The Homeowners' Emergency Mortgage Assistance Program was created by the Pennsylvania Housing Finance Agency during the recession in the 1980s. This is a repayable loan program to provide mortgage assistance for homeowners who are delinquent on their mortgage through no fault of their own. Assistance is temporary and limited to 24 to 36 months from the date of the mortgage delinquency or $60,000. Whichever scenario happens first. 

To be considered for a HEMAP loan, homeowners must first receive an Act 91 notice from their lender. In addition, applicants must also: be Pennsylvania residents who own and occupy the property in foreclosure, be at least 60 days delinquent, be suffering financial hardship through no fault of their own, and show reasonable prospects of being able to resume normal mortgage payments after HEMAP eligibility. 

As a HUD Housing Counseling Agency and a partner with PHFA; we assist eligible homeowners who have received an Act 91 with completing the HEMAP application. Once complete; we submit all required documentation to PHFA for review. During this time foreclosure actions cease until a decision is made. 

The process can take up to four months to complete. State law requires applicants to make an appointment with an Agency like outs within 30 days of receiving their Act 91. Counseling Agencies then have 30 days to complete and submit the application. It typically takes approximately 60 days for PHFA to then make a determination. 

We can still help in this situation. What we can do is provide FREE one-on-one counseling to help you create a more manageable budget, cut costs, review other options such as loan modifications, and assist you in understanding your individual situation.