The HARDEST HIT FUND program was launched in 2010 by the federal government to provide assistance to homeowners who were struggling with their mortgages following the recession. Some states are now reopening local Hardest Hit Fund programs as part of their COVID-19 mortgage relief efforts.

The state-level programs administered by each state’s housing finance agency (HFA) offer various types of assistance to struggling homeowners. Some of these programs include principal reduction, down payment assistance and mortgage forbearance.

Benefits

The Hardest Hit Fund program was created in February 2010 to help struggling homeowners in states that had been affected by the housing market downturn. The fund provided millions of dollars to housing finance agencies in those states.

This program helped many homeowners avoid foreclosure. In addition, it provided funds to remove blight in troubled neighborhoods.

Since the program began in 2010, it has expanded to include 18 states and the District of Columbia. It has helped more than 418,000 homeowners through various programs, including principal reductions, mortgage payment assistance, and blight removal assistance.

As the HARDEST HIT FUND program has progressed, it has evolved from a $1.5 billion initiative focused on five states with the most severe declines in home prices and high unemployment rates to a $9.6 billion initiative that is encompassing 18 states and the District of Columbia.

The number of homeowners receiving the HARDEST HIT FUND program continues to rise, as does the amount of funding being made available. As of June 2018, the fund had provided assistance to more than 480,000 homes, saving the housing finance industry nearly $8 billion.

One of the most appealing aspects of the program is that it provides financial help and a loan to qualified homeowners who have lost their jobs and are in danger of losing their homes to foreclosure. This is especially important in states like Indiana, where job loss is a real problem for residents.

Another good thing about the program is that it does not stop once the homeowner becomes reemployed or resumes working full-time again. This helps borrowers continue to receive the financial assistance and short-term loan until they are fully back on their feet and can resume making their monthly mortgage payments.

In addition to providing financial help, the HARDEST HIT FUND program also helps clients get involved in their community through a variety of volunteer activities. The HoosierCorps program, for example, enables clients to choose from various volunteer opportunities with non-profit organizations in their communities.

The Hardest Hit Fund program was replaced in most states with a new federal assistance plan known as the Homeowner Assistance Fund (HAF). It is expected to last until 2022, when the allocated funds run out. The best way to learn about the HHF program in your state is by contacting your state’s housing finance agency or visiting their website.

Requirements

If you are a homeowner in the state of Alabama and have lost your job, you may be eligible for a home mortgage assistance program through the HARDEST HIT FUND. The funds are administered by each local government’s Housing Finance Agency and help to pay your mortgage so that you can get back on your feet again.

The Hardest Hit Fund (HHF) is a federal initiative that provides funds to states that experienced high unemployment and large declines in home prices during the housing crisis. It is part of the Troubled Asset Relief Program (TARP).

President Obama announced HHF in February 2010 to provide targeted aid to families in states that were hardest hit by the recession. Since its creation, HHF has expanded to include 18 states and the District of Columbia.

Treasury provides funding to states under this initiative, which is administered by each state’s Housing Finance Agency (HFA). The first round of HHF funding went to five states: California, Florida, Michigan, Nevada, and Arizona.

GAO found that states used HHF funds to help homeowners avoid foreclosure and demolish blighted homes, which contributed to stabilizing property values and restoring neighborhoods. In addition, the HHF allowed HFAs to use its funds to develop individualized solutions for each state’s unique challenges.

As a result, the housing markets in these states are now much more stable than they were during the housing crisis. However, the HHF program has run out of money and many individual programs have been closed.

To address this, the Department of Treasury redesigned the program in 2021 to better align it with the needs of homeowners. The new approach, called the Foreclosure Reduction Program, allows states to use HHF funds for a variety of different strategies, including principal reductions, down payments, and mortgage payment assistance.

In addition, states can also choose to provide a number of short sale options for homeowners seeking to reduce their mortgage balance. These options can be more effective for preventing foreclosure than traditional mortgage modifications and are more likely to lead to repayment.

The HHF has helped more than 418,000 homeowners and saved the housing finance industry nearly $8 billion, according to an independent evaluation updated in 2021. In addition to its direct support of state-level homeowner assistance initiatives, HHF has also provided financial resources for blight elimination projects in high-vacancy communities across the country.

Eligibility

The HARDEST HIT FUND program was created by the federal government in 2010 as a way to help states that were experiencing high unemployment and large declines in home prices. Since its establishment, the fund has expanded to include 18 states and the District of Columbia. It has also helped more homeowners than ever before, with the goal of preventing foreclosures and preserving homeownership.

The federal government provides the money through the Troubled Asset Relief Program (TARP), which was designed to address the housing crisis that began in 2007. It provides funds to states to provide mortgage assistance to low-income families who may have difficulty affording their homes, and it demolishes blighted properties.

In addition, state Housing Finance Agencies (HFAs) have developed locally-tailored programs using these HHF funds to help distressed homeowners avoid foreclosure and keep their homes. Some of these programs provide help to unemployed homeowners who are struggling to make their monthly mortgage payments, while others offer help with other expenses, such as home repair and utility costs.

For example, a program in North Carolina called the NC Foreclosure Prevention Fund helped people who were struggling to make their monthly mortgage payments due to job loss, reduced income or temporary financial hardship. The program ended on July 31, 2019, after helping nearly 30,000 North Carolinians.

To qualify for the Hardest Hit Fund, a family must be at least 30 days late on their monthly housing payment. They must have a primary residence that’s at least three years old and their annual household income must be less than 100 percent of the Area Median Income.

Homeowners who meet these requirements can apply for a 0% interest, non-recourse, deferred-payment, subordinate loan that will be forgiven after 5 years. The loan funds will be used to pay their mortgage and other housing-related expenses, such as insurance and property taxes. The program will also assist borrowers in finding employment or training for a new job.

Homeowners can find out whether they’re eligible for the Hardest Hit Fund through their local housing finance agency. The agency may have a website where they can learn more about available programs. They can also call to speak to someone about their options.

Fees

The HARDEST HIT FUND program has been around since 2010. It is a federally funded mortgage relief initiative that provides assistance to homeowners with the best interest of the homeowner in mind. The fund is administered by the state’s housing finance agency.

The program is a good one for the state of North Carolina and its residents, as they can take advantage of hundreds of millions of dollars in federal aid to get back on their feet. These funds are being used to help distressed homeowners by lowering their interest rate, lengthening the term of their loan, reducing their principal balance or even paying their mortgage for them in cash.

What’s more, the program has helped a large number of North Carolinians avoid foreclosure on their homes, something that would have otherwise been impossible in a time when the unemployment rate in the state was at an all-time high. In fact, in 2012, the program saved more than 6,000 homes from being foreclosed on.

Aside from the aforementioned programs, North Carolina is also home to a handful of other notables that have made their mark on the real estate market over the past few years. These include the NC Community Action Program, which offers free financial education and a host of other resources to help low-income families, and the NC Emergency Shelter Grant, which provides rental assistance for low-income individuals and families who have experienced an unexpected calamity like a death in the family or a fire.

The best part is that the program is completely free to qualified applicants. To find out if you qualify, go to your state’s official Hardest Hit Fund website. They should have a link to the application or contact information for a local housing counselor. Alternatively, you can call the state’s housing finance agency and ask about the program.