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United States Department of the Treasury

Homeowner Assistance Fund Plan

Submitted by Department of Housing and Community Development

HAF Grantee Plan Name

HAFP-0034
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United States Department of the Treasury

Homeowner Assistance Fund Plan For Participants 

with Allocations $5 million or Greater

Allocation Amount $5 Million or Greater

Submission Date 11/23/2021 11:48 AM

Total Plan Requested Amount $248,588,848.00

Record Type State

Application Record SLT-0031

HAF Grantee Plan Status (external) Funded
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Homeowner Needs and Community Engagement

What Quantitative Data Has Informed the Participant’s Planning?

Treasury will assess the extent to which a Participant has, in the course of its HAF planning process, relied on

quantitative data, including from community-based organizations or organizations that serve potentially

eligible homeowners. 

In its HAF planning process, has the Participant obtained quantitative data from mortgage servicers, private

data providers, government entities, community-based organizations, or other sources to inform its planning

about how to target and best serve eligible homeowners with mortgage delinquencies, defaults, foreclosures?

Yes

If yes, please list and, briefly describe each source of quantitative data.

DHCD retained the services of a consultant to perform a multi-variate data analysis.

DHCD analyzed data from its whole loan portfolio as well as its portfolio serviced by third

parties

DHCD analyzed data made available through sources affiliated with NCSHA and the Federal

Home Loan Bank of Atlanta

DHCD also used data contained within its recently completed state-wide housing needs

assessment

DHCD used data provided by Treasury

Finally, DHCD used data provided by individual mortgage servicers with whom we have existing

relationships.

In its HAF planning process, has the Participant obtained and reviewed quantitative data or studies regarding

which demographic segments in its jurisdiction have historically experienced discrimination in the housing or

housing finance market?

Yes

If yes, please list and, briefly describe each source of quantitative data.

Yes, to determine base-line mortgage and homeownership data (as opposed to more current

mortgage delinquency data) we consulted the recently completed state-wide housing needs

assessment. While the data is not current and therefore doesn't show the impact of the COVID

pandemic on homeowners, it does provide insight into the conditions and homeownership data at

very granular levels across the entire state. The statewide housing needs assessment is available

on our website and relevant excerpts were provided to Treasury.

While the Statewide Needs Assessment provided DHCD with a baseline of data and information,

DHCD also commissioned a report on the most recent socio-economic data available to identify

groups of census tracts that are vulnerable to COVID-induced economic shock and the potential

loss of homeownership. Targeting of Maryland communities for homeownership preservation

and the corresponding financial needs assessment were conducted at the community or census

tract level. Research components, in consecutive order include:
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1. Multivariate cluster analysis to divide Maryland census tracts into five “alike” housing

submarkets

2. Targeting analysis to measure the size and characteristics of the HAF-qualified households 

3. Financial allocation model to distribute HAF resources to qualified households in each census

tracts and

4. Financial needs assessment projections to develop estimates of the potential size of needed

HAF resources in highly vulnerable census tracts

The most relevant portions of this data report were provided to US Treasury on a submission on

July 30th. In short, we believe that the data analysis performed by the Department will be

sufficient and likely exceed what is needed for us to ensure that we are targeting our HAF

program marketing and outreach efforts to areas of the state where the need is the greatest.

In its HAF planning process, has the Participant obtained quantitative data from utility providers or entities

charged with assessing and collecting property taxes or relied on quantitative data or studies to inform its

planning about how to target and best serve eligible homeowners at risk of displacement due to utility

arrearage or tax foreclosure?

Yes

If yes, please list and, briefly describe each source of quantitative data.

The answer above is better "Yes" and "No"

DHCD does not contemplate using HAF funds to cure utility arrears as there are several other

accessible and well-funded programs to meet this need in the state of Maryland and therefore we

did not focus on utility provider quantitative data.

DHCD does anticipate curing property tax delinquencies as part of larger mortgage work-outs,

as an effort to avoid displacement for people who have reverse mortgages or in other ways risk

displacement due to tax delinquency. Data and assistance with outreach will be coordinated with

local tax jurisdictions as well as the state Division of Financial Regulation.

DHCD is entering into a data-sharing MOU with our state division of financial regulation. This

MOU will provide DHCD with direct access into the division's system. Any housing related

delinquency action, such as foreclosure, must, by state law, begin the action process by sending to

the homeowner a Notice of Intent (NOI). The Division is copied on these notices. Therefore, the

division of financial regulation is notified at the same time as homeowners. This allows the

division to send follow up letters and notices to make the affected homeowners aware of their

rights and of programs or other supports that might assist them in avoiding the displacement

that may result from the action. Having access to this data source will allow DHCD to view - in

real time - trends in delinquency actions as well as perform direct outreach and marketing to

ensure that homeowners are aware of the availability of HAF assistance and other resources.

In the following text box, please list any source not listed above of quantitative information, including

sources of data on the performance of any of the Participant’s previously implemented programs, that the

Participant used to inform its HAF planning process, briefly describe how the data informed the Participant’s

planning.

DHCD did also evaluate the performance of the Emergency Mortgage Assistance program

(EMA) it administered in the 2010s. This data was helpful in a limited way as the housing market

and the reasons for mortgage default are very different now.
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DHCD also analyzed the data of the state administered mortgage program as we have access to

detailed information on homeowners through our role as direct servicer or through sub

servicers.

Did the Participant communicate with mortgage servicers regarding the development of its program design?

Yes

Did the Participant communicate with other HAF participants regarding the development of its program

design?

Yes

How Has Community Engagement and Public Participation Informed the

Participant’s Planning?

Treasury will assess the extent to which a Participant’s assessment of homeowner needs has been informed

by and reflects input from organizations and individuals representing eligible homeowners, including any

opportunities for public participation in the development of the Participant’s plan. Treasury will pay

particular attention to the extent of the Participant’s engagement with populations that are the subject of

statutory targeting requirements.

Has the Participant requested and received input on its HAF planning process from providers of housing

counseling services or providers of legal assistance to homeowners facing foreclosure or displacement?

Yes

Provider information

If yes, please list such providers, including the providers’ address and website. Please indicate by checking

the appropriate box below if the provider’s primary purpose is to serve low- and moderate-income

households or to address the impacts of housing discrimination on one or more demographic groups in the

Participant’s jurisdiction.

Provider Name 

Provider Address 

Provider Website

Provider

Primarily

Serves

LMI

Households

Provider

Addresses

Impact of

Housing

Discrimination

Community Development Network of Maryland

POBox 22426 ,Baltimore,Maryland 21203

http://CommunityDevelopmentMD.org

Has the Participant requested and received input regarding its HAF planning process from community-based

organizations or organizations that serve potentially eligible homeowners?

Yes

Community Information
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If yes, please list such organizations, including the providers’ address and website if available. Please

indicate by checking the appropriate box below if the provider’s primary purpose is to serve low- and

moderate-income households or to address the impacts of housing discrimination on one or more

demographic groups in the Participant’s jurisdiction.

Organization Name 

Organization Address 

Organization Website

Organization

Primarily

Serves LMI

Households

Provider

Addresses

Impact of

Housing

Discrimination

Community Development Network of Maryland

Post Office Box 22426, Baltimore, Maryland 21203

https://communitydevelopmentmd.org/

National Consumer Law Center

1001 Connecticut AvenueNW, Washington, District of Columbia

20036

http://www.nclc.com

Maryland Financial Regulations Commission

500 North Calvert Street, Baltimore, Maryland 21202

https://www.dllr.state.md.us/finance/

National Council of State Housing Finance Agencies

444 North Capitol Street, Washington, District of Columbia 20001

http://www.ncsha.org

Maryland Consumer Rights Coalition

2209 Maryland Ave, Baltimore, Maryland 21218

http://www.marylandconsumers.org

National Association of Minority Mortgage Bankers of America

618 East South Street, Orlando, Florida 32801

http://www.nammba.org

Has the Participant consulted with localities or tribal governments (cities, counties, or rural communities) in

its jurisdiction regarding the needs of eligible homeowners in its jurisdiction?

Yes

Has the Participant provided an opportunity for public input regarding its HAF Plan through public hearings

or published materials?

Yes

If yes, please indicate whether a proposed or draft plan was published, please describe where details about the

comment solicitation were posted, for how long, in what languages, and whether any efforts were made to

make the posting accessible to persons with disabilities or individuals without reliable internet access.

The public input process included the opportunity for written and oral comments to be made.

The written comments were accepted via email while oral comments were accepted during two
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(2) separate conference calls hosted by the Department. Notice of the public comment period was

posted on our web site, distributed through several email lists and by certain partners to their

constituencies on our behalf. The text of the notice is included below.

Notice is hereby given that the Community Development Administration (the “Administration”),

a unit of the Division of Development Finance of the Maryland Department of Housing and

Community Development, will conduct two public conference calls concerning the Homeowner

Assistance Fund (HAF) established by the U.S. Department of the Treasury, under section 3206

of the American Rescue Plan Act of 2021.

The first conference call will be open between 11 a.m. and 12 p.m. on June 16, 2021, and the

second one will be open between 11 a.m. and 12 p.m. on June 18, 2021.

Oral comments will be limited to no more than five (5) minutes per person. The virtual

conference will be accessible at the aforementioned date and time at the following toll-free

telephone number: 1-301-298-1561, access code 373245.

Additional information relating to HAF is available in the HAF presentation at 

https://dhcd.maryland.gov/Residents/Pages/HomeownerAssistanceFund.aspx.

All interested parties are invited to submit written comments/questions and/or present oral

comments/questions by accessing the same link and/or at the public conference calls mentioned

above.

Since the MD DHCD submitted its HAF plan to Treasury in August, we have posted to our

website a full narrative of the plan to our web site. Most recently, Alys Cohen of the National

Consumer Law Center worked with several of her colleagues to review our plan and provide

several pages of comments. Many of her comments were resolved through clarification and

updates to the program contemplated since the plan was drafted.

How Will the Participant Continue to Assess the Needs of Eligible

Homeowners?

Treasury anticipates that an ongoing process of assessing the needs of eligible homeowners will help address

the needs of potentially eligible homeowners as economic conditions change over time.

Does the Participant plan to update its assessment of community needs within the next year to determine

whether its HAF program design should be updated to address changing needs of potentially eligible

homeowners?

Yes

What additional data would be helpful to the Participant as it seeks to assess homeowner needs over time?

DHCD will have the ability to create detailed reporting on every step of the application process.

For example, we will assess application completeness, reasons for denial, assistance needs,

income, demographic information and other data points. We will also conduct efforts to ensure

that we are reaching affected homeowners by conducting surveys of community-based

organizations, housing counseling agencies, etc to measure the needs of homeowners who do not

access the application system
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Program Design

What are the Program Design Elements Through Which the Participant Will

Deliver HAF Assistance to Eligible Homeowners?

A program design element is a specific activity or program, which is consistent with a qualified expense

category, under which a Participant will disburse HAF funds in accordance with the HAF Plan. Please note

that multiple program design elements may fit under a single qualified expense category; for example, a

mortgage assistance program that has different terms for federally backed mortgages and manufactured-home

mortgages may constitute two separate program design elements, for which case the Participant provides a

separate term sheet or other description for each program design element. 

HAF participants must have at least one program design element intended to reduce mortgage delinquency

among targeted populations. Treasury encourages HAF participants to consider program design elements that

address homeownership preservation for targeted populations in areas where there is a sustained trend of

increasing property taxes or utility costs, including for households that do not have mortgages.

Please identify each qualified expense category in which the Participant will offer a program design element

by checking the boxes below.

mortgage payment assistance 

 mortgage principal reduction, including with respect to a second mortgage provided by a nonprofit

or government entity 

 payment assistance for homeowner’s utilities, including electric, gas, home energy, and water 

 payment assistance for homeowner’s insurance, flood insurance, and mortgage insurance 

 payment assistance for delinquent property taxes to prevent homeowner tax foreclosures 

 payment assistance for down payment assistance loans provided by nonprofit or government

entities 

 financial assistance to allow a homeowner to reinstate a mortgage or to pay other housing-related

costs related to a period of forbearance, delinquency, or default 

facilitating mortgage interest rate reductions 

 payment assistance for homeowner’s internet service, including broadband internet access service,

as defined in 47 CFR 8.1(b) 

 payment assistance for homeowner’s association fees or liens, condominium association fees, or

common charges 

 measures to prevent homeowner displacement, such as home repairs to maintain the habitability of

a home or assistance to enable households to receive clear title to their properties 
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For each program design element that the Participant will offer, the Participant is required to upload a term

sheet or other description, that, at a minimum, provides the following information regarding that program

design element. Term sheets for all of Participant’s HAF programs may be uploaded together as one

document.

Title Upload Date

MD HAF PROGRAM DESIGN 8/24/2021 2:17 PM

RESPONSE TO US TREASURY MD HAF PLAN FEEDBACK - Program

Design 11/9/2021 3:49 PM

HAF INCOME LIMITS - DRAFT AP - DOC CHECKLIST 8/27/2021 2:08 PM

Maryland HAF Further Clarification on Income Verification 11/23/2021 11:30

AM

A HAF participant may elect to revise its HAF Plan over time to add or subtract program design elements.

Does the Participant anticipate adding additional program design elements to this HAF Plan within one year

of this submission?

No

Treasury has provided sample term sheets to assist HAF participants in developing their HAF plans.

Participants may use these sample term sheets, in whole or in part, as part of their submission. To the extent

the Participant intends to structure the program differently with respect to significant program terms

described in the Sample Term Sheets, Treasury will, in the course of its review of the HAF Plan, request a

justification for how the alternate approach will further the objectives of the HAF, including targeting and

prioritization requirements. In the chart below, the HAF Participant may provide a justification for significant

deviations from the terms described in the sample term sheets upon initial submittal. (optional for initial

submission)

Program Design Element Deviation from sample terms Justification

Emergency Displacement Diversion Program None None

Fresh Start Program None None

Enhanced Weatherization Program None None

Documentation of Homeowner Income

Homeowners are eligible to receive amounts allocated to a HAF participant under the HAF only if they have

incomes equal to or less than 150% of the area median income or 100% of the median income for the United

States, whichever is greater. In addition, not less than 60% of amounts made available to each HAF

participant must be used for qualified expenses that assist homeowners having incomes equal to or less than

100% of the area median income or equal to or less than 100% of the median income for the United States,

whichever is greater. The HAF guidance describes permissible ways for HAF participants to determine

homeowner income.

Under the HAF guidance, one permissible approach for determining income is for (1) the household to

provide a written attestation as to household income and (2) the HAF participant to use a reasonable
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fact-specific proxy for household income, such as reliance on data regarding average incomes in the

household’s geographic area. Will the Participant allow income to be determined in this way?

No

Under the HAF guidance, HAF participants may provide waivers or exceptions to this documentation

requirement as reasonably necessary to accommodate extenuating circumstances, such as disabilities,

practical challenges related to the pandemic, or a lack of technological access by homeowners; in these cases,

the HAF participant is still responsible for making the required determination regarding household income

and documenting that determination. Will the Participant allow applicants to request such waivers or

exceptions?

Yes

Eligible Mortgage Types

Please indicate which of the following mortgage types are eligible to be assisted under one or more of the

Participant’s program design elements.

 First Mortgages 

 Reverse Mortgages (Home Equity Conversion Mortgages, Single-Purposes Reverse Mortgages, or

Proprietary Reverse Mortgages) 

 Contracts for Deed or Land Contract (if it is a credit transaction secured by a consensual security

interest in a dwelling) 

 Second Mortgages 

 Loans Secured by Manufactured Housing (secured by real estate or dwelling) 

If the Participant excludes any of the forgoing mortgage types from one or more program design elements,

explain the exclusion.

None

How Will the Participant Target HAF Resources Consistent with Statutory

Requirements? 

The Participant must describe how it will target HAF resources in accordance with the HAF guidance.

Targeting strategies are affirmative efforts to inform, encourage the participation of, and facilitate access to

resources for targeted households, including by offering multiple intake formats, engaging with nonprofit

organizations (e.g., housing counselors or legal services organizations) to provide additional pathways into

the program, and providing community outreach, partnerships with housing counseling agencies or legal aid

organizations, or other educational services that are aligned with the HAF participant’s program design, in a

manner that is culturally and linguistically relevant to the targeted communities.

Defining Socially Disadvantaged Individual

Please describe the process the Participant will use to determine whether a homeowner is a “socially

disadvantaged individual” as defined in the HAF guidance.
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DHCD considers household who would have traditionally experienced challenges in obtaining the

financing necessary to become homeowners as 'socially disadvantaged' for the purposes of the

HAF program. This may include homeowners who are protected under the classifications of state

and federal fair housing law. This may also include homeowners who purchased homes in areas

where financing has been difficult to obtain as a result of red-lining. DHCD will collect

appropriate demographic data through program application portals to report on the assistance

provided to socially disadvantaged individuals.

Public Communications

Will the Participant engage in a public communications campaign to raise awareness among targeted

populations about the availability of HAF resources, in media such as television, newspapers, online media,

or social media?

Yes

If yes, please indicate whether the public communications campaign will include communications that

primarily target the following populations:

 Homeowners earning less than 100% of area median income 

 member of a group that has been subjected to racial or ethnic prejudice or cultural bias within

American society; 

 resident of a majority-minority Census tract; (3) 

 resident of a U.S. territory, Indian reservation, or Hawaiian Home Land 

 homeowners in persistent poverty counties; 

 individual with limited English proficiency 

Please indicate in which languages, in addition to English, public communications to targeted populations

will be undertaken:

Spanish; Other

Please list any other languages.

DHCD data and experience with program administration in the state of Maryland suggests that

Spanish is the primary second language for which program materials should be translated and

specific outreach should be performed. However, DHCD will utilize other resources,

partnerships and sponsorships to ensure that, on a more targeted level, we are able to educate

people with other language preferences about the availability of the HAF program.

Reaching homeowners with limited English proficiency is very important to the success of our

program. We have a lot of experience in this and will pull from our internal marketing and

outreach teams as well as marketing companies we already have under contract to do our

advertising collateral development, ad purchases, web design, and other activities.

 Collateral development in Spanish

 Targeted Ad buys in Spanish

 Digital Outreach/Social Media via local partnerships

 Community Engagement using Bilingual Staff at virtual Expos, town halls, church events,
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canvassing

 Translation Services

 Maryland Homeowner Assistance Hotline utilizes bilingual staff and has a Language Line

feature to offer interpretation services in any lanuage

 Our website homeownerassistance.maryland.gov has a Google Translate feature per guidelines

to allow the page to be read in a variety of languages

we will ensure that our marketing is culturally relevant so that it has the reach we need. Much of

our outreach activity will be performed by DHCD staff but we are also looking to leverage

existing relationships with on-the-ground organizations that have great track records and

inherent community trust.

 leverage sponsorships

 Leverage key community stakeholders/partners 

 build partnerships with academia, nonprofits, and business and government 

 Broaden the reach and awareness of foreclosure programs to deliver more services

 Connect at a “grassroots” level 

 Hold in-person/virtual events 

 Mail foreclosure collateral to community partners (faith-based, nonprofits, housing counselors,

etc

Outreach

Will the Participant engage in outreach through partnerships with organizations that focus primarily on

serving homeowners earning incomes below 100% of area median income or socially disadvantaged

individuals and that have the capacity to engage targeted communities in a culturally and linguistically

relevant manner to encourage the submission of applications for HAF resources from targeted populations?

Yes

If yes, please indicate whether the community outreach efforts will include partnerships with organizations

that primarily target the following populations:

 member of a group that has been subjected to racial or ethnic prejudice or cultural bias within

American society; 

 resident of a majority-minority Census tract; (3) individual with limited English proficiency; 

 resident of a U.S. territory, Indian reservation, or Hawaiian Home Land;

 homeowners that reside in persistent poverty counties; 

 individual with limited English proficiency. 

Please list any other languages.

DHCD data and experience with program administration in the state of Maryland suggests that

Spanish is the primary second language for which program materials should be translated and

specific outreach should be performed. However, DHCD will utilize other resources,

partnerships and sponsorships to ensure that, on a more targeted level, we are able to educate

people with other language preferences about the availability of the HAF program.

Reaching homeowners with limited English proficiency is very important to the success of our

program. We have a lot of experience in this and will pull from our internal marketing and

outreach teams as well as marketing companies we already have under contract to do our
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advertising collateral development, ad purchases, web design, and other activities.

 Collateral development in Spanish

 Targeted Ad buys in Spanish

 Digital Outreach/Social Media via local partnerships

 Community Engagement using Bilingual Staff at virtual Expos, town halls, church events,

canvassing

 Translation Services

 Maryland Homeowner Assistance Hotline utilizes bilingual staff and has a Language Line

feature to offer interpretation services in any lanuage

 Our website homeownerassistance.maryland.gov has a Google Translate feature per guidelines

to allow the page to be read in a variety of languages

we will ensure that our marketing is culturally relevant so that it has the reach we need. Much of

our outreach activity will be performed by DHCD staff but we are also looking to leverage

existing relationships with on-the-ground organizations that have great track records and

inherent community trust.

 leverage sponsorships

 Leverage key community stakeholders/partners 

 build partnerships with academia, nonprofits, and business and government 

 Broaden the reach and awareness of foreclosure programs to deliver more services

 Connect at a “grassroots” level 

 Hold in-person/virtual events 

 Mail foreclosure collateral to community partners (faith-based, nonprofits, housing counselors,

etc

Housing Counseling and Legal Services

Will the Participant facilitate access for eligible households to housing counseling or legal services?

Yes

If yes, please identify below the providers of housing counseling or legal services that have indicated to the

Participant that they are willing and able to support homeowners receiving assistance under the Participant’s

HAF programs. 

Provider Name 

Provider Address 

Provider Website

Provider

Primarily

Serves

LMI

Households

Provider

Addresses

Impact of

Housing

Discrimination

Community Development Network of Maryland

POBox 22426 , Baltimore, Maryland 21203

http://communitydevelopmentmdlorg

Targeting specific groups of homeowners

Will the Participant conduct outreach specifically tailored to target potentially eligible households that:

 have mortgages or mortgage assistance contracts held or backed by the Participant? 
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 have mortgages backed by any of the following agencies: Federal Housing Administration;

Department of Veterans Affairs; U.S. Department of Agriculture? 

 have privately held mortgages? 

What Efforts will be Made to Address Barriers to HAF Program Participation for

Potentially Eligible Homeowners, Including Those with Limited English

Proficiency or Who are Disabled?

Targeted outreach may be needed to reach homeowners who are likely to experience barriers to access,

including persons with limited English proficiency and those with disabilities.

Indicate all of the languages, in addition to English, in which the Participant’s HAF application and other

program documents will be made available.

Spanish

Will the Participant’s HAF applications and other program documents be provided in forms that are

accessible to persons with disabilities?

Yes
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Performance Goals

Treasury will consider the goals and benchmarks the Participant proposes to use to measure the effectiveness

of its programs, including whether those goals address the homeowner needs identified by the Participant, the

extent to which the goals are disaggregated by key homeowner characteristics as appropriate for the

jurisdiction, and whether they include a goal focused on reducing mortgage delinquency.

Please describe Participant’s goals and benchmarks for each of its programs with the following program

design elements.

Program

Design

Element

Metric of Success Goal

Payment

Assistance

for

Delinquent

Property

Taxes

Number of involuntary homeowner displacements avoided due to

HAF grant funds.

Note: the Maryland HAF grant program will cover delinquent

property tax obligations but also HOA fees, condo fees, insurance,

land leases and other housing related obligations. This performance

goal considers the number of homeowners assisted with the grant

program and does not break out the performance measure by the type

of assistance offered.

Assist 3,400

homeowners with

HAF grant funds

Assist 2,000

homeowners who

are under 100% of

AMI or who are

considered

socially and

economically

disadvantaged.

Mortgage

Payment

Assistance

Number of involuntary displacements of homeowners avoided due to

HAF funds.

Note - the performance goal relates to the Fresh Start loan program

which may include one or more mortgage assistance strategies to

avoid the involuntary displacement. For example, the homeowner may

receive a HAF payment for arrears, a principal curtailment and an

interest rate reduction as a result of HAF assistance. As a result, the

performance measure includes the program performance and does not

break out each of those individual design elements

Assist 5,700

homeowners with

mortgage

assistance.

Assist 3,500

homeowners who

are under 100% of

AMI or are

socially or

economically

disadvantaged

with mortgage

assistance.

Other

measures to

prevent

homeowner

displacement

Number of involuntary displacement of homeowners avoided due to

HAF funds used to perform home rehabilitation and weatherization

work.

Assist 500

homeowners with

home

rehabilitation and

weatherization
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Readiness

Staffing, Systems and Contractors 

Treasury seeks information regarding the Participant’s organizational capacity to implement its HAF Plan.

Does the Participant anticipate needing to hire additional staff to implement this HAF Plan?

Yes

Does the Participant anticipate significant information technology system upgrades to implement this HAF

Plan?

Yes

Does the Participant have policies or procedures that govern the implementation of each HAF program

design element described in this HAF Plan?

Yes

Will the Participant use HAF funds to assist eligible households through a program that was operational

before the Participant first received HAF funds?

No

Will the Participant use any third-party contractor or partner to conduct program administration (such as

reviewing applications, determining eligibility, processing payments, conducting reporting, and reviewing

compliance) for some or all of the Participant’s HAF programs?

Yes

If yes, has the Participant entered into all necessary arrangements with all of the third-party contractors or

partners that will conduct program administration?

No

Use of Initial Payment

If the Participant has already received any HAF funds from Treasury, provide the following information

about the use of such funds as of June 30, 2021.

What amount of the HAF funds that the Participant has received been disbursed to eligible homeowners?

$0.00

Has the Participant begun accepting applications from homeowners for any HAF-funded programs?
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No

How much of the HAF funds that the Participant has received been obligated?

$0.00

Provide a brief description of how the Participant has used the HAF funds it has received.

DHCD has not used any HAF funds as part of an existing or pilot program. We have tracked

administrative expenses associated with program start-up but have not yet drawn on those funds.
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Budget

Budgeting of HAF Funds by Program Design Element 

Specify the amounts of HAF funds that the Participant proposes to allocate to each of the following program

design elements, if offered:

Measure Amount

Mortgage Payment Assistance $0.00

Mortgage Principal Reduction $0.00

Payment Assistance for Homeowner’s Internet Service $0.00

Payment Assistance for HOA fees or liens $0.00

Payment Assistance for Delinquent Property Taxes $0.00

Mortgage Reinstatement $0.00

Facilitate Mortgage Interest Rate Reduction $0.00

Payment Assistance for Homeowner’s Insurance $0.00

Payment Assistance for Down Payment Assist. Loans $0.00

Payment Assistance for Homeowners Utilities $0.00

Other measures to prevent homeowner displacement

Measure Amount

Emergency Displacement Diversion Program $34,000,000.00

Enhanced Weatherization Program $10,000,000.00

Maryland HAF Loans $156,300,521.00

Displacement Prevention Sub-Total $200,300,521.00

Counseling or Legal Services

The Participant may allocate up to 5% of its HAF funds for counseling or educational efforts by housing

counseling agencies approved by the Department of Housing and Urban Development or a tribal government,

or legal services, target to households eligible to be served with funding from the HAF related to foreclosure

prevention or displacement.
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Specify the Participant’s allocations for the following Amount

Counseling or Educational Services $8,000,000.00

Legal Services $3,000,000.00

Services Sub-Total $11,000,000.00

Reimbursement of Funds Expended After January 21, 2020

As described in the HAF guidance, HAF funds may be used for reimbursement of certain expenses between

January 21, 2020 and the date when the first HAF funds are disbursed by the HAF participant under the HAF

for a qualified expense (with certain limitations, as set forth in the HAF guidance).

Type of Expense Amount

DHCD will not seek reimbursement for funds that would cover the period between January 21,

2020. DHCD will seek reimbursement for program start-up costs including salaries but we

anticipate that these funds will be counted under direct or indirect costs of the HAF program.

$0.00

Reimbursement Sub-Total $0.00

Allocation of Administrative Expenses

Type of Expense Amount

Salaries $15,200,000.00

Professional Services $450,000.00

Travel $25,000.00

Equipment - computers/printers $35,000.00

IT and Communications $489,000.00

IT System - Outsourced - application portal, case management system, homeowner

support call center, application review and underwriting staffing

$14,837,797.00

Office Supplies $20,000.00

Training $17,000.00

Miscellaneous $50,000.00

Marketing/Outreach $3,600,000.00

Indirect Charges - buildings, leases/services $2,564,530.00
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Administrative Expenses Sub-Total $37,288,327.00

Total Plan Requested Amount $248,588,848.00

Amount Requested Confirmation:

Yes
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Contacts

Please identify up to three contacts for the Participant- a primary contact, a designated point of contact for

reporting, and an additional contact.

Primary Contact

Name: Matthew John Heckles

Agency/Office: DHCD

Email: matthew.heckles@maryland.gov

Phone Number: 3014297796

Reporting Contact

Name: Maddy Ciulu

Agency/Office: DHCD

Email: maddy.ciulu@maryland.gov

Phone Number: 3014297778

Additional Contact

Name: Jeanne Mullen-Archer

Agency/Office: DHCD

Email: jeanne.mullen-archer@maryland.gov

Phone Number: 3014297659

Proprietary or Otherwise Non-Public Information

Does your plan submission include any information or materials that are proprietary or otherwise non-public?

No

If "Yes," please indicate which information or materials are proprietary or otherwise non-public.
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Title VI Assurances

You must provide on behalf of the HAF Participant assurances that the HAF Participant will comply with

Title VI of Civil Rights Act of 1964. Please download the assurances, then review, sign, and upload the

signed copy to this page before submitting the HAF Plan.

Title Upload Date

Assuarnces of Compliance with Civil Rights Requirements - OMB Approved No.

1505-0269 - Exp 10.31.202_08242021

8/27/2021

4:02 PM
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Official Certification

I (the undersigned) certify that the information provided in the HAF submission is accurate and complete

after reasonable inquiry of people, systems, and other information available to the HAF Participant. The HAF

participant and I acknowledge that any materially false, fictitious, or fraudulent statement or representation

(or concealment or omission of material fact) in this submission may be the subject of criminal prosecution

under the False Statements Accountability Act of 1996, as amended, 18 U.S.C. § 1001 and also may subject

me and HAF Participant to civil penalties and/or administrative remedies for false claims or otherwise,

(including 31 U.S.C. §3729 et seq.). I am an authorized representative of HAF Participant with authority to

make the above certifications and representations on behalf of the HAF Participant.

Name of HAF Participant:

Department of Housing and Community Development

Name and Title of Certifying Official

Name: Robyne Chaconas

Title: Chief of Staff

Telephone: 3014297759

Email: robyne.chaconas@maryland.gov