Hawaii Housing Finance & Development Corporation

STATE OF HAWAIʻI HOMEOWNER ASSISTANCE FUND (HAF) PROGRAM

Last updated November 14, 2023

Oʻahu Program Update Only – Effective August 17, 2023, the Oʻahu program is not accepting new applications. Completed applications submitted through August 16, 2023, are still being processed by the service provider, the Council for Native Hawaiian Advancement. Questions about the Oʻahu program and the status of those completed applications may be directed to CNHA at (808) 596-8155.

Other County HAF Programs – Please see table below for county service provider contact information.

ABOUT THE HOMEOWNER ASSISTANCE FUND (HAF) PROGRAM

HAF was established by Section 3206 of the American Rescue Plan Act of 2021. Through the Act, the State of Hawaiʻi Department of Budget and Finance received a total award of $50 million. The funds were sub-awarded to the counties of Hawaiʻi, Kauaʻi, Maui and to the Hawaii Housing Finance and Development Corporation for the island of Oʻahu. Each county’s program is to be administered through a local nonprofit service provider.

HAF mitigates financial hardships associated with the coronavirus pandemic by providing funds to homeowners who experienced financial hardship after January 21, 2020 (including a hardship that began before January 21, 2020 but continued after that date) for the purpose of preventing homeowner mortgage delinquencies, defaults, foreclosures, loss of utilities or home energy services, and displacement through mortgage and other qualified housing expenses. Assistance may be provided for single-family homes only. To be eligible, homeowners must occupy the home as their primary residence and must not have full or partial ownership interest in other real property suitable for dwelling purposes besides the primary residence for which assistance is needed. Other eligibility criteria may apply.

Eligible homeowners may receive mortgage assistance in the form of mortgage reinstatement or mortgage default resolution (including payments under a forbearance plan) as well as mortgage payment assistance for up to 12 months. Eligible mortgages are first mortgages and reverse mortgages only. Mortgage assistance payments must be remitted directly to the mortgage servicer. Homeowners cannot be reimbursed for mortgage expenses already paid.

Other qualified housing expenses include property taxes, homeowner association (HOA) fees, Planned Unit Development (PUD) community association fees, leasehold payments, utility payments, and/or any hazard, hurricane, flood, or mortgage insurance as long as the dwelling is a single-family residence and regardless of whether or not the homeowner has an eligible mortgage. Payments must be remitted directly to the applicable service provider. Homeowners cannot be reimbursed for other qualified housing expenses previously paid.

For those who qualify, the program may provide mortgage counseling, legal services or cover up to $60,000 in mortgage or other qualified housing expenses. Homeowners at 150% AMI or below are eligible to apply, regardless of race or ethnicity. In accordance with Section 3206 of the Act, 60% of the funds must be prioritized to homeowners with incomes at or below 100% AMI with remaining funds prioritized to those meeting the definition of socially disadvantaged individuals as defined in the HAF plan and approved by the U.S. Treasury.

City and County of Honolulu/ Island of Oʻahu: Service Provider: Council for Native Hawaiian Advancement (CNHA) Website: https://www.hawaiiancouncil.org/oahu-homeowner-assistance-fund-2/ Phone: (808) 596-8155 The Oʻahu program is no longer accepting applications as of August 17, 2023. Applications completed and submitted by August 16, 2023, will be processed. For an update on application status, contact CNHA.
Hawaiʻi County: Service Provider: Hawaiʻi Community Lending (HCL) Website: https://hawaiicommunitylending.com/grants-loans/ Phone: (808) 934-0801
Kauaʻi County: Service Provider: Hawaiʻi Community Lending (HCL) Website: https://hawaiicommunitylending.com/grants-loans/ Phone: (808) 934-0801
*Maui County Service Provider: NA Website: NA Phone: NA	*Maui County’s HAF Program is not yet active. A request for proposals (RFP) was published for the Maui HAF Program on Monday, May 8, 2023. The RFP closed on Saturday, May 24, 2023, at 2 p.m. Hawaiʻi Standard Time. A proposal was not received in response to the RFP. Maui County is exploring alternate options to stand up the program.
State of Hawaii Contact Agency: Hawaii Housing Finance and Development Corporation Email: [email protected] Phone: (808) 587-0579

ADDITIONAL INFORMATION

HAF State Plans are accessible on U.S. Department of Treasury’s website here.

The 2023 Hawaii Homeowner Assistance Fund (HAF) Annual Report is here.

The Consumer Financial Protection Bureau HAF Website is: Get Homeowner Assistance Funds | Consumer Financial Protection Bureau (consumerfinance.gov)

 

This website is supported, in whole or in part, by federal award number HAF0002 awarded to the State of Hawaii by the U.S. Department of the Treasury.