Eligibility
1. Who is eligible for the WV Homeowner Rescue Program (WVHR)?
To be eligible for the WV Homeowner Rescue Program:
- The applicant must currently own and occupy the property as their primary residence.
- The property must be located in West Virginia.
- Household income cannot exceed 150% of the Area Median Income (AMI) or 100% of the median income for the United States, whichever is greater.
- Homeowners are eligible for assistance if they experienced a financial hardship after January 21, 2020 (including a hardship that began before January 21, 2020 but continued after that date due to Covid-19).
- Homeowners must describe and attest to financial hardship after January 21, 2020, such as job loss, a reduction in household income, incurred significant costs for health care, or other financial hardship due directly or indirectly to the Covid-19 outbreak.
2. Are there other restrictions on the WVHR program?
- Assistance is not available for expenses related to second homes, vacant or abandoned properties, or investment properties.
- The original, unpaid principal balance of the homeowner’s first mortgage or housing loan, at the time of origination, was not greater than the conforming loan limit in effect at time of origination. Click here for the conforming loan limits
- Co-owners are not permitted to separately apply for the WVHR Program.
- WVHR funds will not be awarded for expenses that have been or will be reimbursed under any other federal, state, or local assistance.
3. Must I have a mortgage loan on my primary residence to receive assistance?
No. The WVHR is available to homeowners who do not owe a mortgage on their home to help with past due utilities, internet, property taxes, insurance, and other housing expenses.
4. Who is included as a household member?
Household members include all adults and children living in the unit, including the following;
- Children temporarily absent due to placement in a foster home
- Children in joint custody who live in unit at least 50% of the time
- Children away at school but live with the family during recess
- Unborn children of pregnant women
- Children in the process of being adopted
- Temporarily absent family members who are still considered family members
- Family members in the hospital or rehab facility for limited or fixed time
- Persons permanently confined to a hospital or nursing home.
Does not include live-in aides, guests or individuals living in the unit with a separate lease.
5. Does the WVHR provide assistance to renter households?
No, the WVHR assists those that own their primary residence. If you are a renter seeking assistance you may be eligible for the Mountaineer Rental Assistance Program.
6. What income is included when determining household income?
Income from all household members 18 years and older is included.
7. What income documentation is required?
Applicants may provide evidence that at least one member of the household is currently receiving assistance through the Temporary Assistance to Needy Families Program (TANF); the Children’s Health Insurance Program (CHIP), the Special Nutrition Program for Women, Infants, and Children (WIC); the Special Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP), Section 8 or other government subsidized rent, or Medicaid to meet WVHR’s income requirements.
Applicants living in certain zip codes may also automatically qualify.
Applicants who cannot meet WVHR’s income requirements can provide 2021 Form 1040-Federal Income Tax Returns or income documents for the past 30 days, such as paystubs, unemployment statements*, Social Security statements, and other benefit statements, as applicable.
Exceptions can be made to the documentation requirement “as reasonably necessary to accommodate extenuating circumstances, such as disabilities, practical challenges related to the pandemic, or a lack of technological access by homeowners. In these cases, the HAF participant is still responsible for making the required determination regarding household income and documenting that determination.”
* To obtain unemployment statements please visit:
https://pua.workforcewv.org/vosnet/loginintro.aspx?plang=E
8. Do unemployment benefits count as income for this program?
Yes. Unemployment benefits count as income for this program.
9. Will I be reimbursed for any mortgage payments, utilities, or other housing expenses I have already paid?
No. WVHR does not reimburse applicants for any expenses already paid.
10. Will WVHR assistance payments be paid directly to me?
No. Payments may be made directly to the lender, loan servicer, utility company, internet provider, insurance company, county tax department, or authorized third party as appropriate
11. I have been relying on credit cards or borrowing money to pay my housing expenses. Can I be reimbursed for those payments?
No. You cannot be reimbursed for payments you have already made.
12. Is there a maximum dollar amount for WVHR assistance?
Yes. There is a limit for each type of WVHR assistance.
13. What types of properties are eligible for assistance?
Property must be the homeowner’s primary residence. Property may be a house, condominium, duplex, townhouse, or mobile home.
14. Are trailer homes and trailer rental lots eligible?
Yes, if you own a trailer home or own the trailer and rent the lot, you may be eligible for assistance on the trailer payments and/or expenses.
15. Are homeowners who receive housing relief assistance through another program eligible for assistance?
WVHR funds will not be awarded assistance for eligible expenses that have been or will be reimbursed under any other federal, state or local assistance program. However, eligible households may qualify for WVHR assistance for eligible expenses that are not covered by another source.
Application Process
17. What documents do I need to provide in order to apply?
Click here for a list of documents you will need to apply. All required documents must be provided before an application can be completed. Having all your documents ready when you begin your application will make the application process easier and will allow WVHR team members to begin reviewing your application to provide your assistance.
18. Are all applicants guaranteed assistance?
No, an application is not a guarantee of assistance. Only fully completed applications that provide all required documentation will be reviewed for eligibility.
Applicants who receive a notice of incomplete application with instructions to provide missing information must successfully provide all necessary information to move their application forward. Funding will not be reserved for incomplete applications. Applicants who fail to provide all required information or are found ineligible based on the program’s requirements will not receive assistance.
Applications that could be considered eligible may not receive assistance if funding is no longer available under the program.
19. How are applications prioritized?
Applications will be reviewed after a complete application, including supporting documents, is received.
20. Will I be notified if I am deemed ineligible for assistance?
Yes, you will be notified if you are ineligible, and the reason will be provided.
21. What document file formats are accepted for online applications?
PDF or JPEG picture files can be submitted. Please make sure your PDF or JPEG files are clear and easy to read. You can preview your documents after upload to review before submitting.
If a document is unclear, applicants will be contacted to resubmit information and cause a delay in processing your application.
22. What should I do if I realize I made a mistake in my application after submission?
Please submit an email to explaining the error and providing the correct information. Do not include your social security number, account numbers or other private information in the email. Be sure to include your first and last name and complete address in the email. In the subject line of your email include “WVHR APPLICATION CORRECTION.”
23. What actions should be taken after applying for assistance?
- Log into your application at any time to check its status.
- Check your email inbox frequently (at least daily), including the spam folder, to make sure you are seeing, and responding to any communications that may have been sent by the program processor handling your application.
24. Will WVHR and its partner organizations request applicant information?
WVHR is managed by the West Virginia Housing Development Fund (WVHDF). The WVHDF has contracted with partner organizations to provide administrative support under the WVHR program. These partner organizations may contact applicants to request follow-up information.
25. After I apply, how long will it take before I receive assistance?
After you fill out your application and upload all requested documents, you must complete the application by selecting “Finish” at the bottom of the final page. Incomplete applications will not be processed.
Once an application is completed, it may take several weeks for approval. Please check your email frequently for messages requesting additional information to keep your application moving through the approval process.
26. How is information provided by the applicant used or shared?
Applicants’ sensitive information will be protected at all times and is coded to ensure duplicate payments are not made.
27. Does assistance need to be repaid?
No. However, WVHR participants who falsified documentation required by the program or received duplicate benefits will be required to repay assistance.
28. How can approved WVHR participants be sure assistance has been paid to their mortgage company or other housing expense organizations?
You will receive notification that payment has been made. However, participants may wish to contact your mortgage company or other organizations to confirm.