CHARLESTON, W.VA.— After connecting 6,500 West Virginia households with more than $40 million in federal COVID relief funding, the West Virginia Homeowners Rescue Program has stopped accepting new applications.
This emergency program, launched in March 2022, has helped homeowners across the state catch up on their housing costs by paying delinquent mortgages, utility bills, real property taxes, insurance premiums, and other eligible expenses. In July 2023, the program began offering homeowners up to $10,000 to help make critical home repairs.
“The COVID-19 pandemic didn’t just affect people’s health, it affected their wallets as well,” said Jessica Greathouse, Special Programs Manager for the West Virginia Housing Development Fund which oversees the Homeowners Rescue Program. “With hours or wages cut or jobs lost because of the pandemic, many West Virginians got behind in their mortgage payments and other housing costs. Our program stepped in to help homeowners across the state avoid foreclosure or tax sale, reconnect their utilities, and make their homes safe and livable—all in an effort to keep roofs over people’s heads and provide some certainty in the wake of the pandemic.”
West Virginia Homeowners Rescue was awarded funding through the American Rescue Plan Act to assist eligible homeowners with their housing costs. West Virginia joins several other states that have successfully spent this federal money to help millions of pandemic-affected Americans achieve or maintain housing stability.
Applications that were fully submitted prior to the portal closure at noon on May 8 will still be considered, though no new claims will be added. The program will continue its processing operations until all applications are either approved or rejected. Due to the high volume of applications, timelines for processing will vary.
Homeowners who still need help with their mortgage payments should contact their loan servicer or connect with one of the program’s certified housing counseling agencies listed on the website, www.wvhomerescue.com. Many utility companies also offer payment plans to those who qualify. Lower-income West Virginians may be eligible for utility help through the West Virginia Department of Human Services. Homeowners can also visit www.wvhdf.com/housing-stability for more resources and information.
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