Last updated: July 28, 2026
Do not wait for HAF if a foreclosure sale, tax sale, court date, shutoff, or insurance cancellation is scheduled. Apply if eligible, but also contact your servicer, a HUD-approved counselor, and legal aid today. An application may not stop the deadline.
Bottom Line: As of July 28, 2026, the national HAF tracker lists four state or territory programs as open: Montana, New Jersey, North Dakota, and the U.S. Virgin Islands. Montana and the Virgin Islands close July 31; North Dakota says to apply by August 15. New Jersey shows no firm public closing date. Most other programs are closed, while Hawaii is suspended or waitlisted.
The Homeowner Assistance Fund (HAF) helps eligible homeowners with COVID-19-related housing hardship. There is no single national application. Each state, territory, or Tribe sets its own covered costs, limits, deadlines, and repayment rules.
The federal program is ending. Treasury closeout guidance bars new obligations after September 30, 2026. Local programs can close sooner when deadlines pass or funds are committed.
This guide identifies real applications still open and next steps where HAF has closed. It also explains why an open HAF program does not necessarily offer general home repair money.
| Program | Status on July 28, 2026 | Maximum listed help | Type of help | General repair money? |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Montana HAF | Open through July 31, 2026, at 11:59 p.m., subject to funds | $50,000 mortgage reinstatement; $10,000 lien prevention | Grant; no repayment for mortgage reinstatement | No general repair component listed as open |
| New Jersey ERMA | Open; no public closing date found | Up to $75,000 per household | Forgivable loan assistance; confirm exact forgiveness and lien terms | No general repair benefit listed |
| North Dakota Help for Homeowners | Apply by August 15, 2026 | Up to $40,000 | One-time reinstatement grant | No general repair benefit listed |
| U.S. Virgin Islands HAF | Open through July 31, 2026 | Up to $90,000, depending on component | Financial assistance; confirm repayment or lien terms in writing | No general repair benefit listed |
| Hawaii HAF | Suspended or accepting waitlist applications on the national tracker | Varies by local program | Not open statewide for normal new applications | Do not assume funds are available |
Reading this later? Treat Montana and Virgin Islands applications as closed after July 31, and North Dakota as closed after August 15, unless the official agency announces otherwise. Recheck the official page before sharing personal information.
Which Homeowner Assistance Fund programs are still open?
These were the only state or territory programs marked open when checked. Tribal HAF programs are separate; Tribal members should contact their Tribe or Tribally Designated Housing Entity for current status.
Montana Homeowner Assistance Fund
Deadline: July 31, 2026, at 11:59 p.m. Montana’s official HAF page accepts mortgage reinstatement and lien prevention applications until then, subject to eligibility and funds. Utility applications closed March 31.
What it may pay: The official FAQs list up to $50,000 to reinstate a delinquent first mortgage, including qualifying forbearance and servicer-advanced charges. Lien prevention provides up to $10,000 for delinquent taxes, HOA or condo charges, contract-for-deed costs, and certain displacement risks.
Who may qualify: The applicant must own and occupy a Montana primary home, have a hardship after January 21, 2020, and have gross household income at or below 100% of area median income. Applicants must also show ability to make future mortgage payments.
Type: Grant. Montana says mortgage reinstatement does not require repayment. Funds normally go to the servicer or approved third party.
Apply: Use the Apply Now button on the official page. Submission does not reserve funds. Call Montana Commerce at 406-841-2700 for HAF help.
New Jersey Emergency Rescue Mortgage Assistance
Status: New Jersey ERMA remains available through the NJHMFA page and application portal. No firm closing date appeared on the public overview. Apply promptly and confirm the portal still accepts complete applications.
What it may pay: Up to $75,000 for mortgage reinstatement or payments, escrow shortages, delinquent taxes, HOA charges, municipal or tax liens, and homeowners insurance. Some FHA, VA, and USDA borrowers may also receive help with qualifying COVID-era partial claims within the same cap.
Who may qualify: Owners occupying an eligible one- to four-unit New Jersey primary home, with a COVID-19-related hardship after January 20, 2020, and household income at or below 150% of county area median income.
Type: Forgivable loan assistance, according to NJHMFA reports. This is not an immediate grant. Ask for written forgiveness, lien, sale, transfer, refinance, and repayment terms before accepting help.
Apply: Call 1-855-647-7700, email ERMA support, or use a participating counselor. Review the official document list first.
North Dakota Help for Homeowners
Deadline: August 15, 2026. North Dakota reported about $6 million remaining in May, but availability changes as awards are approved.
What it may pay: The official page lists up to $40,000 for first-mortgage reinstatement or forbearance, taxes, insurance, association fees, attorney fees, assessments, junior liens, utilities, garbage service, and lot rent.
Who may qualify: North Dakota primary-home occupants with a COVID-19-related hardship and income at or below 150% of area median income. Eligible homes include one- to four-unit properties, condos, and manufactured homes, including those on rented land.
Type: One-time lump-sum reinstatement grant. Prior recipients cannot receive another award.
Apply: Call 701-328-1907, TTY 1-800-366-6888, or email North Dakota HAF.
U.S. Virgin Islands Homeowner Assistance Fund
Deadline: July 31, 2026. The VIHFA page links to the ZoomGrants application.
What it may pay: Up to $90,000, depending on need and component: mortgage reinstatement or principal reduction up to $75,000; foreclosure prevention up to $90,000; mortgage payments up to $30,000; HOA or condo fees up to $15,000; taxes or utilities up to $10,000; and home insurance up to $5,000.
Who may qualify: Owners occupying a Virgin Islands primary home, with income at or below 150% of area median income and a financial hardship after January 21, 2020. Eligible properties include single-family homes, condos, and owner-occupied one- to four-unit homes.
Type: Financial assistance. The public summary does not clearly classify every component. Obtain the award agreement and written repayment, forgiveness, lien, sale, and refinance rules before signing.
Apply: St. Thomas: 340-777-4432 ext. 7601. St. Croix: 340-772-4432 ext. 7600. Create the account and upload documents before the final evening.
Can an open HAF program still pay for home repairs?
Usually not through the four open programs listed above. The CFPB HAF guide says certain home repairs can be an eligible HAF use, but each local program decides what it covers. A federal list of possible expenses does not create a repair benefit in every state.
Montana’s open components are mortgage reinstatement and lien prevention. New Jersey ERMA lists mortgage and property-charge help. North Dakota lists mortgage, utility, tax, insurance, association, lien, and lot-rent arrears. The U.S. Virgin Islands lists mortgage, tax, insurance, association, and utility components. None of these current public summaries offers a broad grant for a new roof, plumbing replacement, accessibility remodeling, foundation work, or a normal home improvement project.
Do not submit a repair bill under the wrong category. Ask the program whether the exact expense is eligible before hiring a contractor or paying a deposit. HAF programs commonly pay an approved servicer, tax office, insurer, utility, association, or other third party. They usually do not reimburse work simply because a homeowner completed it while an application was pending.
If your main need is a physical repair, start with our guide to home repair assistance. Rural very-low-income homeowners should also check the official USDA Section 504 program described later on this page.
How to apply before the remaining deadlines
- Confirm status on the official page. A saved link or old post may be stale. Call to verify your debt type is covered, funds remain, and whether the file must be submitted or complete by the deadline.
- Create the portal account now. Verification, passwords, identity checks, and uploads can delay filing.
- Report every urgent date. Include any foreclosure, court, tax sale, insurance cancellation, shutoff, or lien deadline.
- Get a current reinstatement quote. Ask the servicer for the amount needed to become current, its good-through date, and whether it participates in HAF.
- Upload readable, complete pages. Check names, addresses, account numbers, dates, and totals.
- Save proof and pursue backup help. Keep confirmations, files, messages, and screenshots. Filing does not guarantee approval or stop collection.
Phone script for the HAF office
“My name is [name]. I own and live in my home in [city or county]. I need help with [mortgage, taxes, insurance, HOA, utilities, or another covered cost]. Are you accepting new applications today? What is the exact deadline, does the file need to be complete by then, and what repayment or lien terms apply?”
For a broader explanation of application steps, uploads, inspections, and follow-up, use our application guide.
Documents to gather before you apply
Requirements vary. Do not miss a deadline while perfecting the file. Submit required items, then answer follow-up requests quickly.
| Document | Why it matters | Practical check |
|---|---|---|
| Government photo ID | Confirms the applicant’s identity | Ask what alternate proof is accepted if the address is old |
| Deed, title, mortgage, or ownership record | Shows ownership of the primary home | Include trust, mobile-home, heirship, or land-lease papers if they apply |
| Current mortgage statement | Shows the servicer, loan number, payment, and delinquency | Request a separate reinstatement quote if the loan is in foreclosure |
| Tax, insurance, HOA, utility, or lot-rent bills | Shows the amount owed and the party that must be paid | Include notices of sale, lien, cancellation, or shutoff |
| Income proof | Helps the program compare household income with its limit | Gather pay stubs, benefit letters, pension statements, tax returns, and self-employment records |
| Hardship statement | Explains the COVID-related financial effect | Use dates and facts: lost work, lower income, higher caregiving or health costs, depleted savings, or increased essential costs |
New Jersey also asks for borrower and spouse IDs, income statements, an asset attestation, signed IRS Form 4506-C for 2019 and later, and all mortgage statements. Self-employed or rental-income applicants may need two years of returns.
Our document checklist explains how to organize common ownership, income, disability, contractor, and repair records for other programs.
What to do if foreclosure, tax sale, or shutoff is active
HAF is not a legal defense and does not erase a sale date. Act on several tracks:
- Call the servicer. Request loss-mitigation options, a reinstatement quote, and written confirmation of any foreclosure pause.
- Contact a HUD-approved counselor. Use the HUD counseling page or call 1-800-569-4287. Counseling is generally free.
- Contact legal aid. Use the legal aid locator for court papers, a sale, lien, tax foreclosure, or servicing dispute.
- Call the utility or insurer. Request a hold, payment plan, hardship review, or reinstatement terms.
- Do not stop opening mail. A portal status does not replace a court answer, appeal, document deadline, or servicer request.
Phone script for the mortgage servicer
“I am applying for Homeowner Assistance Fund help through [program]. My account has a [sale date or deadline] on [date]. Please give me a current reinstatement quote, a written list of loss-mitigation options, and written confirmation of whether you will pause foreclosure while the HAF program reviews or sends payment.”
Phone script for legal aid
“I own and live in my home. I received a [foreclosure, tax sale, HOA lien, or court] notice with a deadline on [date]. I am applying for HAF, but I need to know what legal deadline applies and whether your office can review the papers or refer me to urgent help.”
What to try if HAF is closed where you live
Closed HAF does not mean all homeowner help ended. Match the next step to your most urgent risk.
- Past-due mortgage: Ask the servicer about repayment, deferral, partial claim, modification, or another loss-mitigation option. A HUD counselor can help.
- Utility shutoff: Contact the utility, call 211, and find your office through the LIHEAP contact list. LIHEAP is bill or crisis assistance, not a repair grant.
- Energy or heating problem: Apply through the Weatherization Assistance Program. It provides approved services after an audit, not cash to the homeowner. See our weatherization guide.
- Rural health or safety repair: USDA Section 504 offers eligible very-low-income rural owners loans up to $40,000 at 1% for 20 years. Owners age 62 or older who cannot repay may qualify for a grant up to $10,000; it is repayable if the home is sold within three years. See our Section 504 guide.
- Disaster damage: Check for a federal Individual Assistance declaration. FEMA is limited and does not replace insurance. See our FEMA repair guide.
- Local repair need: Ask city or county housing, community development, aging, disability, or code offices about owner-occupied rehabilitation, emergency repair, accessibility, septic, sewer, and lead-hazard programs.
Ask what kind of help it is. A “repair program” may be a grant, zero-interest loan, deferred loan due at sale, or forgivable loan with an occupancy period. Ask about payments, interest, liens, forgiveness, sale, transfer, refinance, and estate rules.
What to do if your HAF application is denied or delayed
A denial may involve income, property type, prior help, uncovered debt, hardship, missing proof, ownership or occupancy, a closed component, or exhausted funds.
- Find the exact reason. Ask for plain language if the notice uses a code.
- Record the appeal deadline. The local program controls appeals.
- Correct documents quickly. Ask whether missing signatures, statements, ID, income proof, hardship facts, or quotes can be added.
- Keep the servicer informed. Continue loss-mitigation work while an appeal or document review is pending.
- Escalate urgent harm. Seek counseling or legal aid for a sale date, servicing error, access or language barrier, or title problem.
Common mistakes
- Assuming a saved portal link means the program is still open.
- Submitting a cropped bill that hides the account number, service address, or amount due.
- Ignoring requests because the portal still says “submitted.”
- Waiting for HAF while a court, sale, shutoff, or cancellation date gets closer.
- Stopping mortgage payments or servicer contact because a third party promised approval.
- Signing a deed, power of attorney, loan, or lien document without understanding it.
HAF and mortgage-relief scam warnings
Real HAF applications do not require a private company to unlock government money. Stop if someone demands an upfront fee, gift card, cryptocurrency, wire transfer, or access to your bank account in exchange for approval.
Be cautious if a caller tells you to stop paying the mortgage, stop speaking with the servicer, sign over the deed, transfer the home to a trust or company, or make payments to a new person without written verification. The FTC mortgage-relief warning explains common tactics.
Use the official state or territory page, the official portal linked from it, a HUD-approved counselor, legal aid, your servicer, or a known local nonprofit. Do not enter Social Security numbers, mortgage account numbers, tax records, or bank details into a website reached only through an unsolicited text or social-media message.
Older homeowners and caregivers should also review our guide to repair scams targeting seniors.
A 48-hour action plan
- First hour: Confirm the official program is open for your debt.
- Today: Create the account; gather ID, income, mortgage, bills, hardship facts, and urgent notices.
- Today: Request written balances, deadlines, and hold options from creditors.
- Within 24 hours: Submit if eligible, save proof, and contact a HUD counselor or legal aid when a sale or court date exists.
- Within 48 hours: Check messages, fix rejected uploads, and start the best backup option.
Frequently Asked Questions
Are any Homeowner Assistance Fund programs still open?
Yes. As of July 28, 2026, the national tracker lists Montana, New Jersey, North Dakota, and the U.S. Virgin Islands as open. Montana and the U.S. Virgin Islands have July 31, 2026 deadlines, North Dakota says to apply by August 15, 2026, and New Jersey does not show a firm closing date on its public overview. Status can change when funds are committed.
Does the September 30, 2026 federal end date keep every state open?
No. September 30, 2026 is the end of the federal HAF performance period for new obligations. A state, territory, or tribal program can close earlier because its application deadline passed, its money was committed, or it entered closeout.
Do I have to repay HAF assistance?
It depends on the local program. Montana says its mortgage reinstatement grant does not have to be repaid, and North Dakota calls its assistance a grant. New Jersey reports using forgivable loans, so forgiveness and lien conditions matter. The U.S. Virgin Islands public summary does not clearly state all repayment terms. Always read the award agreement before accepting funds.
Can HAF pay for a roof, furnace, plumbing, or accessibility repair?
Only when the local program specifically covers that repair. The four open state or territory programs in this guide do not advertise broad general repair grants. Use USDA Section 504, weatherization, local rehabilitation programs, disability-access programs, insurance, or disaster assistance when those fit the repair.
Will a HAF application stop foreclosure?
Not automatically. A servicer may pause some activity in certain cases, but an application is not a court defense and may not stop a scheduled sale. Call the servicer, a HUD-approved counselor, and legal aid as soon as you receive a sale or court notice.
What should I do if my state program is closed?
Shift immediately to mortgage loss mitigation, housing counseling, legal aid, utility crisis help, LIHEAP, weatherization, USDA rural repair assistance, FEMA after an eligible disaster, and local city or county repair programs. Start with the deadline that could cause loss of the home or essential service first.
About This Guide
How we researched this page: We checked official federal, state, local, tribal, utility, and trusted nonprofit sources linked in this article. We reviewed program names, service areas, eligibility rules, application routes, contact details, and whether each option is a grant, loan, rebate, service, or referral.
Our role: HomeRepairGrants.org is an independent information website. We do not run these programs, accept applications, choose recipients, or guarantee funding or approval.
Local changes: Funding, waitlists, service areas, income limits, and application periods can change. Confirm current details with the organization that runs the program before you apply, sign papers, pay money, or start repair work.
Corrections: See something outdated or incorrect? Email info@homerepairgrants.org and include the page URL and a reliable source when possible.
Disclaimer: This guide provides general information. It is not legal, financial, tax, insurance, medical, disability-rights, contractor, or government-agency advice.
Last verified: July 28, 2026 | Next review: October 28, 2026