Oregon Housing and Community Services (OHCS) is closing the Oregon Homeowner Assistance Fund (HAF) program to most new applicants to avoid overcommitting funds.
The application portal will close at noon on December 20th, but homeowners who are in active foreclosure may still be able to apply through a housing counselor.
Ryan Vanden Brink, assistant director of Homeowner Assistance Programs, said they're encouraging homeowners who are at imminent risk of housing displacement or anyone who meets one of the additional eligibility criteria listed on the HAF website to apply for assistance before noon December 20th.
Vanden Brink said although they are accepting new applications, there may not be enough funds for everyone who applies as the program winds down. He said existing applicants can continue to log on to the HAF portal to check the status of their application or scheduled payments.
OHCS planned its HAF program to operate as a safety net for the most at-risk homeowners who have no viable workout option, so those homeowners will receive priority processing. If funds still remain after the portal closes and applications are processed, HAF intake partners will be able to submit new applications on behalf of homeowners in a judicial foreclosure action or in non-judicial foreclosure with a scheduled sale date.
These applicants may need to complete intake paperwork and foreclosure prevention counseling before working with a counselor. Funding may not be available for all these new applications.
In Josephine and Jackson counties, contact ACCESS at (541)-774-4305.
