Virginia Mortgage Relief Program offers housing stability for Virginia homeowners
Wednesday, August 9, 2023/Categories: News Board
Virginia Housing’s Virginia Mortgage Relief Program, or VMRP, is providing assistance to eligible homeowners experiencing delinquency due to a financial hardship resulting from the Covid-19 pandemic to help address mortgage and/or other qualified home ownership-related delinquencies to avoid default, foreclosure, or displacement. Since the program launched on January 3, 2021, the VMRP has assisted more than 10,000 households across the Commonwealth and disbursed more than $171 million in assistance to eligible Virginia homeowners.
Are you a homeowner still struggling? Apply today, as funding is limited. As the program nears full disbursement of allocated U.S. Treasury funds, effective October 1, 2023, VMRP will no longer accept new applications. The Commonwealth’s federal funding is limited, but VMRP will continue to operate until the program reaches full disbursement of the $258 million the Commonwealth of Virginia received through the American Rescue Plan Act and the U.S. Department of the Treasury. Eligible applications submitted prior to October 1, 2023, will be processed based on remaining funding availability, with applicants at risk of foreclosure taking priority in the process.
Program eligibility
To be eligible for VMRP assistance, an individual must meet the following eligibility requirements:
- A homeowner with a primary residence in Virginia.
- The applicant experienced financial hardship due to the COVID-19 pandemic after January 21, 2020 (this may include a financial hardship that began before January 21, 2020, and continued after that date due to COVID-19).
- The applicant’s household must meet certain maximum income restrictions.
- The homeowner is seeking assistance with mortgage payments or other eligible housing-related costs.
Qualified expenses
Housing obligations – such as mortgage, property tax, insurance and HOA fees – as listed below are eligible uses of VMRP proceeds:
- Mortgage payment assistance on first and subordinate mortgages, including down payment assistance loans provided by nonprofit or government entities.
- Financial assistance to allow a homeowner to reinstate a mortgage or to pay other housing-related costs related to a period of forbearance, delinquency, or default.
- Homeowner’s insurance, flood insurance and mortgage insurance.
- Payment assistance for delinquent property taxes to prevent homeowner tax foreclosures.
- Personal property taxes and, in some cases, lot rental fees on unaffixed mobile homes. However, applications for lot rent only are not eligible under VMRP.
- Homeowner’s association fees, condominium association fees or common charges, including for a lien extinguishment.
The maximum amount of assistance to eligible homeowners is $50,000, with no limit on the number of months past due, depending on funding availability. Please note it may take up to 90 days to process an application. If you think you may reach or exceed this cap within that time period, it is recommended you discuss available options with your servicer as soon as possible. Exceeding the $50,000 cap will make you ineligible for VMRP assistance. Your servicer may be able to provide you with payment options.
Apply today
To apply or learn more about VMRP, visit www.VirginiaMortgageRelief.com or call 833-OUR-VMRP (833-687-8677), Monday through Friday, from 8 a.m. to 8 p.m. Funding is limited, apply today.
Request printed materials
If your organization would like printed materials to have on hand and/or distribute at a community event, you may request printed materials by completing an online form at www.VirginiaMortgageRelief.com/Partners. Our VMRP Outreach Team will coordinate a pickup or shipment of materials to your office.
Contact
Jayme Houck
Virginia Mortgage Relief Program
Senior Outreach Specialist
Jayme.Houck@virginiamortgagerelief.com