The American Rescue Plan Act provides up to $9.961 billion for states, the District of Columbia, U.S. territories, Tribes or Tribal entities, and the Department of Hawaiian Home Lands to provide relief for our country’s most vulnerable homeowners.
The purpose of the Homeowner Assistance Fund (HAF) is to prevent mortgage delinquencies and defaults, foreclosures, loss of utilities or home energy services, and displacement of homeowners experiencing financial hardship after January 21, 2020. Funds from the HAF may be used for assistance with mortgage payments, homeowner’s insurance, utility payments, and other specified purposes. The law prioritizes funds for homeowners who have experienced the greatest hardships, leveraging local and national income indicators to maximize the impact.
The Homeowner Assistance Fund provides:
- A minimum of $50 million for each state, the District of Columbia and Puerto Rico
- $498 million for Tribes or Tribally designated housing entities and the Department of Hawaiian Home Lands
- $30 million for the territories of Guam, American Samoa, the U.S. Virgin Islands, and the Commonwealth of the Northern Mariana Islands
Allocations for States and Territories
The statute requires the Department of the Treasury to make allocations for each state, the District of Columbia, and Puerto Rico based on homeowner need, determined by reference to (1) the average number of unemployed individuals; and (2) the number of mortgagors with mortgage payments that are more than 30 days past due or mortgages in foreclosure. The statute establishes a minimum allocation of $50 million for each state, the District of Columbia, and Puerto Rico.
For Guam, American Samoa, the U.S. Virgin Islands, and the Commonwealth of the Northern Mariana Islands, there is a $30 million territorial set-aside, to be allocated based on each territory’s share of the combined population of all four of these territories.
Data and Methodology for State and Territory Allocations under the Homeowner Assistance Fund
Allocations and Payments for Tribes
The statute requires the Department of the Treasury to make allocations to Tribes and Tribal entities based on the allocation formulas used for the Emergency Rental Assistance Program under the Consolidated Appropriations Act, 2021.
The Department of the Treasury will publish Tribal allocations after the Tribal consultation process.
Notice of Funds Request
Under the statute, to participate in the Homeowner Assistance Fund, each state, the District of Columbia, Puerto Rico, Guam, American Samoa, the U.S. Virgin Islands, and the Commonwealth of the Northern Mariana Islands must submit a notice of funds request to the Department of the Treasury by Sunday, April 25, 2021, or they will not be eligible to receive these funds. Treasury cannot accept requests from these eligible entities after April 25.
The deadline for a Tribe, a Tribal entity, or the Department of Hawaiian Home Lands to submit a notice of funds request is September 30, 2021.
The Department of the Treasury strongly encourages each eligible entity to review the program resources published on this page and to elect to participate in the Homeowner Assistance Fund.
On April 16, 2021, the Department of the Treasury will make available an electronic portal on this webpage through which eligible entities will be able to complete and submit (1) a notice of funds request; (2) the HAF financial assistance agreement; and (3) a payment information form.
Program Resources
Homeowner Assistance Fund Guidance
Notice of Funds Request
Financial Assistance Agreement Template