SPECIAL REPORT – California lawmakers announced, Wednesday, the opening of applications for mortgage relief payments for those who experienced a COVID related income loss. The state hopes to help as many as 40,000 homeowners with the money which is available on a first-come, first-served basis.

The California Mortgage Relief Program has $1 billion in funds from the federal American Rescue Plan’s Homeowners Assistance Fund. Through this program, homeowners who are behind on their payments can have up to $80,000 in past-due mortgage payments repaid in full — with no repayment requirement.

“The intention of these funds is to serve people with low to moderate incomes,” said California Housing Finance Agency Employee Rebecca Franklin. “Additionally, applicants must have missed at least two mortgage payments as of Dec. 27, 2021.”

Eligibility requirements are:

• Be at or below the poverty line in your county
• Own a single-family home
• Have faced pandemic related hardship after Jan. 1, 2020

Once it is verified that an applicant meets all eligibility requirements, money from the program will be sent directly to the mortgage servicer.

There is no deadline to apply but it is encouraged to submit applications as soon as possible, as the program works on a first-come, first-served basis.

For more information about the California Mortgage Relief Program visit https://camortgagerelief.org/