In-Person Help is Available for Homeowners Behind in Paying Mortgage, Property Taxes or Utility Payments

October 13, 2022

– NH Homeowner Assistance Fund staff in Conway 10/17 – 18 to assist struggling homeowners –

Homeowners struggling to pay their mortgage, property charges and utilities are invited to receive in-person assistance October 17 – 18 in Conway. Program counselors will be available to meet with homeowners who want to learn more about the program and want assistance in completing an application.

Since March, the NH Homeowner Assistance Fund has been providing financial assistance to eligible New Hampshire homeowners financially impacted during the COVID-19 pandemic who are behind in paying their home mortgage, property taxes, utility bills, home insurance, and other housing costs. This is a federally funded program through the American Rescue Plan Act of 2021 and the NH Governor’s Office for Emergency Relief and Recovery, and is administered by New Hampshire Housing. To date the fund has disbursed over $3 million to assist hundreds of homeowners around the state.

What: In-Person Assistance in Applying for the NH Homeowner Assistance Fund
Program counselors will be available to assist with applications

When: October 17 from 9 AM – 7 PM
October 18 from 9 AM – 4 PM

Where: 53 Technology Lane, Suite 100, Conway

(Office of the Mt. Washington Valley Economic Council)

Those wishing to schedule an appointment with a Homeowner Assistance Fund counselor can email gwarwick@nhhfa.org or call 603-310-9347; walk-ins are also welcome.

The program has helped hundreds of New Hampshire homeowners. For example, a Hillsborough County couple faced an enormous financial burden due to the impact of the pandemic. Increased expenses, as well as a reduction in income, weighed on their family. Despite tapping their retirement fund and other resources, they fell behind on their property taxes and electric bill. Then they heard about the NH Homeowner Assistance Fund program, and applied. Soon, to their great relief, they received word that the program would provide just over $6,500 in assistance to pay the past-due bills.

This is just one of many similar stories shared by New Hampshire homeowners who have received financial assistance from the program to help with certain past-due bills. During the pandemic many homeowners saw their incomes dramatically reduced or budgets greatly strained due to lay-offs, illness, increased expenses due to childcare needs, and rising costs.

Eligibility Requirements

NH Homeowner Assistance Fund offers financial help in three categories: Mortgage Loan Reinstatement, Property Charge Default Resolution, and Utility/Internet Payment Assistance. Assistance is capped at $20,000 total for all three programs, and the homeowner can apply for assistance in any category as needed up to that amount of total assistance. (Utility assistance is capped at $3,000.) After an application is completed and reviewed, assistance requests for past-due amounts are verified and payments are made directly to service providers.

To be eligible for the program, homeowners must have experienced a COVID-related reduction in income or increase in household expenses after January 21, 2022. Other eligibility stipulations include: owning and occupying the property as a primary residence, and having an income of less than 125% of the Area Median Income. The program provides financial assistance for past-due bills only.

Partner Organizations
New Hampshire Housing has partnered with two organizations to help support struggling homeowners:

AHEAD, Inc. is a certified housing counseling agency that can assist with applications and help homeowners navigate the loss mitigation requirement for mortgage assistance.
603 Legal Aid provides assistance to homeowners facing an immediate threat of losing their home to foreclosure, tax deed, or sheriff’s sale.

If you know a NH homeowner who is struggling financially and behind in paying their mortgage, property charges, or utilities because of the pandemic, encourage them to apply to the program at HomeHelpNH.org.

NH HOMEOWNER ASSISTANCE FUND CONTACT INFORMATION

HomeHelpNH.org
For program details and to apply

AHEAD
For application assistance, financial counseling, and other resources
(603) 444-1377 x1014 • HomesAhead.org

603 Legal Aid
For assistance with an immediate threat of foreclosure, tax deed, or sheriff’s sale
(603) 224-3333 • NHLegalAid.org

For renters or landlords in need of assistance, the federal NH Emergency Rental Assistance program provides assistance to renters and landlords impacted during the COVID-19 pandemic.
Go to HomeHelpNH.org for details.

About New Hampshire Housing: As a self-supporting public corporation created by the state legislature,
New Hampshire Housing promotes, finances and supports affordable housing. New Hampshire Housing has helped more than 50,000 families purchase their own homes and been instrumental in financing the creation of 16,000 multifamily housing units.
NHHousing.org | #NHHousing | @NewHampshireHousing