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MISSISSIPPI HOME CORPORATION 

HOMEOWNER ASSISTANCE FUND PLAN
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Introduction

Mississippi Home Corporation (“MHC”) recognizes the importance of the opportunity to help 

Mississippi homeowners avoid foreclosure through utilization of resources from the 

Homeowner Assistance Fund (“HAF”). MHC is qualified to develop and administer programs 

to utilize HAF funding as it is already committed to addressing Mississippi’s housing needs 

and has fostered private and public partnerships throughout the state to address these housing 

needs.

Section 3206 of the American Rescue Plan Act of 2021 established HAF “to mitigate financial 

hardships associated with the coronavirus pandemic by providing funds to eligible entities for 

the purpose of preventing homeowner mortgage delinquencies, defaults, foreclosures, loss of 

utilities or home energy services, and displacements of homeowners experiencing financial 

hardship after January 21, 2020, through qualified expenses related to mortgages and 

housing.”

MHC will establish the Mississippi Homeowner Assistance Fund Program (the “Program”). 

This Program willstrive to provide Mississippi homeowners who have encountered a financial

hardship due to COVID-19 mortgage relief with a chance of sustaining homeownership and 

creating housing stability by preventing foreclosure and displacement. MHC will accomplish 

these goals by providing financial assistance to eligible homeowners. MHC’s Program 

outreach efforts will target socially disadvantaged homeowners and homeowners at or below 

100% of the area median income.

Homeowner Needs and Community Engagement

In its HAF planning process, has MHC 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, and foreclosures?

☒ Yes - see below.

□ No

Understanding the hardships Mississippi homeowners faced and continue to face during the 

coronavirus pandemic is crucial to identifying the key needs that will guide the plan and

Program. MHC is focused on ensuring that the Program meets the performance outcomes

outlined by the U.S. Treasury’s HAF guidance, including preventing mortgage delinquencies, 

defaults, foreclosures, and displacements of homeowners experiencing financial hardship. In 

order to do this, MHC examined data sets and indicators, from a variety of verifiable sources 

as described below, to determine the potential size and scope of the populations that meet the

threshold financial qualifications for the Program. Analysis of these data sets, in conjunction 

with information collected through past and ongoing community engagement and programs, 

including MHC’s Hardest Hit Fund program, informed the parameters of the Program.
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Corelogic Report -- Mississippi Mortgage Loan Delinquencies

Measuring early-stage delinquency rates is important for analyzing the health of the mortgage market. 

To monitor mortgage performance more comprehensively, CoreLogic examines all stages of 

delinquency as well as transition rates that indicate the percent of mortgages moving from one stage of 

delinquency to the next.

The report is published monthly with coverage at the national, state and Core Based Statistical Area 

(CBSA)/Metro level and includes transition rates between states of delinquency and separate 

breakouts for 120+ day delinquency.

Additionally, data from the Bureau of Unemployment Statistics, the Federal Reserve Bank 

Mortgage Dashboard, and the National Mortgage Database and local real estate data 

demonstrate the dire financial need of Mississippi homeowners and the much-needed relief 

that HAF funding will provide. The economic disruption created by the pandemic continues 

to drive the current housing instability and risk of displacement of Mississippi homeowners. 

The unemployment rate sharply increased in April and May of 2020 to 15.7% and 11% 

respectively. The Black or African- American population group in Mississippi was impacted 

more than the white population group.

Year Jan Feb Mar Apr May Jun Jul Aug Sep Oct Nov Dec

2020 5.6 5.8 6.0 15.7 11.0 9.6 8.5 7.8 7.2 6.9 6.7 6.6

2021 6.4 6.3 6.2 6.2 6.1 6.2

Table _ Source : https://data.bls.gov/pdq/SurveyOutputServlet

Those who remain unemployed are falling further behind while those who became re-
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employed may not have the resources to catch up on their arrears or are falling further behind 

due to re- employment at a lower income.

Data from the Bureau of Unemployment Statistics illustrates that the percentage of Mississippi 

mortgages 30-89 days delinquent and 90 or more days delinquent is consistently higher than 

the national average.

Figure _ Source: National Mortgage Database
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Figure _ Source: National Mortgage Database

Total Potential Homeowner Need

Based on the 2019 American Community Survey (ACS), Mississippi has 1,322,808 housing units 

statewide. Owner-occupied homes were estimated at 752,841. A total of 371,622 housing units are 

owner-occupied with a mortgage.

Mortgage Status Housing Units Share of Homeowner 

Units

Housing Units without a 

mortgage

381,219 50.6%

Housing Units with a 

mortgage

371,622 49.4%

Owner-occupied units 752,841 100%

Table _ Source: 2019 American Community Survey
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The rate of mortgage forbearance and delinquencies has fluctuated since the pandemic began. Based

on data from the Federal Reserve Bank Mortgage Dashboard provided by the U.S. Treasury, there is a 

statewide forbearance rate of 5.3% and statewide delinquency rate of 3.4% for a total of 8.7% of 

loans impacted by COVID-19.

Homeowner Needs for 100% AMI or below

Owner-occupied households at or below area median income (“AMI”) will be a priority in terms 

of income targeting. The U.S. median family income is $79,900 for 2021 and households with 

income at or below this amount will meet the income guidelines for this Program.

The income guidelines are separated by county and the median income can vary greatly across the 

state. For example, 100% AMI in Hinds County is $73,900 for a -four-person household, in contrast 

to the $53,100 100% AMI for Washington County. This program will utilize a web-based portal 

system to calculate an applicant’s AMI based on their home address and the applicable income 

limits for the Program.

Based on census data, there are an estimated 191,724 owner-occupied homeowner units that have 

a mortgage within this income range. With a needs analysis of owner-occupied mortgages 

impacted by COVID-19 to be approximately 8.7%, an estimated 16,680 households may be 

eligible for the target income of at or below 100% AMI.

Annual Income Housing Units Percentage

Below $10,000 12,824 3.5%

$10,000 to $24,999 32,211 8.7%
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$25,000 to $34,999 28,646 7.7%

$35,000 to $49,999 45,009 12.1%

$50,000 to $74,999 73,034 19.7%

$75,000 to $99,999 63,780 17.2%

$100,000 to $149,999 70,790 19.0%

$150,000 or more 45,328 12.2%

Table _ Source: 2019 American Community Survey

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

charged with accessing and collection property taxes or relied on quantitative data or studies to 

inform its planning about how to target and best serve eligible homeowners at risk or displacement 

due to utility arrearage or tax foreclosure?

☒ yes - see below.

□ No

MHC will exclude utility assistance from the Program. There are many local programs that assist 

with utilities assistance in Mississippi, particularly for low-income and elderly residents. MHC will 

provide a utility resource sheet on the web portal for homeowners who need utility assistance. 

The Program will provide payments for eligible homeowners for delinquent real estate property 

taxes. Any delinquency must have occurred after January 21, 2020, and as a result of the Covid-19 

pandemic hardship. MHC relied upon the below data to support this decision.

According to CoreLogic, Mississippi has the highest average property tax delinquency rate in 2021:
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Serious Delinquency 

Serious delinquency is defined as 90 days or more past due including loans in foreclosure.

Each homeowner, mortgage and taxing authority are unique. Outliers, such as an unusually high 

delinquency rates may impact analysis accuracy. Special circumstances with each loan may exist. 

Real estate property tax payments are a critical component of funding local and state budgetary and 

infrastructure needs. Increases and decreases in tax payment delinquency rates are often early 

indicators of further economic change. 

In its HAF planning process, has MHC 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 - see below.

□ No
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Analysis of Impediments to Fair Housing Choice

OVERVIEW OF FINDINGS

As a result of detailed demographic, economic, and housing analysis, along with a range of activities designed 

to foster public involvement and feedback, the State of Mississippi has identified a series of fair housing 

issues/impediments, and other contributing factors that contribute to the creation or persistence of those 

issues. 

Table I.1 provides a list of the contributing factors that have been identified as causing these fair housing 

issues/impediments and prioritizes them according to the following criteria: 

1. High: Factors that have a direct and substantial impact on fair housing choice 

2. Medium: Factors that have a less direct impact on fair housing choice, or that State of Mississippi has 

limited authority to mandate change. 

3. Low: Factors that have a slight or largely indirect impact on fair housing choice, or that State of Mississippi 

has limited capacity to address. 

Table I.1

Contributing Factors

Contributing Factors Priority Justification

Discriminatory patterns in lending High Minority households tend to have higher rates of mortgage denials

than white households, as seen in 2008-2016 HMDA data.

Failure to make reasonable accommodation High

HUD Fair Housing Complaint data suggests that failure to make

reasonable accommodation was the most cited issue for complaints

statewide.

Lack of access to housing for homeless and

released from incarceration Medium

Public input and the homeless and vulnerable population analysis

revealed that homeless, persons recently released from

incarceration, and transition-age foster youth have limited access to

housing option throughout the State.

Lack of access to independence for persons

with disabilities High

Public input, the Disability and Access workgroup, and the Disability

and Access Analysis revealed that households with disabilities have

limited access to options that increase their independence.

Lack of opportunities for persons to obtain

housing in higher opportunity areas

High Access to higher opportunity areas is limited for many households

due to income, transportation, and a variety of factors.

Moderate to high levels of segregation High The dissimilarity index shows a moderate to high level of

segregation for minority households.

Moderate to high concentrations of poverty High Concentrations of poverty, as demonstrated by R/ECAPs in the

area, continue to be a contributing factor in accessing fair housing.

Lack of resources High Lack of resources continues to be a high rated contributing factor,

as noted by Stakeholder Consultation meetings and public input.

Insufficient affordable housing in a range of

unit sizes High

The prevalence of cost burden, especially for lower income

households, demonstrates the continued need for affordable

housing options in a range of unit sizes.
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Insufficient accessible affordable housing High

The Disability and Access workgroup and Disability and Access

analysis, coupled with a high disability rate particularly for the

elderly population, demonstrated a lack of accessible affordable

housing to meet current and future demand.

Lack of fair housing structure High Fair housing survey results and public input indicated a lack of fair

housing structure.

Insufficient fair housing education High Fair housing survey results and public input indicated a continued

need for fair housing education.

Insufficient understanding of credit High Fair housing survey results and public input indicated an insufficient

understanding of credit.

ADDITIONAL FINDINGS 

In addition to the table above, there are several other significant findings. Black and Hispanic households 

have a moderate level of segregation. Other racial groups also have a moderate to high level of segregation, 

but these households represent a small proportion of the population. The number of R/ECAPs in the State 

have increased since 2000. Black households have markedly lower access to low poverty areas, school 

proficiency, and labor market engagement. 

IMPEDIMENTS TO FAIR HOUSING CHOICE 

Private Sector Impediments

Impediment 1: More frequent denial of home purchase loans to black, Hispanic, and female applicants: 

The perception that black, Hispanic, and female applicants found it more difficult to secure a home 

loan was cited by several survey respondents. This impression was shared by participants in fair 

housing forum discussion, and the perception was borne out in an analysis of home loan denials in 

non-entitlement areas of the state. Just over 30 percent of loan applications were denied to all 

applicants, but when those applicants were black the denial rate climbed to 45.2 percent. Hispanic 

applicants were denied 34.6 percent of the time, compared to a 28.4 percent denial rate for nonHispanic applicants. Likewise, 36.1 percent of home loan applications from female applicants were 

denied, while 26.6 of applications from male applicants were denied.

Impediment 2: Predatory style lending falls more heavily on black borrowers:

This impediment was identified in review of home loan data collected under the Home Mortgage 

Disclosure Act and in results of the 2014 Fair Housing Survey. Predatory style lending refers to loans 

with high annual percentage rates (HALs).2 While 24.7 percent of those who took out a home loan 

were issued a loan that was predatory in nature, the percentages of HALs to black and Hispanic 

borrowers were 38.7 and 27.3 percent, respectively.

Impediment 3: Discriminatory terms and conditions and refusal to rent: 
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This impediment was identified through review of the results of the fair housing survey, the fair 

housing forum discussion in Hattiesburg, and fair housing studies profiled in the literature review. 

Perception of discriminatory refusal to rent was relatively common among survey respondents, who 

cited race as the basis for this perceived discrimination. In addition, discrimination was identified as 

more common in the rental industry during the fair housing forum in Hattiesburg, and national fair 

housing studies focus on the persistence of discrimination in the rental housing industry.

Impediment 4: Failure to make reasonable accommodation or modification: 

Discrimination based on disability was one of the most common complaints that HUD received from 

Mississippi from 2004 through the beginning of 2014, and the refusal on the part of housing 

providers to make a reasonable accommodation for residents with disabilities was a relatively 

common accusation. Fair housing forum discussions turned at points to the difficulties that persons 

with disabilities face in convincing landlords to allow reasonable modifications or in finding 

accessible apartments, as well as to the difficulties that those in construction and property 

management face in interpreting accessibility requirements. These concerns were also reflected in 

commentary submitted with the fair housing survey. Finally, two of the six DOJ complaints filed 

against Mississippi housing providers in the last five years alleged discrimination based on disability.

Public Sector Impediments

Impediment 1: Insufficient understanding of fair housing laws: 

This impediment was identified through a review of the fair housing survey and the minutes taken 

at the four fair housing forums. Survey respondents and forum participants alike continually cited a 

need for more education of fair housing law and policies, as well as the types of actions that could 

constitute unlawful violations of the Fair Housing Act. In addition, results from the fair housing 

survey indicate some confusion among respondents on several matters relating to fair housing 

policy, including the extent of protections offered under the Fair Housing Act. Finally, nearly a 

quarter of fair housing survey respondents who reported their level of awareness of fair housing 

laws professed to know “very little” about such laws.

Impediment 2: Insufficient fair housing testing and enforcement in non-entitlement areas of Mississippi: 

This impediment was identified in the results of the 2014 Fair Housing Survey. Of those who 

answered the survey question concerning awareness of fair housing testing, only about a fifth were 

aware of any such testing. Furthermore, a majority of respondents who registered their opinion on 

current levels of fair housing testing thought that they were insufficient.

Impediment 3: Fair Housing Infrastructure largely lacking: 

This impediment was identified through review of the fair housing structure as well as the minutes 

from the Hattiesburg Fair Housing Forum. There is no state level agency that is charged with 

enforcing fair housing law in the state, just as there is no fair housing statute at the state level. The 

lack of such an agency, and the difficulties this presents for affirmatively furthering fair housing, 

were a dominant theme in the Hattiesburg Fair Housing Forum.
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Impediment 4: Lack of understanding of the fair housing duties: 

Just as housing consumers are often unaware and uninformed of their rights under the Fair Housing 

Act, housing providers can be unaware of their responsibilities under the Act. This lack of awareness 

often manifests itself as an unwillingness to make reasonable accommodations for residents with 

disabilities, though it can appear in other actions and omissions on the part of housing providers. 

The presence of this impediment was identified through review of the minutes of the fair housing 

forum and the results of the fair housing survey.

Impediment 5: Overconcentration of vouchers, assisted housing, and lower-income housing in selected 

areas of the State. 

Geographic maps prepared that show the geographic dispersion of such housing is concentrated in 

selected non-entitlement areas of the State. Further analysis demonstrates that there is some 

correlation between locations of such housing and concentrations of poverty.

Household Demographics

There was a total of 1,115,768 households in 2010, up from 1,046,434 in 2000. One person households 

changed by 14.0 percent between 2000 and 2010, while two person households changed by 9.0 percent. 

Three and four person households changed by 0.3 percent and -2.9 percent respectively, representing 17.4 

percent and 13.5 percent of the population in 2010.

Households earning more than 100,000 dollars per year represented 14.2 percent of households in 2016, 

compared to 12.0 percent in 2010. Meanwhile, households earning less than 15,000 dollars accounted for 

18.8 percent of households in 2016, compared to 20.1 percent in 2000.
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Housing units built between 2000 and 2009, account for 18.1 percent in 2010 and 15.2 percent of 

households. Housing units built prior to 1939 represented 4.3 percent of households in 2016 and 5.0 percent 

of households in 2010.

An estimated 76.9 percent of white households occupy single-family homes, while 63.6 percent of black 

households occupy single-family homes. Some 5.4 percent of white households occupy apartments, while 

13.7 percent of black households occupy apartments. An estimated 68.2 percent of Asian, and 77.2 percent 

of American Indian households occupy single-family homes.
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Segregation and Integration

The “dissimilarity index” provides a quantitative measure of segregation in an area, based on the 

demographic composition of smaller geographic units within that area. One way of understanding the index 

is that it indicates how evenly two demographic groups are distributed throughout an area: if the 

composition of both groups in each geographic unit (e.g., Census tract) is the same as in the area as a whole 

(e.g., city), then the dissimilarity index score for that city will be 0. By contrast; and again, using Census tracts 

as an example; if one population is clustered entirely within one Census tract, the dissimilarity index score 

for the city will be 1. The higher the dissimilarity index value, the higher the level of segregation in an area.

Segregation Levels 

Any racial or ethnic group with a dissimilarity index rating between 40 and 54 has a moderate level of 

segregation. Any racial or ethnic group with a dissimilarity index rating 55 or above has a high level of 

segregation. Black households, which account for 37.5 percent of the statewide population in 2016, have a 

moderate level of segregation. The rate of segregation for black households has remained virtually the same 

since 2000. Hispanic households, which accounted for 2.9 percent of the population in 2016, also have a 

moderate level of segregation. The rate of segregation for Hispanic households has increased since 2000. 

Two or more races’ households also have a moderate level of segregation. Asian households, which 

accounted for 1.0 percent of the population in 2016, have a high level of segregation. American Indian, 

Native Hawaiian/Pacific Islander, and “other” race households all had a high level of segregation. However, 

these households represent less than one percent of the statewide population.
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Disparities in Access to Opportunity

Areas of opportunity are physical places, areas within communities that provide things one needs to thrive, 

including quality employment, well performing schools, affordable housing, efficient public transportation, 

safe streets, essential services, adequate parks, and full-service grocery stores. Areas lacking opportunity, 

then, have the opposite of these attributes. Disparities in access to opportunity inspects whether a select 

group, or certain groups, have lower or higher levels of access to these community assets. HUD expresses 

several of these community assets through the use of an index value, with 100 representing total access by 

all members of the community, and zero representing no access. 

The HUD opportunity indices are access to Low Poverty areas; access to School Proficiency; characterization 

of the Labor Market Engagement; residence in relation to Jobs Proximity; Low Transportation Costs; Transit 

Trips Index; and a characterization of where you live by an Environmental Health indicator. For each of these 

a more formal definition is as follows: 

➢ Low Poverty – A measure of the degree of poverty in a neighborhood, at the Census Tract level. 

➢ School Proficiency - School-level data on the performance of 4th grade students on state exams to 

describe which neighborhoods have high-performing elementary schools nearby and which are near lower 

performing schools. 

➢ Jobs Proximity -Quantifies the accessibility of a given residential neighborhood as a function of its distance 

to all job locations within a Core Based Statistical Area (CBSA) 

➢ Labor Market Engagement - Provides a summary description of the relative intensity of labor market 

engagement and human capital in a neighborhood 
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➢ Low Transportation Cost – Estimates of transportation costs for a family that meets the following 

description: a 3-person single-parent family with income at 50% of the median income for renters for the 

region 

➢ Transit Trips - Trips taken by a family that meets the following description: a 3-person single-parent family 

with income at 50% of the median income for renters 

➢ Environmental Health - summarizes potential exposure to harmful toxins at a neighborhood level 

The disparities in access to opportunity are shown in the differences between the various racial and ethnic 

groups in the diagram. For example, if white households have a distinctly higher index rating than black 

households then black households have a disproportionate access. Black households have markedly lower 

access to low poverty areas, school proficiency, and labor market engagement.

Cost Burden

Cost burden is defined as gross housing costs that range from 30.0 to 50.0 percent of gross household 

income; severe cost burden is defined as gross housing costs that exceed 50.0 percent of gross household 

income. For homeowners, gross housing costs include property taxes, insurance, energy payments, water 

and sewer service, and refuse collection. If the homeowner has a mortgage, the determination also includes 

principal and interest payments on the mortgage loan. For renters, this figure represents monthly rent and 

selected electricity and natural gas energy charges. 

In State of Mississippi, 15.5 percent of households had a cost burden and 13.2 percent had a severe cost 

burden. Some 21.1 percent of renters were cost burdened, and 22.4 percent were severely cost burdened. 

Owner-occupied households without a mortgage had a cost burden rate of 8.0 percent and a severe cost

burden rate of 5.3 percent. Owner occupied households with a mortgage had a cost burden rate of 17.4 
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percent, and severe cost burden at 12.3 percent.

ACCESS TO MORTGAGE FINANCE SERVICES

Congress enacted the Home Mortgage Disclosure Act (HMDA) in 1975, permanently authorizing the law in 

19886. The Act requires both depository and non-depository lenders to collect and publicly disclose 

information about housing-related applications and loans. Under the HMDA, financial institutions are 

required to report the race, ethnicity, sex, loan amount, and income of mortgage applicants and borrowers 

by Census tract.

In addition to reporting race and ethnicity data for loan applicants, the HMDA reporting requirements were 

modified in response to the Predatory Lending Consumer Protection Act of 2002 as well as the Homeowner 

Equity Protection Act (HOEPA). Consequently, loan originations are now flagged in the data system for three 

additional attributes: 

1. If they are HOEPA loans.

2. Lien status, such as whether secured by a first lien, a subordinate lien, not secured by a lien, or not 

applicable (purchased loans); and 

3. Presence of high-annual percentage rate loans (HALs), defined as more than three percentage points for 

purchases when contrasted with comparable treasury instruments or five percentage points for refinance 

loans. 

Overall, the data contained within the HMDA reporting guidelines represent the best and most complete set 

of information on home loan applications. This report includes HMDA data from 2008 through 2016, the 

most recent year for which these data are available.

Denial Rates 

After the owner-occupied home purchase loan application is submitted, the applicant receives one of the 

following status designations: 

• “Originated,” which indicates that the loan was made by the lending institution.

• “Approved but not accepted,” which notes loans approved by the lender but not accepted by the

 applicant.

• “Application denied by financial institution,” which defines a situation wherein the loan application

 failed.
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• “Application withdrawn by applicant,” which means that the applicant closed the application process.

• “File closed for incompleteness” which indicates the loan application process was closed by the

 institution due to incomplete information; or 

• “Loan purchased by the institution,” which means that the previously originated loan was purchased

 on the secondary market. 

Just over 165,616 home purchase loan applications were originated over the 2008-2017 period, and 34,319 

were denied.

Denial rates were observed to differ by race and ethnicity, as shown in Table IV.60. While white applicants 

had a denial rate of 13.3 percent over the period from 2008 through 2017, black applicants had a denial rate 

of 27.9 percent. As for ethnicity, Hispanic applicants had a higher denial rate than non-Hispanic applicants, 

at 16.2 percent versus 21.4 percent.
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Predatory Lending 

In addition to modifications implemented in 2004 to correctly document loan applicants’ race and ethnicity, 

the HMDA reporting requirements were changed in response to the Predatory Lending Consumer Protection 

Act of 2002 as well as the Homeowner Equity Protection Act (HOEPA). Consequently, loan originations are 

now flagged in the data system for three additional attributes:

1. If they are HOEPA loans.

2. Lien status, such as whether secured by a first lien, a subordinate lien, not secured by a lien, or not 

applicable (purchased loans); and 

3. Presence of high annual percentage rate (APR) loans (HALs), defined as more than three percentage points 

higher than comparable treasury rates for home purchase loans, or five percentage points higher for 

refinance loans. 

Home loans are designated as “high-annual percentage rate” loans (HALs) where the annual percentage rate 

on the loan exceeds that of a comparable treasury instrument by at least three percentage points. As shown 

in Table IV.61, some 165,616 loans between 2008 and 2017 were HALs, accounting for 3.8 percent.

While white households experienced HAL rates at 4.0 percent between 2008 and 2017, black households 

had a rate of HALs at 6.0 percent.

Additional Plan Data
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Socially Disadvantaged Homeowners

Outreach to socially disadvantaged homeowners will be a priority with materials and resources 

provided to streamline their involvement with the Program. For purposes of the Program, “socially 

disadvantaged individuals” are those who have been subjected to racial or ethnic prejudice or 

cultural bias because of their identity as a member of a group without regard to their individual 

qualities. For purposes of the Program, the following individuals are considered socially 

disadvantaged if they self-identify as such: Black Americans, Hispanic Americans, Native 

Americans, and Asian Americans and Pacific Islanders.

Based on Census data, Mississippi homeowners include socially disadvantaged individuals. 

Through self-attestation and demographic information collected from the Program application, 

MHC will target and prioritize assistance for socially disadvantaged homeowners who have 

experienced a COVID-19 hardship. Comparing householder data to the current race and ethnic 

demographics illustrates the statewide potential of socially disadvantaged populations.

Did MHC communicate with mortgage servicers regarding the development of its program 

design?

☒ Yes

□ No

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

design?

☒ Yes

□ No

Community Engagement

Has MHC 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 - see below.

□ No
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Provider Name Provider 

Address

Provider Website Provider 

Primarily 

Serves LMI 

Households

Provider 

Addresses 

Impacts of 

Housing 

Discrimination

North MS Rural Legal 

Services

5 County Rd. 

1014

Oxford, MS 

38655

www.nmrls.com Yes Yes

D&E, A Housing and 

Economic 

Empowerment Center

416 Marion 

Ave

McComb, MS 

39648

www.depower.org Yes Yes

MS Faith Based 

Coalition for 

Community Renewal

1770 Ellis Ave 

St. 205

Jackson, MS 

39204

www.msfbc.com Yes Yes

Has MHC requested and received input regarding its HAF planning process from 

community- based organizations that serve potentially eligible homeowners?

☒ Yes - see below.

□ No

Organization 

Name

Organization 

Address

Organization Website Organization 

Primarily 

Serves LMI 

Households

Organization 

Addresses 

Impacts of 

Housing 

Discrimination

HEED

Housing 

Education and 

Economic 

Development

3405 Medgar Evers 

Blvd.

Jackson, MS 39213

www.heedhousing.org Yes Yes

MS Center for 

Justice

5 Old River Pl. Ste. 

203

Jackson, MS 39202

www.mscenterforjustice.org Yes Yes
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Mississippi Home Corporation has engaged in meetings and conference calls with housing counseling 

agencies, legal service providers and servicers to receive feedback on the plan and the applicants to be 

served. We have reached out to neighboring State Agencies (Alabama and Louisiana) with affordable 

housing programs and have requested delinquency and forbearance information from their master 

servicers. These state agencies participating in MHC down payment assistance programs. This informed 

MHC’s decisions on the best ways to utilize the housing counselors to assist applicants, particularly since 

Mississippi is a largely rural and low-income state. Further, MHC’s engagement in its Hardest Hit Fund 

Home Saver Program (“HHF Program”) informed its decisions on plan development and the ways to 

quickly provide assistance to homeowners in need. In addition, MHC staff have participated regularly in 

calls with the Housing Policy Council, which includes many of the largest servicers in the country, to 

discuss the best way to assist homeowners as efficiently as possible, as well as ways to implement 

consistent programs across the country. 

Mississippi feedback from these groups included the following suggestions, which were incorporated 

into the Plan:

• Allow assistance for second position liens for reinstatement and monthly payments.

• Allow the qualification of owned mobile homes for applicants who do not own the land.

• Accept private sector lenders.

• Keep Program options and documentation simple to avoid onerous documentation 

requirements. 

• Ensure that language used will allow ineligible individuals to determine they do not qualify.

• Utilize the Common Data File

Has MHC consulted with localities or tribal governments in its jurisdiction regarding the 

needs of eligible homeowners in its jurisdiction?

☒ Yes - see below.

□ No

MHC has contacted the Mississippi Band of Choctaw Indians (the “Tribe”), which is a grantee recipient 

of the HAF program. MHC is coordinating with the Tribe for those homeowners whose reinstatement 

amount exceeds $3000 of the Tribe’s program guidelines. 

Has MHC provided an opportunity for public input requesting its HAF Plan through public

hearings or published materials?

☒ Yes 

□ No

Does MHC 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 

□ No
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MHC will update its assessment of community needs within the year to determine whether its 

Program design should be updated, by utilizing additional data from mortgage servicers regarding 

foreclosures and delinquencies as well as information from utility providers to determine if utility 

assistance should be a component of the Program. Additionally, as the Program is further

developed and implemented, MHC intends to continue to engage the community, focusing on the

homeowners directly.

Program Design

Overall Program Objectives. 

The Program’s overall objectives are as follows:

• To implement a statewide program that will provide mortgage relief and a chance of 

sustained homeownership to Mississippi’s most vulnerable homeowners who have 

encountered financial hardship due to the pandemic and who are without other loss 

mitigation options.

• To prioritize assistance to socially disadvantaged groups who are historically the most 

vulnerable homeowners and who have been negatively impacted from the pandemic.

• To establish an application process that will provide eligible homeowners with a 

streamlined and effective method for receiving assistance, especially those in most dire 

financial need.

MHC will offer the following program design elements:

☒ Mortgage payment assistance.

☒ Financial assistance to allow a homeowner to reinstate a mortgage or to pay other housingrelated costs related to a period of forbearance, delinquency, or default.

 Payment assistance for homeowner’s insurance, flood insurance, and mortgage assistance.

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

common charges.

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

entities; and

☒ Payment assistance for delinquency property taxes to prevent homeowner tax foreclosures. 

See attached Program Term Sheet.
13695521.2 31

Does MHC anticipate adding additional program design elements to this HAF Plan within one 

year of submission?

□ Yes

☒ No

Documentation of 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 MHC allow income to be determined 

in this way?

☒ Yes 

□ No

Mississippi Home Corporation anticipates permitting a fact-specific proxy for household income in 

instances, to be defined by MHC, including location within low-income zip code. Attestations will 

be required for hardship type and certifications will be required for income. We acknowledge that 

loan servicers may have other income documentation requirements for a loan reinstatement or 

modification, separate from the HAF program guidelines.

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

☐ No

Eligible Mortgage Types

☒ First Mortgages

☒ Second Mortgages

☐ Reverse Mortgages (Home Equity Conversion Mortgages, Single-Purpose Reverse Mortgages, or 

Proprietary Reverse Mortgages)

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

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

interest in the dwelling)
13695521.2 32

Methods for Targeting HAF Resources

MHC is prioritizing assistance, including reaching and serving socially disadvantaged individuals. 

As explained previously, individuals who self-identify as Black Americans, Hispanic Americans,

Native Americans, and Asian Americans and Pacific Islanders are considered socially 

disadvantaged individuals for purposes of the Program. To avoid exacerbating existing disparities, 

MHC will make a direct and concerted effort to reach and serve socially disadvantaged individuals. 

These efforts will include providing community outreach, forming partnerships with housing 

counseling agencies and community partners and conducting targeted marketing and outreach 

strategies through MHC’s marketing vendor, which has experience in reaching socially 

disadvantaged individuals.

Marketing Strategies

1. Press Release

Following the Facebook live a Press Release will be sent out to the statewide media list (roughly 

300 media personnel & stations) detailing the program and summarizing the Facebook live. The 

same press release will then go out to the necessary MailChimp lists. The press release and fb live 

will come the day the program application is opened. 

2. Social Media

Social media platforms will be heavily utilized during the entirety of the program. We will run 

targeted campaigns to underserved communities and specifically target low-income counties 

throughout the state. This means we will go in and select those specific counties deemed racially 

and ethnically concentrated areas of poverty and make a targeted effort to advertise in those 

areas—this will make those ads show up on citizens who live or travel through those areas’ 

devices.

3. Radio Ads -- this includes low-income targeted areas as well as minority radio stations.

4. Television Ads

5. News Appearances

6. Print/digital Media

7. Targeting of religious institutions, WIN Job Centers, food pantries, civil rights organizations, 

school districts, community and state colleges and other entities, specifically in low-income 

areas.

The goal is to provide these institutions with “messaging packets” (marketing material) in 

the form of:
13695521.2 33

o Flyers

o Posters

o Emails

o Other tangible items

It is important to note that many of MHC’s advertising methods will be ongoing and continuous. 

These methods will contain but are not limited to:

• Social media Platforms 

o Specifically targeted advertising designated regions as well as the whole state.

• Google Ads

• Print/Digital Media Stories

• News Appearances 

• TV Ads

• Radio Advertising

• Tangible Advertising in Targeted areas, organizations, and institutions

o Flyers

o Posters

o Emails

o Mail-outs

We will be modeling our marketing efforts based off our ERA-RAMP outreach, which has been 

extremely successful. It will be done in phases deemed necessary based upon demand. 

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.

Public Communications

Will MHC 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

□ No

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.

☒ resident of a U.S. territory, Indian reservation, or Hawaiian Homeland.

☒ homeowners that reside in persistent poverty counties.

☒ individual with limited English proficiency.
13695521.2 34

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

targeted populations will be undertaken:

☒ Spanish

□ Chinese

☒ Vietnamese

□ Korean

□ Tagalog

□ Russian

□ Arabic

□ Haitian Creole

□ other

Will MHC 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

☐ No

Outreach

Will MHC 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

□ No

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.

☒resident of a U.S. territory, Indian reservation, or Hawaiian Homeland.

☒ homeowners that reside in persistent poverty counties.

☒ individual with limited English proficiency.

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

targeted populations will be undertaken:

☒ Spanish
13695521.2 35

□ Chinese

☒ Vietnamese

□ Korean

□ Tagalog

□ Russian

□ Arabic

□ Haitian Creole

□ other

Housing Counseling and Legal Services

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

services?

☒ Yes

□ No

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 

Impacts of 

Housing 

Discrimination

Mississippi for 

Community 

Development 

110 Yazoo Ave. 

Ste. 225

Clarksdale, MS 

38614

Yes Yes

Hancock 

Resource 

Center

454 Highway 

90, Ste. B

Waveland, MS 

39576

www.hancockrc.org Yes Yes

MS Faith Based 

Coalition

1770 Ellis Ave. 

Ste 205

Jackson, MS 

39204

www.msfbc.com Yes Yes

D&E, A 

Housing and 

Economic 

Empowerment 

Center

416 Marion 

Ave. 

McComb, MS 

39648

www.depower.org Yes Yes

HEED Housing 

Education and 

Economic

3405 Medgar 

Evers Blvd.

Jackson, MS 

39202

www.heedhousing.org Yes Yes
13695521.2 36

Voice of 

Calvary 

Ministries

531 W. Capitol 

St.

Jackson, MS 

39203

www.vocm.org Yes Yes

Mississippi 

Housing 

Partnership

1217 N. West 

St. 

Jackson, MS 

39202

www.mshousingpartnership.org Yes Yes

Mercy Housing 

and Human 

Development

1135 Ford St.

Gulfport, MS 

39507

www.mhhd.org Yes Yes

The role of housing counseling agencies under the HAF program focus to intake, application 

processing and triage, although foreclosure prevention counseling may include a range of activities 

depending on the client’s financial situation and the severity of the mortgage delinquency. Housing 

counseling agencies may choose to have certain staff members dedicated to intake with more experienced staff members completing applications and facilitating communication with the Servicer. 

Trained counselors will work with each homeowner to complete an individualized application to 

address the homeowner’s particular needs, and the counselor will complete an action plan assessing 

mortgage sustainability, loss mitigation options, and other counseling services needed. 

As mentioned previously, housing counselors will provide intake to determine applicant vulnerability 

for sustainability. Housing counselors will work with applicants and provide their existing 

knowledge of available relief to understand what loss mitigation options may be available to 

homeowners. The Housing Counselor will work with applicants upfront and provide information of 

various options available for a sustainable mortgage. MHC has provided a welcome letter in the HAF 

application that include “Know Your Options” as it relates to receiving HAF funds and loss 

mitigation options.

Targeting Specific Groups of Homeowners

Will MHC conduct outreach specifically tailored to target potentially eligible households 

that?

☒ have mortgage or mortgage assistance contracts held or backed by MHC.

☒ have mortgage backed by any of the following agencies.

 Federal Housing Administration, Department of Veterans Affairs; U.S. Department of Agricultural.

☒ have privately held mortgages.

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

□ Chinese

□ Vietnamese

□ Korean
13695521.2 37

□ Tagalog

□ Russian

□ Arabic

□ Haitian Creole

□ other

Will the Participant’s HAF application and other program documents be provided in forms 

that are Accessible to persons with disabilities?

☒ Yes 

□ No

Performance Goals

MHC will collect the following metrics as key performance indicators to track the progress and 

success of the HAF Program.

• MHC will measure performance by evaluating the following:

• The number of households served and the dollar amount by which the assistance reduced 

mortgage loan delinquency, assisted homeowners to exit forbearance plans, and fully 

reinstated previously delinquent mortgage loans.

• The number and percentage of applicants that receive assistance through the Program 

(versus the number and percentage denied assistance).

• The number of households who are no longer in the Program and reach an alternative 

outcome or program completion/transition.
13695521.2 38

MHC’s goals include preventing 800 home losses the first twelve (12) months of the program.

MHC will continuously monitor and audit this program to identify and implement incremental 

improvements. Frequency of these periodic qualitative assessments will occur quarterly or as 

required by Treasury. MHC will continue to engage in feedback to meet the evolving needs of 

homeowners and servicers. MHC is committed to transparency and will provide Program 

information and updates through a public-facing website.

Further, the development of the Program implements best practices established through the 

numerous state programs operated by MHC and the current programs funded through the 

Emergency Rental Assistance funds. Additionally, MHC is an active participant in national groups 

such as National Council of State Housing Agencies (NCSHA) and Council of State Community 

Development Agencies (COSCDA), which allows for exposure to and review of other states’ best 

practices. MHC will continue to take part in brainstorming, discussion and feedback sessions with 

other state housing agencies. MHC will implement a set of internal controls that will aid in 

increased effectiveness and efficiency of program administration, provide reliable financial 

reporting, and help ensure compliance with all applicable laws and regulations. These quality 

controls to ensure program integrity include a 100% review of all declined applications and a 

review of 10% of total application volume MHC staff are familiar with detection of fraud and 

adherence to Program regulations.

Readiness

Staffing, Systems and Contractors

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

☒ Yes

□ No

Does the Participant anticipate significant information technology system upgrades to implement 

this HAF Plan?

☒ Yes

□ No

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

program design element described in this HAF Plan?

☒ Yes

□ No

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

operational before the Participant first received HAF funds?

☒ Yes

□ No
13695521.2 39

If yes, has the documentation for that pre-existing program been adapted to HAF requirements 

(please answer yes if the pre-existing program already complied with HAF program 

requirements)?

☒ Yes

□ No

Will the Participant use any third-party contractor or partner to conduct programadministration 

(such as reviewing applications, determining eligibility, processing payments, conducting 

reporting, and reviewing compliance) for some or all of the Participant’s HAF programs?

☒ Yes

□ No

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

contractors or partners that will conduct program administration?

☒ Yes

□ No

Staffing

In order to develop and operate a program of this size and scope, certain systems and staffing 

structures are needed. MHC is actively assessing and anticipating those systems and staffing 

structures to ensure a sustainable infrastructure for the life of the Program. MHC has existing staff, 

with extensive experience in the Hardest Hit Fund mortgage prevention program, who will support 

the Program administration as part of an integrated management approach to provide 

comprehensive oversight and management of the Program. Plans will be made to develop and 

increase staff positions to meet additional needs should they arise.

Anticipated needs include:

• Management.

• Departmental staff.

• Financial processing.

• Compliance staff and legal counsel; and

• Outside partners including housing counseling agencies and application processors.

Systems

For effective Program delivery, MHC will utilize a public-facing website and housing counseling 

agencies. Homeowners will complete applications online. Assistance will be available through the 

support of local partners and counseling agencies. Ongoing and regular compliance processes will 

be handled through existing internal compliance departments. Policies, procedures, and internal 

controls will be developed, and the necessary internal audits performed. The legality of all 

processes and policies will be ensured through engagement of MHC’s outside general counsel.
13695521.2 40

Contracts and Partnerships

Contracts and partnerships will be utilized to ensure the success of the HAF Program and will play 

a critical role. MHC will utilize the Common Data File to communicate with lenders/servicers and 

lenders/servicers will execute a HAF Partner Agreement. Program partner requirements for

private non-mortgage lenders include providing a delinquency quote, contact information, and 

ACH account information. AmeriNat’s services are utilized for underwriting decisions for 

applications. 

Applicant Intake and Eligibility Review – Housing Counseling Agencies

MHC will contract with housing counseling agencies serving various communities across 

Mississippi. Services provided will include assisting applicants complete the online application, 

reviewing the application for completeness, reviewing documents supplied by the client for 

appropriateness, making a recommendation to MHC on client eligibility for funding, and staying 

in touch with clients who have received funding to ensure they remain in compliance with the 

requirements. 

Use of Initial Payment

What amount of the HAF funds that MHC has received been disbursed to eligible 

homeowners?

MHC has used $633,133.73 for reinstatement to eligible homeowners. 

How much of the HAF funds that MHC has reviewed been obligated? 0

Has MHC begun accepting applications from homeowners for any HAF-funded programs?

☒ Yes

☐ No

If yes:

How many households have applied for HAF assistance? 2225

How many households has MHC provided with assistance using HAF funds? 125

How many households has MHC provided with housing counseling or legal funds 0

HAF Pilot program has been utilized to help homeowners for reinstatement and 3 months 

of ongoing payments. HAF funds has been used to support organizational expenses 

associated with administering the HAF Pilot Program. 
13695521.2 41

Budget

Budgeting of HAF Funds by Program Design Element

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

program design elements:

Amount $72,281,675.00

Mortgage Payment Assistance and Mortgage 

Reinstatement

$72,281,675.00

Mortgage Reinstatement

Payment Assistance for Homeowner’s Insurance

Payment Assistance HOA fees or liens

Payment Assistance for Down Payment Assistance 

Loans 

Payment Assistance for Delinquent Property Taxes

Subtotal:

(Enter sum of amounts entered)

Specify MHC’s allocations for the following:

Counseling Services

Legal Services

If MHC is seeking reimbursement for any previous 

expenses, please specify the expenses and amounts 

below, providing sufficient detail for Treasury to 

determine whether the expense is within the 

definition of “qualified expenses” in the HAF 

guidance:

Expense Type:

If MHC proposes to use HAF funds for 

administrative expenses, please specify the proposed 

expense and amounts below, providing sufficient 

detail for Treasury to determine whether the expense 

is within the definition of “qualified expense” in the 

HAF guidance:

Expense Type: 
13695521.2 42

Subtotal: $72,281,675.00

Points of Contact

Primary Contact

Name: Tina Jones

Agency/Office: Mississippi Home Corporation

E-mail: tina.jones@mshc.com

Phone Number: 601-718-4678

Reporting Contact: Same

Additional Contact

Name: Lisa Coleman

Agency/Office: Mississippi Home Corporation

E-mail: Lisa.Coleman@mshc.com

Phone Number: 601-718-4757

Authorized Official Information

Authorized Official Name: Tina Jones

Authorized Official’s Email Address: Tina.Jones@mshc.com

Authorized Official’s Title: VP of Homeowner Preservation