Minnesota homeowners who are behind on mortgage payments due to the COVID-19 pandemic have had more time to apply for government financial assistance, state housing commissioner Jennifer Ho announced Tuesday. .
The state’s HomeHelpMN program, which has been helping residents with housing-related costs since May, was due to end Wednesday, but recent trends are rising foreclosure and eviction rates for those affected by the disease. Ho said it has been extended and expanded because it shows that
In addition to lifting the application deadline, the agency has increased the limit of assistance from $35,000 to $50,000 and will now accept past due expenses incurred before January 21, 2020.
So far, 4,688 households have applied for an average of $11,000. Ho estimates that up to 25,000 income-eligible homeowners may need help, but have not yet applied.
The program is funded by federal emergency grants that Congress approved last year. Minnesota has received $128 million for the program, and Ho said it will continue to accept applications as long as funds are available.
Minnesotans can apply at HomeHelpMN.org or by calling 1-800-388-3226.
RentHelpMN, the state financial assistance program for renters, ended last spring. The housing agency received 101,680 applications and paid out $449 million in assistance before the program ended.