Texas Homeowners Assistance Program: Helping Texans Rebuild After Disaster

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Texas Homeowners Assistance Program is a good solution for your financial needs in terms of mortgage payments, home insurance, property taxes, and other utility fees. The assistance is given as a grant, which means that beneficiaries are not required to pay back the money.

Texas Homeowners Assistance Program is supervised by the Texas Department of Housing and Community Affairs or TDHCA and funded by the Homeowner Assistance Fund (HAF) which is implemented as per the American Rescue Plan Act of 2021. What is Texas Homeowner Assistance Program? Who are qualified, and what are the steps on how to apply? Read on to learn more.

What is Texas Homeowners Assistance Program?

Texas Homeowners Assistance Program, also known as Texas Homeowners Assistance Fund Program is a home assistance program specifically for people who are living in Texas. This program helps individuals and families pay for mortgage payments, home repairs, insurance payments, and other home and utility expenses. To receive benefits, you should go through the legal application process. Let’s learn more about that in the next part of the article.

Eligibility Requirements

Just like other assistance programs, there are eligibility requirements that applicants must meet in order to receive such grants. If you plan on applying for the Texas Homeowner Assistance Program, here is the list of eligibility requirements that you need to meet.

  • Must be behind on financial obligations such as mortgage payments, property taxes, property insurance, and other utility fees.
  • Must be a legal citizen living in Texas.
  • Must provide proof of financial hardship and proof of residence such as bills, income documents, or other papers that state your income and that you live in Texas.
  • A household income should be at 100% or lower of the Average Median Income in the United States.

Note: They may ask for additional requirements and documents, so make sure you have all the pertinent documents with you when you plan to apply for assistance via walk-in. You may also inquire about the program’s nearest office to get a complete list of the necessary documents for your application. If you prefer talking on the phone, you may call their customer service at 1-833-651-3874.

Services Offered

The program primarily offers up to 65,000 dollars per qualified household. Once your application for the Texas Homeowner Assistance Program is approved, you can get the following services:

  1. Financial assistance on utility bills that are about three months past due. Of the 65,000 dollars grant, you can use 10,000 dollars for utility expenses.
  2. Financial assistance on paying for property taxes and home insurance.
  3. Financial assistance on mortgage payments. The program may also offer assistance in paying mortgage fees in advance.
Application Process for the Texas Homeowner Assistance Program

Below is an overview of the application process for the assistance program.

  • The first step to take is to check if you are eligible for the program. You can check your eligibility by answering the questions on the eligibility quiz.
  • After completing the eligibility quiz, the next step is completing your application.
  • Once you are done submitting your application online, you should patiently wait for the review process. In this part, they will review and assess your application to determine if you are eligible for the assistance program.
  • This is part of the review process of your application. This is also referred to as the initial review process wherein they will review your application form along with the pertinent documents that you submitted.
  • In the fifth step, they will confirm the information on your loan and property expenses. This is part of determining whether you are eligible for the Texas Homeowners Assistance Program.
  • After confirming your property expenses, your documents will undergo a verification process. This is the final eligibility review of your application.
  • Once all the information you submitted is verified and approved, all you have to do is to wait for your grant payment.

Final Word

The Texas Homeowner Assistance Program can help homeowners pay for past due payments like mortgages, home insurance fees, or utility fees. In applying for this assistance program, you must meet the eligibility requirements listed above and go through the step-by-step process of the application.

Frequently Asked Questions
How much assistance can I apply for?

Generally, the Texas Homeowner Assistance Program provides up to 65,000 dollars worth of assistance to eligible households. The money should be used for eligible expenses such as past-due mortgage payments, utility bills, and property charges.

What are the eligible properties?

Below is a list of eligible properties for the Texas Homeowner Assistance Program.
• Condominium unit
• Single-family property
• 1 to 4-unit property. The homeowner should live in a unit as a primary residence
• Mobile homes that are not affixed as real properties
• Manufactures homes or properties that are affixed as real properties. They should also be taxed as a real estate property.

Am I eligible for assistance if my loan is in forbearance?

Forbearance refers to the situation wherein your mortgage servicer allows you to reduce mortgage payments within a period of time. Homeowners whose loan is in forbearance are not eligible for the Texas Homeowner Assistance Program. Fortunately, you can ask your loan servicer to find a way to exit forbearance to be eligible for assistance.

How are the payments made?

Once your application is approved, the grant payment will be automatically sent to the mortgage servicer, insurance company, utility provider, or homeowners association.

Can I appeal if my application is denied?

You can file an appeal if you think that your application was denied unreasonably. To file an appeal, you need to go to the program’s online portal and find the option to appeal there. Take note that you need to submit the appeal within 30 days after the time of being denied. You need to attach facts and evidence to prove that your application should be reconsidered as well.

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