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HAF Grantee Plan - HAFP-0219 -Commonwealth of the Northern Mariana Islands - Extracted 03/29/2022

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United States Department of the Treasury

Homeowner Assistance Fund Plan

Submitted by Commonwealth of the Northern Mariana Islands

HAF Grantee Plan Name

HAFP-0219
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United States Department of the Treasury

Homeowner Assistance Fund Plan For Participants 

with Allocations Under $5 million

Allocation Amount Less than $5 Million

Submission Date 2/8/2022 6:53 PM

Total Plan Requested Amount $4,158,268.00

Record Type State

Application Record SLT-7159

HAF Grantee Plan Status (external) Approved
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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.

The only quantitative data available in the CNMI was obtained from the Northern Marianas

Housing Corporation (NMHC), its Collections attorney’s office, private lending institutions

(mortgage data) and private companies offering broadband services (for data on broadband

services). NMHC also requested data from the Commonwealth Utilities Corporation (for data on

utilities); however, data is pending as of date. Note: The organization marked by an asterisk (*)

has yet to provide data requested by NMHC.

Data from NMHC and private lending institutions (listed below): Information on mortgage

delinquencies in the CNMI

Data from broadband services in the CNMI (listed below): Information on broadband services’

arrears in the CNMI

Data from the Commonwealth Utilities Corporation (listed below): Information on utility arrears

in the CNMI

In addition to obtaining data from various entities, the Northern Marianas Corporation also

published the HAF Draft Framework in the newspapers and on NMHC’s website for public

comment from August 25, 2021 to September 3, 2021. A virtual hearing was held on August 31,

2021 via Zoon Conferencing and Facebook Live. No public comments were received. The HAF

Plan was made available for public comment from September 20, 2021 to September 24, 2021. A

virtual hearing was held on September 23, 2021. No public comments were received.

Please also note that the sources listed below is currently using the "Hawaii" option under

"State" because there is no option for the "Commonwealth of the Northern Mariana Islands".

Once the option is available please let us know and we will correct.

Has the Participant requested and received input on its HAF planning process from tribal councils,

community-based organizations, providers of housing counseling, or providers of legal assistance to

homeowners facing foreclosure or displacement?

Yes
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If yes, please list the tribal councils, community-based organizations, or providers, including each

organization’s address and a website if available.

Organization Name Address Website

Northern Marianas Housing

Corporation

PO Box 500514 , Saipan, Hawaii

96950 http://www.nmhcgov.net

First Hawaiian Bank Oleai Beach Road Chalan Laulau ,

Saipan, Hawaii 96950 http://www.fhb.com

Bank Pacific* PO Box 503201 , Saipan, Hawaii

96950 http://www.bankpacific.com

Bank of Guam* Beach Road Garapan , Saipan,

Hawaii 96950 http://www.bankofguam.com

Express Financial Townhouse Center, Beach Road ,

Saipan, Hawaii 96950 http://Myexpressfinancial.com

Docomo Pacific

Gualo Rai Business Center,

Middle Road , Saipan, Hawaii

96950

http://www.docomopacific.com

Bank of Hawaii* Springs Plaza, Chalan Pale Arnold

Road , Saipan, Hawaii 96950 http://www.boh.com

Bank of Saipan Quad L’s Bldg. Rte. 308, Garapan

, Saipan, Hawaii 96950 http://www.bankofsaipan.com

IT&E* 500306 Oleai , Saipan, Hawaii

96950 https://store.ite.net
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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

Updated-Sample-Term-Sheets-for-HAF-Program-091921 9/29/2021 6:32 PM

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 element(s) to this HAF Plan within one year

of this submission?

Yes

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

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) 
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 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.

The most simple, conventional mortgage type in the CNMI is the first mortgage type followed by

the second mortgage. The CNMI believes that its HAF allocation will address a large population

of homeowners who have opted for the first or second mortgage type .

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?

No

Please indicate in which languages, in addition to English, community outreach efforts to targeted

populations will be undertaken:

Other

Please list any other languages.

Chamorro and Carolinian

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.
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Provider Name 

Provider Address 

Provider Website

Provider

Primarily

Serves

LMI

Households

Provider

Addresses

Impact of

Housing

Discrimination

Northern Marianas Housing Corporation

Micro Beach Road Garapan , Saipan, Northern Mariana Islands 96950

http://www.nmhcgov.net

Please indicate all of the languages, in addition to English, in which HAF related outreach or

communications activities will be undertaken.

Other

Please list any other languages.

Chamorro and Carolinian

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.

Other

Please list any other languages.

Chamorro and Carolinian

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

accessible to persons with disabilities?

No

Please explain any other efforts being undertaken by the Participant to facilitate access to HAF resources by

potentially eligible homeowners that are likely to experience barriers to their access?

Should any persons with disabilities need special accommodations, they will be able to contact

NMHC, (48) hours in advance. Should any persons with limited English proficiency need

assistance, NMHC employs staff who are able to verbally translate/explain
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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

Mortgage Payment

Assistance

Number of delinquencies prevented due

to HAF funds

Prevent mortgage delinquencies

(which may result in loss) of (40)

homes within (12) months

Mortgage

Reinstatement

Number of home loss avoided due to

HAF funds

Prevent loss of (100) homes within

(12) months

Payment Assistance

for Homeowners

Utilities

Number of utility services restored due

to HAF funds (utility delinquency)

Number of utilities maintained due to

HAF funds (utility payment assistance)

Prevent (20) homeowners from living

in substandard conditions due to the

lack of utilities; 

Prevent the loss of utilities of (28)

homeowners

Payment Assistance

for Homeowner’s

Internet Service

Number of internet services restored due

to HAF funds (broadband services’

delinquency)

Number of internet services maintained

due to HAF funds (broadband services

payment assistance)

To restore the quality of life for (20)

homeowners by restoring broadband

services

To maintain the quality of life for (20)

homeowners by maintaining

broadband services

Payment Assistance

for Homeowner’s

Insurance

Number of homeowner charges

(specifically insurance payments)

resolved due to HAF funds

Prevent loss of (40) homes due to the

lack of insurance
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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?

No

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

design element described in this HAF Plan?

No

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

design element described in this HAF Plan?

No

If no, is a policy and procedure in development for 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?

No

Please provide a brief description of how the Participant has used any HAF funds it has already received.

The CNMI is currently using the HAF funds it has already received for planning (e.g. time spent

on developing the HAF Plan)
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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 $969,268.00

Mortgage Principal Reduction $0.00

Payment Assistance for Homeowner’s Internet Service $14,000.00

Payment Assistance for HOA fees or liens $0.00

Payment Assistance for Delinquent Property Taxes $0.00

Mortgage Reinstatement $2,540,000.00

Facilitate Mortgage Interest Rate Reduction $0.00

Payment Assistance for Homeowner’s Insurance $68,000.00

Payment Assistance for Down Payment Assist. Loans $0.00

Payment Assistance for Homeowners Utilities $162,000.00

Other measures to prevent homeowner displacement

Measure Amount

N/A $0.00

Displacement Prevention Sub-Total: $0.00

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 $5,000.00

Legal Services $0.00

Services Sub-Total $5,000.00

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

N/A $0.00

Reimbursement Sub-Total $0.00

Allocation of Administrative Expenses

Type of Expense Amount

Salaries and Wages $275,000.00

Marketing and Outreach $50,000.00

Office Equipment and Supplies $50,000.00

Printing Expense $25,000.00

Administrative Expenses Sub-Total $400,000.00

Total Plan Requested Amount $4,158,268.00

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: Vinney Atalig-Hocog

Agency/Office: CNMI Department of Finance

Email: v.atalig-hocog@dof.gov.mp

Phone Number: 6706641105

Reporting Contact

Name: Zenie P. Mafnas

Agency/Office: Northern Marianas Housing Corporation1

Email: deputydirector@nmhcgov.net

Phone Number: 6702346866

Additional Contact

Name: Thomasa DLG. Naraja

Agency/Office: CNMI Department of Finance

Email: t.naraja@dof.gov.mp

Phone Number: 6706641100
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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

HAF Assurance of Compliance 9/29/2021 8:36 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:

Commonwealth of the Northern Mariana Islands

Name and Title of Certifying Official

Name: JESSE S. PALACIOS

Title: CORPORATE DIRECTOR, NORTHERN MARIANAS HOUSING CORPORATION

(NMHC)

Telephone: 6702346866

Email: jspalacios@nmhcgov.net