How the NY AG is Helping Struggling Homeowners Statewide

Almost two years into the pandemic, many homeowners like you are still in deep financial distress and are struggling with housing payments. To address this urgent need, New York State has launched its Homeowner Assistance Fund (NYS HAF), which will work in partnership with the New York State Attorney General’s Mortgage Enforcement Unit (MEU) to keep families in their homes.

The MEU prevents foreclosure by holding mortgage servicers accountable to federal and state regulations. Mortgage servicers must offer forbearance plans to COVID-impacted homeowners, and must also prepare transitions for homeowners to move out of forbearance plans and into affordable loan modifications. 

The MEU will be working with homeowners eligible for NYS HAF to ensure that servicers provide long-term relief—such as sustainable mortgage modifications—to homeowners like you who are experiencing financial hardship due to the pandemic.

If available forbearance and/or modification programs still do not result in a monthly payment plan that is affordable to you, you may be eligible to receive financial assistance through the NYS HAF. Funds are limited and applications will be processed in the order they were received. The HAF application portal opens on Jan. 3, 2022.

Visit nyhomeownerfund.org for more information about NYS HAF, including FAQs, an application guide, and a list of documents that will be required during the application process. A directory of free housing counseling resources searchable by ZIP code is available at nyhomeownerfund.org/get-local-support.

The HAF Call Center offers assistance in 10 languages and is open from 9am-5pm on Monday through Friday at 1-844-77-NYHAF (1-844-776-9423).

WARNING: Homeowner scams and fraud are on the rise. Find information on how to identify, avoid, and report scams here.