SLO Reporter

San Luis Obispo homeowners struggling with housing payments can find relief. The California Mortgage Relief Program  has expanded to provide additional assistance and expand eligibility to help even more homeowners who have struggled with housing payments due to the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic. The $1 billion program will run until all the funds are returned to homeowners.  The program is expanding in four important ways:

1. Previously awarded homeowners who are still eligible and need more assistance can return for additional funds with a maximum of $80,000 in total assistance.
2. Assistance is now available for homeowners with partial claim second mortgages or loan deferrals taken during or after January 2020.
3. The delinquency date for assistance with past-due mortgage and property tax payments was reset - applicants must have missed at least two mortgage payments OR at least one property tax payment prior to March 1, 2023.
4. Homeowners with a primary residence that includes up to 4 units on the property may now be eligible.

The California Mortgage Relief Program is helping homeowners facing a COVID-related financial hardship get caught up on past-due mortgage, reverse mortgage and property tax payments, and helping to reduce or eliminate partial claim second mortgages and loan deferrals. The assistance provided through the California Mortgage Relief Program is not a loan and does not need to be paid back. Homeowners receiving these grants should talk with a tax professional about any impact this may have on their income taxes.

For homeowners with a mortgage or reverse mortgage, funding covers the full past-due amount owed to their lender, up to a maximum of $80,000 per household. Homeowners who are delinquent for more than $80,000 at the time they submit their application would not be eligible for assistance.

For homeowners who pay their property taxes directly to their county, grants fund the past-due amount that is owed to their county tax collector, up to $20,000 per household.

Homeowners can follow these simple steps

1. Visit the AGI/Income calculator to assess eligibility  https://camortgagerelief.org/#amicalculator 
2. Begin application process here  https://calhfa-prod.onair-gov.osaas.app/eligibility-navigator/#/
3. Contact our helpline for questions or in-language support -  https://camortgagerelief.org/help/

Eligibility information

• Must have faced a pandemic-related financial hardship after January 21, 2020.
• Must have missed at least 2 payments by March 1, 2023 and are currently behind.
• Homeowners cannot have cash or assets on hand (excluding savings in a retirement account) that is equal to or greater than the relief funds needed + $20,000.
• Homeowner must currently own and occupy the property in California as their primary residence.
• Property may include up to 4 units on site (House, condo, permanently affixed manufactured home, ADU, duplex, four-plex).
• Full list of eligibility requirements here   https://camortgagerelief.org/whoiseligible/ .

Original source can be found here.