ATLANTA – State Representative Sandra Scott (D-Rex) seeks to educate homeowners in House District 76 about the state’s mortgage assistance and forbearance plan programs to help prevent foreclosures and evictions due to the COVID-19 pandemic.
“Over the last two weeks, I have received many emails and calls from constituents seeking help with their mortgage and utility payments,” said Rep. Scott. “People have fallen on hard times paying their mortgages, so it is important to let them know that there are programs out there that can help avoid foreclosures and evictions due to the COVID-19 pandemic. Homeowners are still struggling to recoup and should not have to choose between feeding their families and being evicted from their homes. I am also working with organizations to help my constituents stay in their homes, so I also encourage residents to reach out to me so we can find a solution together.”
Administered by the Georgia Department of Community Affairs (DCA), the Homeowner Assistance Fund (HAF) was established to help homeowners who incurred financial hardships associated with the coronavirus pandemic. These funds will be provided to mitigate mortgage delinquencies, defaults, foreclosures, loss of utilities and displacements of homeowners experiencing financial hardship after January 21, 2020. According to the DCA, homeowners who need immediate assistance should work with their servicer or discuss options with a U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development approved counselor. The American Rescue Plan Act of 2021 allocates $353 million for this program. To learn more about the HAF program, please click here. To receive a notification from the DCA that the Georgia HAF program has opened, please sign-up here.
Likewise, DCA also oversees the State Home Mortgage forbearance program for homeowners who have struggled financially during the pandemic. The passage of the federal Coronavirus Aid, Relief, and Economic Security (CARES) Act stipulates that every borrower who attests that they have been directly or indirectly impacted by the COVID-19 pandemic, regardless of delinquency, is entitled to a forbearance plan. The State Home Mortgage forbearance plans provide a temporary suspension or reduction of mortgage payments for a specific period during a temporary hardship, such as unemployment. At the end of the suspension, the homeowner is able to choose between several options to address the outstanding payments. To learn more about this program and its forbearance plans, please click here.
Representative Sandra Scott represents the citizens of District 76, which includes portions of Clayton and Henry counties. She was first elected to the House Representatives in 2010 and currently serves on the Defense & Veterans Affairs, Human Relations & Aging, Legislative & Congressional Reapportionment, Science and Technology and Special Rules committees.
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