Florida’s Homeowner Assistance Fund (HAF) is now available to help homeowners struggling with financial hardships associated with the COVID-19 pandemic, according to the Department of Economic Opportunity’s website.
The state’s HAF program is federally funded, with $676.1 million from the American Rescue Plan enacted last year. In total, The Treasury allocated nearly $10 billion from ARP for states, territories and tribal entities to help prevent mortgage delinquencies and homeowner displacement.
In launching its HAF program, Florida follows other states that opened their own programs earlier — like New York, whose HAF program opened for applications in early January and is now already closed, apart from a waitlist.
According to Florida’s HAF plan, eligible applicants must own a one to four-unit primary residence; have experienced a financial hardship persisting after Jan. 21, 2020; and meet certain income requirements.
Eligible applicants must either:
Earn less than or equal to 150% of area median income (AMI), or;
Earn less than or equal to 100% of median income in the United States, if that number is greater than AMI where the applicant lives.
To learn more information and see if you’re eligible for Florida’s HAF program, go here.