Department Of Commerce

The American Rescue Plan Act passed by congress and signed by the president contains $9.961 billion nationwide for a Homeowner Assistance Fund. That funding will help Montana homeowners, and homeowners across the country, remain in their homes.

The Montana HAF includes $50 million in federal funding allocated by congress to the State of Montana through ARPA and appropriated to the Montana Department of Commerce through the passage of House Bill 632.

The purpose of HAF, in accordance with federal legislation and U.S. Department of the Treasury guidance, is to mitigate financial hardships associated with the coronavirus pandemic by providing funds to prevent homeowner mortgage delinquencies, defaults, foreclosures, loss of utilities or home energy services and displacements of homeowners experiencing financial hardship after Jan. 21, 2020, as a result of the pandemic.

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View Montana's Homeowner Assistance Fund Plan

We recommend homeowners visit our main housing webpage for current information about housing assistance, and subscribe to receive email updates from Commerce about future public hearings, community engagement opportunities and updates regarding the status of HAF.

You can also listen to this brief radio interview of Montana Board of Housing Division Administrator Cheryl Cohen by Mountain Broadcasting’s Sheila Callahan to learn more about HAF.


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Eligibility Requirements

HAF serves Montanans whose gross household income does not exceed 100% of the Area Median Income. 

Use the tool below to check eligible income limits by typing in the county where you live and the number of people living in your household. 

Funds will be available to a homeowner with respect to qualified expenses and hardship related to the homeowner’s primary residence. Eligible homeowners must have experienced a financial hardship after Jan. 21, 2020, as a result of the pandemic. A financial hardship means a material reduction in income or material increase in living expenses associated with the coronavirus pandemic that has created, or increased, a risk of mortgage delinquency, mortgage default, foreclosure, loss of utilities or home energy services or displacement for a homeowner. Download a sample COVID impact questionnaire from treasury.gov here.

HAF may be used for the following:

  1. Mortgage reinstatement: financial assistance to bring a mortgage account current with no remaining delinquent amounts, including payments under a forbearance plan, and to repay amounts advanced by the lender or servicer on the borrower’s behalf for property charges
  2. Lien prevention: financial assistance to prevent property tax foreclosure or remove or prevent creation of other liens (HOA, COA, etc.) that would place the homeowner at imminent risk of displacement
  3. Utilities: electric, gas and home energy costs

Prior to starting an application, Montana homeowners can take several actions to prepare, including:

  1. Connect with a HUD-approved housing counselor. 
  2. Gather documentation that will be needed for your HAF application such as:
  • Current income verification (all programs) in the form of:
    • The most recent year's IRS form 1040 (preferred);
    • Your two most current paystubs; or
    • Your profit and loss statement if self-employed.
  • Most recent mortgage statement (mortgage reinstatement)
    • Filed deed of trust (mortgage reinstatement)
  • Proof of residency (see specific program requirements)
  • Utility shutoff or late notice, if applicable

Program Background

The U.S. Department of the Treasury required states to complete and submit a HAF plan for their review and approval before the full federal funding could be released to support the launch of a statewide HAF program. This plan is required to include a data-driven assessment of homeowner needs and evidence of public participation and community engagement to inform program design.

Montana Housing published and released a draft of the HAF plan for a 30-day public comment period from Aug.12, 2021, through Sept. 12, 2021. Members of the public, including but not limited to homeowners, mortgage servicers and housing counseling and foreclosure prevention experts, were provided an opportunity to comment on any aspect of the HAF plan draft.

In-person public comment opportunities on the proposed plan were also provided during the Sept. 8, 2021, commission meeting, and time was allotted during the Sept.14, 2021, Montana Board of Housing meeting, in accordance with state open meeting law requirements.

Following the close of public comment, the Montana HAF plan was finalized and submitted to treasury on Sept. 28, 2021. As has been the experience with most other states, treasury provided Montana Housing with a list of follow-up questions in mid-November and requested responses within 30 days. Montana Housing submitted the requested information on Dec. 14, 2021. On Jan. 5, 2022, Montana Housing had a call with treasury to answer follow-up questions and on Jan. 18, 2022, received approval from treasury.

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