debited by the ACH method of funds transfer;
- May not have unencumbered assets of $5,000 or more, or three times the current monthly mortgage payment (whichever is greater);
- Cannot have a bankruptcy that has not been discharged or dismissed; and
- Cannot have been convicted of a mortgage-related felony in the last 10 years.
The current mortgage:
- Must be serviced by a participating lender, who agrees to accept payments on behalf of the homeowner;
- Must not be more than 180 days past due at the time of application;
- Must have been originated on or before January 1, 2009; and
- Must have an existing principal balance of less than $400,000.
Please be aware that www.FLHardestHitHelp.org is the OFFICIAL website for Florida’s Hardest-Hit Fund (HHF) information and to apply for assistance.