Homeowner Assistance Fund Program (HAF) is a financial assistance program accessed via a digital portal, that serves as a one-stop shop, providing grants to District homeowners impacted by COVID-19 who are struggling with their mortgage payments and other property or housing expenses.

No. HAF provides grants. Unlike loans, they don’t have to be paid back.

If you have questions about the Homeowner Assistance Fund Program, call (202) 540-7407 or email [email protected].

Each household can receive up to $120,000. But there are limits for each type of assistance. Please refer to the Program Benefits section for more information.

There are many Community-Based Organizations (CBOs) in the District that offer housing counseling to residents. You may contact a CBO of your choice, and a housing counselor can answer your housing questions. Please refer to the Required Documents & Resources section for a list of CBOs.

Please visit the Required Documents & Resources section for a list of legal service providers.

An attestation is your confirmation that something is true. For some parts of the HAF application, you will be asked to describe and attest to the nature of your circumstances or financial hardship. Examples are: job loss, lower income, or increased costs due to your own healthcare or the need to care for a family member.

LEDC is our partner. They’re processing HAF applications and payments for us, which is why you may hear from them.  

The DC foreclosure moratorium has been extended city-wide to June 30, 2022, and for homeowners who applied for federal housing assistance, including HAF, until September 30, 2022.  

The Foreclosure Moratorium Extension Emergency Amendment Act of 2022, D.C. Act 24-320, signed by DC Mayor Muriel Bowser on February 3, 2022, prohibits foreclosure of owner-occupied and heir-occupied homes based on unpaid condo fees, property taxes, or mortgages, through June 30, 2022. In addition, this emergency law further extends a foreclosure moratorium to September 30, 2022, for homeowners who have an application for certain government homeowner assistance (including the HAF program) pending approval, pending payment, or under appeal.

You may be eligible for the Homeowner Assistance Fund if you meet the following criteria:

• You are a District homeowner
• You have fallen behind on mortgage, property charges or utility/internet payments
• Your household is at or below a certain income limit
• You have experienced a COVID-19 related hardship
• Your loan does not exceed the conforming loan limit a time of origination

For more details related to the eligibility requirements, please visit the Do I Qualify? section.

Financial hardship means a material reduction in income or increase in living expenses associated with the coronavirus pandemic. The hardship has created or increased a risk of mortgage delinquency, mortgage default, foreclosure, loss of utilities or home energy services, or displacement for a homeowner.

No. But you’re encouraged to talk to them about options they offer to get you back on track.

Yes. You must provide documentation to show you qualify. See the Required Documents Checklist for details.

Socially disadvantaged individuals belong to a group whose ability to purchase or own a home has been impaired due to diminished access to credit on reasonable terms as compared to others in comparable economic circumstances. The impairment stems from circumstances beyond their control.

Yes, you can still apply for HAF. You may need to coordinate with your bankruptcy attorney and Trustee during the review process.

Yes. The income limits are based on adjusted gross income and household size. For limits, go to the Do I Qualify section.

You can find more information, see if you qualify, and apply at haf.dc.gov. You’ll create a profile, answer a pre-screening questionnaire, and complete your application online. Applications are only accepted through this site.

These steps must happen before you can receive HAF assistance.
1)    You create a profile and complete Pre-Screening Questionnaire
2)    You complete the application
3)    You attend housing counseling while your application is being reviewed
4)    We review your eligibility and benefits
5)    You provide corrections, if necessary
6)    We notify you of your eligibility
7)    Your mortgage company or other service providers confirm your information
8)    HAF issues payments directly to service provider
Please go to “What Should I Expect?” section for details.

If you need assistance in filling out the online application, please contact a housing counselor listed on the Required Documents & Resources page.

If you need help along the way in the application portal, the fastest option is to use the "chat feature" or email [email protected] for technical assistance.

Yes. You can assist someone with an application by identifying yourself as a “representative” in the application. The applicant is responsible for all attestations and signing the application. All documentation, including proof of identity, needs to be related to the applicant, not the one providing assistance in the application process.

The application is available online only. This speeds the data collection and application review process. If you need assistance in filling out the online application, please contact a housing counselor listed on the Required Documents & Resources page.

We will send updates about your application and requests for more information, if needed, to your email address.

Yes. If the applicant is determined to be ineligible, the applicant may appeal the eligibility determination within 15 days of notification by resubmitting documentation for reconsideration.

At the end of your application, you will receive contact information for a Housing Counseling agency. Applicants with select circumstances will be required to meet with a housing counselor before HAF payments are made.

However, we highly recommend all HAF applicants attend a personalized housing counseling session. Your application will continue to be processed during this time.

HAF provides assistance with:
•    Mortgages
•    Property Charges including fees for housing associations, property taxes and homeowners insurance
•    Utility/internet

Go to the Program Benefits section for more details.

Yes. Reverse mortgages and home equity lines of credit may be eligible for assistance.

Yes, housing associations include homeowner associations (HOAs), condominium associations and housing cooperatives.

It is important to identify who is collecting your past due payment in your application. HAF will work with that organization for payment.

HAF is currently only working with those organizations for utility assistance.

HAF is currently working with to pay the internet portion of your bill.

The type of documentation needed depends on the type of assistance you are requesting. For example, if you are requesting mortgage assistance, you will need to provide an official mortgage statement from your lender/servicers. If you are requesting utility assistance, you will need to provide a bill from your utility services provider. You will find examples of accepted forms of documentation in the Required Documents & Resources tab.

You must attest to having experienced financial hardship after January 21, 2021 and describe the nature of the financial hardship. Examples are job loss, pay reduction or increased costs due to your own heathcare or needing to care for a family member. You’ll also have to confirm that what you state in your application is true.

If you’re seeking mortgage assistance, your original loan amount can’t be more than the conforming loan limit at the time of origination. You can check if your loan is eligible by looking at the Conforming Loan Limits table.

You will be required to provide updated statements from a third-party source. Examples are: mortgage, condo association, homeowner insurance statements) showing a past due balance. Specific documentation can be found on the Required Documents Checklist.

Yes, all applicants are required to provide income information for EVERY adult member of the household. The standard income documentation can be found on the Required Documents Checklist.

Yes, if you haven’t filed taxes for calendar year 2020 or 2021 you can still apply. But you will need to provide other current income documents. See the Required Documents Checklist.

Yes. You may still be eligible to apply. You will be contacted by program staff to discuss your income.