Emergency Homeowners' Loan Program (EHLP)

Am I Eligible?

The states listed below are running foreclosure prevention programs funded through the U.S. Treasury's Hardest Hit Fund. If you live in one of these states, click on the corresponding link below and you will be routed to that state's Hardest Hit program web page:

  • Alabama (http://www.hardesthitalabama.com/)
  • Arizona (http://www.azhousing.gov/)
  • California (http://www.keepyourhomecalifornia.org/)
  • Florida (https://www.flhardesthithelp.org/)
  • Georgia (http://www.dca.state.ga.us/housing/homeownership/programs/hardesthitfund.asp)
  • Illinois (http://www.ihda.org/)
  • Indiana (http://www.877gethope.org/)
  • Kentucky (http://www.kyhousing.org/)
  • Michigan (http://www.michigan.gov/mshda/0,1607,7-141--235359--,00.html)
  • Mississippi (http://www.mshomecorp.com/firstpage.htm)
  • Nevada (http://www.nahac.org/)
  • New Jersey (http://www.njhomekeeper.gov/)
  • North Carolina (http://www.ncforeclosureprevention.gov/)
  • Ohio (http://www.savethedream.ohio.gov/)
  • Oregon (http://www.oregonhomeownerhelp.org/)
  • Rhode Island (http://www.hhfri.org/)
  • South Carolina (http://www.scmortgagehelp.com/)
  • Tennessee (http://www.thda.org/)
  • Washington, D.C.(https://www.homesaverdc.org/)
State Programs that are directly administering EHLP funds include:
  • Connecticut Housing Finance Authority (http://www.chfa.org/)
  • Delaware State Housing Authority (http://www.destatehousing.com/)
  • Idaho Housing Finance Association (http://www.ihfa.org/)
  • Maryland Department of Housing and Community Development (http://www.mdhope.org/EMA.aspx)
  • Pennsylvania Housing Finance Agency (http://www.phfa.org/consumers/homeowners/ehlp.aspx)

If you live in one of the other 27 states or Puerto Rico not listed above you may be eligible for the HUD administered EHLP program. For a list of the 27 states and jurisdictions participating in the EHLP click here (http://www.hud.gov/offices/hsg/sfh/hcc/ehlp/ehlpstates.cfm).

For a preliminary determination as to whether you may be eligible for EHLP assistance, please continue reading and complete the following brief survey.

If you have suffered a loss of income of at least 15% resulting directly from unemployment or underemployment caused by adverse economic conditions or a medical emergency, you may qualify for assistance through the Emergency Homeowners' Loan Program (EHLP). The EHLP offers a declining balance, deferred payment loan for up to a maximum of $50,000 or 24 months, whichever occurs first, to assist eligible homeowners with payments of all eligible arrearages and monthly mortgage payment assistance (principal, interest, taxes and insurance, or PITI) on first mortgages.

EHLP Eligibility

If you have suffered a loss of income of at least 15% resulting directly from unemployment or underemployment caused by adverse economic conditions or a medical emergency, you may qualify for assistance through the Emergency Homeowners' Loan Program (EHLP). The EHLP offers a declining balance, deferred payment loan for up to a maximum of $50,000 or 24 months, whichever occurs first, to assist eligible homeowners with payments of all eligible arrearages and monthly mortgage payment assistance (principal, interest, taxes and insurance, or PITI) on first mortgages.

For a preliminary determination as to your possible eligibility for EHLP assistance, answer each of the following questions, and then click on the "Submit" button at the bottom of the page:

1) Is your home a single family property and your primary residence?

Single family properties include 1-to 4-unit structures, as well as condominiums, cooperatives, and manufactured homes that are secured by a mortgage.

2) Are you at least three months delinquent on your monthly mortgage payments and in imminent danger of foreclosure?

3) Have you suffered a significant reduction in income because of involuntary unemployment, involuntary underemployment, and/or a medical emergency? 4) In 2009 (from your 2009 tax return), was the annual income of you and any co-signors on your mortgage combined less than or equal to the greater of either $75,000 or the 120 percent of the Area Median Income (AMI) for a household size of four (4) persons?

Income includes wages, salary, and self-employed earnings and income. Click here to determine the 120 percent AMI income limits for your area.

For this final survey question, you have two options to select from when responding. If the answer to the first question about mortgage delinquency is "Yes", please respond to the subsequent question about your debt-to-income ratio:

5a) In the 24 months prior to your occasion of unemployment/underemployment, were you delinquent on your 1st lien mortgage payment (or 2nd lien, as applicable) only once, if at all?

OR 5b) Is your debt-to-income ratio less than or equal to 55 percent?

Debt-to-income ratio equals sum of principal, interest, taxes, insurance, revolving debt (total of all minimum monthly credit card payments), and installment debt (total of all fixed payment loans such as automobiles, boats, alimony, child support, student loans, etc) divided by monthly income you earned previous to your current unemployment/underemployment.

This site can help you determine if you are eligible for EHLP assistance, but only a designated housing counseling agency can tell you if you qualify.

 
Content Archived: July 28, 2011