New York Homeowners Assistance Fund (HAF) Mortgage Help

[BP11219]

Anyone knows someone who got already funded in NYS?

[dovy2]

@cgr
just got my future payment application denied, because those sneaky fellas added a clause to the policy-manual just recently, adding a requirement to actually be getting unemployment benefits, and not "just" unemployed.
even a month after applying, I went through the whole manual and there was no mention of it.. are they legally allowed to do that?

[cgr]

@cgr
just got my future payment application denied, because those sneaky fellas added a clause to the policy-manual just recently, adding a requirement to actually be getting unemployment benefits, and not "just" unemployed.
even a month after applying, I went through the whole manual and there was no mention of it.. are they legally allowed to do that?

As far as I know this requirement has been around since the program opened.
See the Policy Manual here: https://www.nyhomeownerfund.org/policy-manual
Section "Forward Payment (FP) Eligibility Criteria", #3.
Eligible applicants must have one unemployed member of the household to qualify for FP. One of the following criteria must be met: (1) the applicant or a member of the applicant household is currently receiving unemployment benefits, OR (2) the applicant or a member of the applicant’s household had their unemployment benefits expire on or after September 5, 2021.

[dovy2]

As far as I know this requirement has been around since the program opened.
See the Policy Manual here: https://www.nyhomeownerfund.org/policy-manual
Section "Forward Payment (FP) Eligibility Criteria", #3.
Eligible applicants must have one unemployed member of the household to qualify for FP. One of the following criteria must be met: (1) the applicant or a member of the applicant household is currently receiving unemployment benefits, OR (2) the applicant or a member of the applicant’s household had their unemployment benefits expire on or after September 5, 2021.

That quote definitely was not there a month ago.
It then gave the option of supplying a letter of germination from the employer, or a letter of employment.
I literally went through the policy manual so many times.

[dealsrus]

@cgr
just got my future payment application denied, because those sneaky fellas added a clause to the policy-manual just recently, adding a requirement to actually be getting unemployment benefits, and not "just" unemployed.
even a month after applying, I went through the whole manual and there was no mention of it.. are they legally allowed to do that?

Did you get any assistance?

[cgr]

That quote definitely was not there a month ago.
It then gave the option of supplying a letter of germination from the employer, or a letter of employment.
I literally went through the policy manual so many times.

I don't know the exact date they added it (I agree that it wasn't there prior the program's opening), but it was around by January 3 when the program opened.

[dovy2]

I don't know the exact date they added it (I agree that it wasn't there prior the program's opening), but it was around by January 3 when the program opened.

The wording allowing the letter of termination from the employer was there in early february. that's when I uploaded my documents, and I even copy-pasted from there to the "notes" section, while uploading.

[dealsrus]

Status shows "Assigned to Case Management" for over a month. Anything to do?  Anyone get anything yet?

[dealsrus]

Anyone get any help/assistance yet?

[cgr]

In late April 2022, after the application window closed, program requirements were changed in order to further narrow eligibility. Changes include:
-applicants can no longer receive forward mortgage assistance- forward assistance is only available for non-escrowed taxes, water/sewer, and condo/co-op/HOA dues
-applicants can now qualify for forward assistance if their housing costs, excluding mortgage costs (so limited to non-escrowed taxes, water/sewer, and condo/co-op/HOA dues), exceeds 50% of their monthly gross income
-only costs that have come due prior to January 1, 2022 qualify for assistance (it specifically states non-mortgage debt, but they seem to be applying this to mortgage debt as well)

https://www.nyhomeownerfund.org/bulletins

[dealsrus]

In late April 2022, after the application window closed, program requirements were changed in order to further narrow eligibility. Changes include:
-applicants can no longer receive forward mortgage assistance- forward assistance is only available for non-escrowed taxes, water/sewer, and condo/co-op/HOA dues
-applicants can now qualify for forward assistance if their housing costs, excluding mortgage costs (so limited to non-escrowed taxes, water/sewer, and condo/co-op/HOA dues), exceeds 50% of their monthly gross income
-only costs that have come due prior to January 1, 2022 qualify for assistance (it specifically states non-mortgage debt, but they seem to be applying this to mortgage debt as well)

https://www.nyhomeownerfund.org/bulletins

Oh wow, they keep changing requirements.
Thanks for the update.

[tov hashem]

Did anyone got funds from this program?

[cgr]

Did anyone got funds from this program?

Yes, although they managed to find a way to approve 90% of applicants for less than $10k.

[dovy2]

Yes, although they managed to find a way to approve 90% of applicants for less than $10k.

What are they gonna do with the rest of the funds they have?

[cgr]

Here they go again... new rule changes.
Forward Mortgage payments reinstated.
Water/Sewer forward payment option removed.
https://www.nyhomeownerfund.org/policy-manual

[cgr]

And again...

https://www.nyhomeownerfund.org/policy-manual
October 5, 2022
NYS HAF Award Cap Increases to $95,000

As of September 30, 2022, the NYS HAF Maximum Assistance Amount is $95,000 for mortgage applicants who receive financial assistance for mortgage reinstatement, principal reduction and/or mortgage forward payments. For these applicants, the combination of all mortgage and non-mortgage arrears must be within $95,000.

For applicants who receive financial assistance for non-mortgage arrears only, the NYS HAF Maximum Assistance Amount remains at $50,000.

[dovy2]

since they changed the rules, they are actually going back and reaching out to old denied applicants and approving them.. I got approved for 48k (much more than I originally applied for) (see my post in the IGWT thread)

[dealsrus]

And again...

https://www.nyhomeownerfund.org/policy-manual
October 5, 2022
NYS HAF Award Cap Increases to $95,000

As of September 30, 2022, the NYS HAF Maximum Assistance Amount is $95,000 for mortgage applicants who receive financial assistance for mortgage reinstatement, principal reduction and/or mortgage forward payments. For these applicants, the combination of all mortgage and non-mortgage arrears must be within $95,000.

For applicants who receive financial assistance for non-mortgage arrears only, the NYS HAF Maximum Assistance Amount remains at $50,000.

If they only paid the balance through Jan 2022, would I need to bring my balance current now to be eligible for the new payments or would they help towards the balance from Jan?

[yosefsv]

since they changed the rules, they are actually going back and reaching out to old denied applicants and approving them.. I got approved for 48k (much more than I originally applied for) (see my post in the IGWT thread)

Same here. I got approved now for 6 months forward payments. (TYH that I applied back in Jan even though I expected to get denied... I was/am up to date on my mortgage and I did not collect UI Benefits)
Thank you @cgr for bringing all the programs to our attention.

[cgr]

Here are the next round of changes:
-for arrears: delinquent property taxes is defined as any tax bill that was issued in 2021-2022 or earlier. Taxes levied for the 2022-2023 tax year are not eligible for a HAF award.
-for forward payments: NYS HAF is no longer offering forward payment assistance for NYC property taxes.
-homeowners with arrears in excess of $200,000 are ineligible for NYS HAF.

https://www.nyhomeownerfund.org/policy-manual