WEST VIRGINIA HOMEOWNERS RESCUE

The West Virginia Homeowner Rescue Program (WVHR) is a housing-related program funded by the U.S. Department of the Treasury to assist West Virginia homeowners facing a financial hardship due to the COVID-19 pandemic that began after January 21, 2020 (including a hardship that began before January 21, 2020 and continued after that date). The program will provide financial assistance to eligible homeowners for qualified mortgage or housing-related expenses to avoid delinquency, default, foreclosure, loss of utilities or home energy services, and displacement.

Homeowners are not required to have an outstanding mortgage balance to apply for WVHR assistance.

Eligibility for the WV Homeowners Rescue Program:

  • The applicant must currently own and occupy the property as their primary residence. Household members who are not property owners should not apply.
  • The property must be located in West Virginia.
  • Household income cannot exceed 150% of the Area Median Income (AMI) or 100% of the median income for the United States, whichever is greater.
  • Homeowners are eligible for assistance if they experienced a financial hardship due to the COVID-19 pandemic after January 21, 2020 (including a hardship that began before January 21, 2020 but continued after that date).
  • Homeowners must describe and attest to a financial hardship after January 21, 2020, such as job loss, a reduction in household income, incurred significant costs for health care or experienced other financial hardship due, directly, or indirectly, to the Covid-19 outbreak.

 

Eligible Expenses

  • Mortgage Reinstatement and Mortgage Payment Assistance
    • WVHR funds may be used to eliminate or reduce past-due mortgage payments including property taxes, hazard insurance premiums, flood or wind insurance premiums, ground rents, condominium fees, cooperative maintenance fees, planned unit development fees, and homeowners’ association fees included in your mortgage payment. The Mortgage Payment Assistance provides financial assistance to eligible homeowners to better position them to obtain or maintain housing stability following mortgage reinstatement. This may be accomplished by maintaining their monthly mortgage payments.
    • Homeowners must be delinquent at least 90 days to receive assistance.
    • A combined total of $15,000 in mortgage assistance (Mortgage Reinstatement Assistance + Mortgage Payment Assistance) is available for mortgage assistance.
  • Down Payment (DPA) Mortgage Assistance
    • The DPA Mortgage Assistance provides funds to eliminate or reduce past-due payments on down payment assistance loans provided by a government entity or nonprofit.
    • Homeowners must be delinquent at least 90 days to receive assistance.
    • DPA Mortgage Assistance is limited to $500 as a one-time payment.
  • Property Charge Assistance
    • Property Charge Assistance covers past-due amounts including real property taxes, hazard insurance premiums, flood or wind insurance premiums, ground rents, condominium fees, cooperative maintenance fees, planned unit development fees, homeowners’ association fees, or common charges not included in monthly mortgage payments.
    • Homeowners must be at least one installment payment in arrears or otherwise past due on the eligible property charges.
    • The maximum assistance under the Property Charge Assistance is $5,000.
  • Utility/Internet Assistance
    • Utility/Internet Assistance provides funds to resolve delinquent payments for utilities and provide a one-time stipend for internet access services. Covered utilities include electric, gas, home energy, water, and sewer.
    • Generally, homeowners must be at least one installment payment in arrears on the applicable utility.
    • Utility assistance is limited to $2,500. Internet stipends will be limited to $300 per household.

 

Assistance Payments will be paid directly to the mortgage loan servicer or the applicable vendor. Assistance payments are considered grants to eligible homeowners.