PENNSYLVANIA — The Pennsylvania Housing Finance Agency (PHFA) has made significant strides in providing aid to homeowners affected by the pandemic, according to recent data. The state was granted $350 million as part of the American Rescue Plan Act of 2021, aimed at preventing mortgage defaults and foreclosures, loss of utilities, and displacement of homeowners due to financial hardship brought on by COVID-19.
From July through November, the PHFA program disbursed an additional $11.7 million to homeowners in need of support, assisting a total of 14,209 households. The remaining funds to be distributed amount to $118 million.
In an ongoing effort to streamline the application process, the agency is urging applicants to re-register using the new software implemented by the PHFA. This initiative enables homeowners to update their documents and track their application progress more accurately.
The PHFA has employed various strategies to encourage re-registration, including emails, mailed letters in English and Spanish, phone calls from PAHAF call center representatives, and community events across the state. It has also sought media assistance in promoting this effort.
Homeowners can re-register through the website or over the phone with the help of trained customer service personnel. The process is estimated to take approximately 30 minutes.
The Pennsylvania Homeowner Assistance Fund (PAHAF) has received numerous emails from grateful homeowners who have been able to avoid foreclosure thanks to the program’s assistance.
Earlier this year, the PHFA transitioned the full management of PAHAF from a third-party vendor to its in-house team with the goal of speeding up payments to eligible Pennsylvania homeowners. As part of this move, the agency strengthened program procedures, hired additional employees, trained dedicated call center staff, and implemented the Neighborly software system to improve application tracking.
Current PAHAF applicants include homeowners who have experienced an income reduction or rise in living expenses due to the pandemic after January 21, 2020. The assistance provided is being used for mortgage reinstatement, forward mortgage payments, property charges, and unpaid utility bills. Funds are distributed directly to mortgage lenders, service providers, utility providers, and other authorized third parties, not to the homeowners themselves.
The program has until September 2025 to distribute all $350 million of PAHAF funding, continuing its mission to support Pennsylvania homeowners affected by the ongoing impacts of the pandemic.
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