PAHAF stands for the Pennsylvania Homeowner Assistance Fund. This is a federally funded program to help Pennsylvania homeowners who have been unable to pay their mortgage, taxes, and/or some other household debts because of COVID-19.

You can apply for help in two different ways. You can apply online at https://pahaf.org or by telephone at 1-888-987-2423.

You may be eligible for help if the following sounds like your situation:

• I have experienced a financial hardship after January 21, 2020, OR I experienced a financial hardship before January 21, 2020, but that hardship continued after January 21, 2020.
• My income falls into one of these two categories:
  • My income is equal to or less than 150% of the area median income, OR
  • My income is 100% of the median income for the United States ($79,900)
• You can find the area median incomes here: https://www.huduser.gov/portal/datasets/il/il2021/select_Geography_haf.odn
• I currently live in the home I am trying to save, and that home is located within Pennsylvania.

Homeowners may receive money to pay the delinquency and reinstate the mortgage, as well as future payments towards the mortgage. You also may be able to get relief with delinquent taxes if the delinquency places the homeowner at risk for mortgage foreclosure or displacement from the home. Utility assistance may be available for homeowners with arrears as they apply for other assistance or as an application for utility assistance only.

Yes, you can apply directly to PAHAF for assistance. You can also get help from NPLS if you live in our service area, so we can help you understand the program and help you with the application, if needed. You must promise to work with the organization that is helping you submit your application, or with PAHAF directly if you are applying by yourself. This means that you must gather certain documents when requested and regularly communicate any problems you have gathering information.

You must report other assistance you have received, because you cannot get help from two different funds for the same months. For example, if you received energy assistance, you may not be able to get help with your utilities FOR THE SAME MONTHS under this program. You can apply for help for other months.

This does NOT mean medical assistance or financial assistance outside of those programs meant to pay for your mortgage. So, if you received medical assistance, supplemental nutrition assistance, and Social Security, you could apply for this assistance.

Yes! Pennsylvania has a robust history of providing Homeowners Emergency Mortgage Assistance Program (HEMAP).  You can apply by contacting the Pennsylvania Housing Finance Agency.  

PHFA - Pennsylvania Housing Finance Agency

When you get this notice, you must contact a Housing Counselor on the list provided and have a face-to-face meeting within 33 days of the date it was postmarked to apply for assistance. Pennsylvania has a loan program called Homeowner’s Emergency Mortgage Assistance Program (HEMAP) that can provide emergency assistance. This is very important; you have limited time to get your application to the Pennsylvania Housing Finance Agency (PHFA) and the housing counselors help you apply. If you submit your application, PHFA has sixty days to review the application and during that time, the lender cannot file foreclosure. More information about HEMAP is available at PHFA’s website, www.phfa.org.

If more than 33 days have passed, you should still apply for assistance, however you may be responsible for more of the lender's costs and fees and they might be able to continue with the foreclosure action.  

Pennsylvania has a loan program called Homeowner’s Emergency Mortgage Assistance Program (HEMAP) that is available if you have fallen behind on your mortgage through no fault of your own. HEMAP loans can cover back payments (arrears) as well as up to 24-36 months of future payments.  These loans may be one time payments for the arrears or ongoing to help with future payments.  In order to qualify, you must be able to show that you are likely able to restart your regular mortgage payments within 3 years.  HEMAP loans do have to be repaid, but the monthly payment is based on your income and will not be less than $25.00 per month.  If you sell the property before paying back the HEMAP loan, it will get paid from the sale.  

More information about HEMAP is available at PHFA’s website, www.phfa.org.

Yes! You may still be able to receive assistance. However, you may not be entitled to a pause in the proceeding, and you may be responsible for the lender’s attorney’s fees. 
 

No. In Pennsylvania, the Sheriff’s Office has between 20 and 40 days (this means that the Sheriff cannot transfer the deed in less than 20 days, but must do so before 40 days) to transfer the deed to the new purchaser. The new purchaser must file an Ejectment Action in the Court of Common Pleas if anyone is still living in the home and does not leave voluntarily. 

If you are served an Ejectment Action, you should contact an attorney as soon as possible.  You have 20 days to respond to the complaint.  If you do not respond, you will get another notice giving you an additional 10 days to respond from the date it is mailed.  If no response is filed, the court will enter a judgment for possession.  The plaintiff will then be able to ask for an order to remove you from the home.  

You have ten days to appeal a Writ for Possession. If you do not appeal within that timeframe, you typically cannot appeal. Appeals in these types of cases are very difficult to win. After those ten days have passed, you will receive a notice of the date and time by which you must vacate the home. 

If the lending bank has purchased the home at the sheriff’s sale, they may be willing to give Cash for Keys to assist you in moving to a new home. The sooner you request this and the sooner you vacate the home, the more money you can ask for. If approved, you must remove all of your belongings and leave the home clean. They will then do a walkthrough and if your home is in broom swept condition, they will issue you a check. 
 

It depends.  Many home loans are backed by the Fanny Mae, Freddy Mac, and FHA.  These federally backed loans may have more protections than others during the pandemic. 

The protections that may apply to you can be complicated and you should talk to an attorney or non-profit housing counseling agency about your options.

Probably! You also may qualify for certain assistance programs either through your mortgage company or through the state. You should check with a certified housing counselor or an attorney. 
 

Yes.  Many mortgage companies provide options for forbearance.  You should contact your service directly to find out about your options.  If you would like assistance, you could contact a non-profit housing counselor to discuss your options.  

A deed-in-lieu of foreclosure is when you sign over your home to the bank instead of them instituting a foreclosure action. A short sale is when the bank agrees to allow you to sell the home and they will accept less than the amount owed on the mortgage. This amount must be approved by the bank.