Larry Hogan, Governor

Boyd K. Rutherford, Lt. Governor 

Kenneth C. Holt, Secretary

Owen McEvoy, Deputy Secretary

homeownerassistance.maryland.gov

UPDATED 4/7/22

MARYLAND HOMEOWNER ASSISTANCE FUND

MAIN PURPOSE AND GOALS:

The Homeowner Assistance Fund (HAF) was created under section 3206 of the American Rescue Plan Act of 2021. It provides 

residential mortgage assistance and other homeownership related financial assistance to Maryland homeowners who have 

experienced a hardship during the COVID-19 pandemic to avoid loss of residence for eligible homeowners. The Maryland 

Department of Housing and Community Development will administer the program by taking applications through an online portal. 

Homeowners with mortgages should be working with their mortgage servicers so that HAF assistance is supplementary to options 

that might be offered by the mortgage servicer such as various loan modifications.

PROGRAM INCEPTION AND DURATION:

The Maryland Homeowner Assistance Fund opened to homeowners statewide on December 20, 2021. The program will continue 

until September 30, 2026, or until funding is fully reserved, whichever comes first.

STRUCTURE:

This assistance will take two forms – the Maryland Homeowner Assistance Fund Grant (HAF Grant) and the Maryland Homeowner 

Assistance Fund Loan (HAF Loan). The HAF Loan may be combined with the HAF Grant and/or with the HAF WholeHome Grant.

HAF GRANT HAF LOAN

The program will offer a one-time payment designed to avoid 

imminent displacement due to, but not limited to:

● Property tax delinquency, 

● Chattel loan delinquency,

● Manufactured housing/mobile home loan; or land lease/ground rent

delinquency

● Homeowner or Condominium Association fee 

delinquency

● Home Insurance fees delinquency

● Municipal sewer and water fees delinquency

● Mortgage delinquency

Specific grant eligibility:

The HAF Grant borrowers’ household gross income may not exceed 

100% of area median income (AMI)

Specific terms:

● Outright grant - there is no mortgage recorded on theproperty

● maximum assistance - $20,000

The program will offer a one-time payment of a delinquent mortgage amount 

and/or additional funds to facilitate a principal reduction or rate reduction to 

reduce ongoing mortgage payments to levels affordable to the homeowner. 

Specifically, the HAF funds will be required to result in the monthly mortgage 

payments (principal, interest and escrows) being less than 50% of the 

household gross monthly income. Servicer’s loss mitigation workout must be 

used to cure the delinquency and/or bring the monthly mortgage payment 

below 50% of the household gross income before using HAF money.

Assistance payments will be made directly to the mortgage servicer.

Specific loan eligibility and terms:

The HAF Loan borrower’s household gross income may not exceed 150% of 

area median income (AMI) (see the last page)

Specific terms:

● The loan will require a recorded lien on the property

● $40,000 maximum loan amount

● 0% interest rate

● Deferred payments for the life of the first mortgage

● Payment due in full when the first mortgage ends 

(repayment, refinance, transfer, sale)

● Repayment is subject to review and the department may, based 

on homeowner’s equity in the property at the time of 

repayment:

● require payment in full

● establish a payment plan

● allow full or partial forgiveness.
FACT SHEET: HOMEOWNER ASSISTANCE FUND

Larry Hogan, Governor

Boyd K. Rutherford, Lt. Governor 

Kenneth C. Holt, Secretary

Owen McEvoy, Deputy Secretary

homeownerassistance.maryland.gov

GENERAL ELIGIBILITY 

REQUIREMENTS

In order to be eligible under HAF, all borrowers will have to be/have:

● an eligible COVID-19 financial hardship after January 21, 2020

(includes hardships that began before January 21, 2020, but continued after that date)

● Maryland residents

● 90 days in arrears

● homeowners residing in their primary residence

● homeowners by evidence of the deed. 

The delinquent mortgage must have had a principal balance that did not exceed the conforming loan limit at the time of origination.

COVID-19 RELATED 

FINANCIAL HARDSHIP 

REQUIREMENT

In order to receive assistance, eligible homeowners must have experienced a COVID-19 related financial hardship, as defined in the 

U.S. Treasury Department guidance, after January 21, 2020 (including hardships that began before January 21, 2020, but continued 

after that date). The hardship will be self-attested by the borrower in the HAF application form and can be due to decrease in 

household income, increase in household expenses or other situations. Examples of COVID-19 related hardship include: having to 

perform essential work during the pandemic; child care/educational costs; costs of caring for an elderly, disabled, or sick family 

member; illness; death in the family, etc.

TOTAL PROGRAM 

ALLOCATION

HAF Grant: $34,000,000 HAF 

Loan:$156,300,521

GENERAL 

PROPERTY 

ELIGIBILITY

CRITERIA ANDTYPE

The property must be a one-to-four unit, including condominium units, owner-occupied primary residence located in Maryland. 

Acceptable property types are: detached, single family, duplex, triplex, fourplex, condominium, co- op and manufactured 

housing/mobile home.

OTHER CRITERIA

HAF GRANT:

ELIGIBLE PROPERTY TAX ASSISTANCE

For property taxes to be an eligible cost under the MD HAF Grant, the following criteria must be met:

● The property taxes can be paid directly to the taxing authority rather than through an escrow arrangement with a home 

mortgage servicer if the respective taxes are not part of an escrow arrangement, and

● The payment for the property tax bill could have become due before January 21, 2020 and continued after January 21, 2020 due 

to pandemic hardship.

Applicants cannot receive more than the documented property tax bill and/or costs necessary to remove a lien placed on the 

property due to failure to pay property taxes due after January 21, 2020.

ELIGIBLE HOMEOWNER FEE ASSISTANCE

For Homeowner Fees to be an eligible cost under the MD HAF Grant, the following criteria must be met:

● The Homeowner Fees must be paid directly to the imposing entity rather than through an escrow arrangement with a home 

mortgage servicer for a HAF Grant.

● The payment for the Homeowner Fees could have become before January 21, 2020 and continued after January 21, 2020 due to 

pandemic hardship.

● The following Homeowner Fees are eligible for payment through the MD HAF program: homeowner’s insurance, 

flood insurance, mortgage insurance, homeowner’s association fees or lien, condominium association fee, common 

charges, ground rent etc.

● The cost must be a requirement for residency and the applicant must provide an explanation and document the cost.

Payments to local taxing authorities, homeowner insurance companies, or entities that assessed Homeowner Fees cannot be more 

than the documented bills, invoices, and/or liens.

HAF LOAN:

ADDITIONAL ELIGIBILITY CRITERION

The payment affordability (housing) ratio (PITI/household gross monthly income) will be capped at 50% (including after 

mortgage reinstatement or modification).

FLEXIBLE THRESHOLD BETWEEN THE GRANT AND THE LOAN:

If the non-mortgage related arrears exceed the proposed new cap of $20,000 Grant, we will use a portion of the loan available 

under the HAF program not exceeding the proposed new cap of $40,000 Loan. Concomitantly, in the circumstances the 

mortgage related arrears exceed the proposed new cap of $40,000 Loan, we will use a portion of the Grant available under the 

HAF program not exceeding the proposed new cap of $20,000 to assist with saving a homeowner's primary residence, in line 

with the purpose and mission of the MD HAF program. In any instance, the total HAF money available for each file will not 

exceed an aggregate amount of $60,000.
FACT SHEET: HOMEOWNER ASSISTANCE FUND

Larry Hogan, Governor

Boyd K. Rutherford, Lt. Governor 

Kenneth C. Holt, Secretary

Owen McEvoy, Deputy Secretary

homeownerassistance.maryland.gov

HAF 100% AMI LOW INCOME LIMITS BY HOUSEHOLD SIZE (CAPPED AT US MEDIAN)

JURISDICTION 1 PERSON 2 PERSON 3 PERSON 4 PERSON 5 PERSON 6 PERSON 7 PERSON 8 PERSON

Anne Arundel $79,900 $84,100 $94,600 $105,100 $113,550 $121,950 $130,350 $138,750

Baltimore $79,900 $84,100 $94,600 $105,100 $113,550 $121,950 $130,350 $138,750

Baltimore city $79,900 $84,100 $94,600 $105,100 $113,550 $121,950 $130,350 $138,750

Calvert $90,300 $103,200 $116,100 $129,000 $139,350 $149,650 $160,000 $170,300

Caroline $79,900 $79,900 $79,900 $79,900 $79,900 $83,550 $89,300 $95,050

Carroll $79,900 $84,100 $94,600 $105,100 $113,550 $121,950 $130,350 $138,750

Cecil $79,900 $79,900 $85,050 $94,500 $102,100 $109,650 $117,200 $124,750

Charles $90,300 $103,200 $116,100 $129,000 $139,350 $149,650 $160,000 $170,300

Dorchester $79,900 $79,900 $79,900 $79,900 $79,900 $83,550 $89,300 $95,050

Frederick $90,300 $103,200 $116,100 $129,000 $139,350 $149,650 $160,000 $170,300

Garrett $79,900 $79,900 $79,900 $79,900 $79,900 $83,550 $89,300 $95,050

Harford $79,900 $84,100 $94,600 $105,100 $113,550 $121,950 $130,350 $138,750

Howard $79,900 $84,100 $94,600 $105,100 $113,550 $121,950 $130,350 $138,750

Kent $79,900 $79,900 $79,900 $79,900 $84,800 $91,100 $97,350 $103,650

Montgomery $90,300 $103,200 $116,100 $129,000 $139,350 $149,650 $160,000 $170,300

Prince George's $90,300 $103,200 $116,100 $129,000 $139,350 $149,650 $160,000 $170,300

Queen Anne's $79,900 $84,100 $94,600 $105,100 $113,550 $121,950 $130,350 $138,750

St. Mary's $79,900 $87,000 $97,850 $108,700 $117,400 $126,100 $134,800 $143,500

Somerset $79,900 $79,900 $79,900 $79,900 $79,900 $83,550 $89,300 $95,050

Talbot $79,900 $79,900 $79,900 $87,400 $94,400 $101,400 $108,400 $115,400

Washington $79,900 $79,900 $79,900 $79,900 $83,400 $89,600 $95,750 $101,950

Wicomico $79,900 $79,900 $79,900 $79,900 $79,900 $83,550 $89,300 $95,050

Worcester $79,900 $79,900 $79,900 $79,900 $86,200 $92,600 $99,000 $105,350

Anne Arundel $79,900 $84,100 $94,600 $105,100 $113,550 $121,950 $130,350 $138,750

HAF 150% AMI LOW INCOME LIMITS BY HOUSEHOLD SIZE (CAPPED AT US MEDIAN)

JURISDICTION 1 PERSON 2 PERSON 3 PERSON 4 PERSON 5 PERSON 6 PERSON 7 PERSON 8 PERSON

Allegany $79,900 $86,400 $97,200 $108,000 $116,650 $125,300 $133,950 $142,600

Anne Arundel $110,400 $126,150 $141,900 $157,650 $170,300 $182,900 $195,500 $208,100

Baltimore $110,400 $126,150 $141,900 $157,650 $170,300 $182,900 $195,500 $208,100

Baltimore city $110,400 $126,150 $141,900 $157,650 $170,300 $182,900 $195,500 $208,100

Calvert $135,450 $154,800 $174,150 $193,500 $209,000 $224,500 $239,950 $255,450

Caroline $79,900 $86,400 $97,200 $108,000 $116,650 $125,300 $133,950 $142,600

Carroll $110,400 $126,150 $141,900 $157,650 $170,300 $182,900 $195,500 $208,100

Cecil $99,250 $113,400 $127,600 $141,750 $153,100 $164,450 $175,800 $187,150

Charles $135,450 $154,800 $174,150 $193,500 $209,000 $224,500 $239,950 $255,450

Dorchester $79,900 $86,400 $97,200 $108,000 $116,650 $125,300 $133,950 $142,600

Frederick $135,450 $154,800 $174,150 $193,500 $209,000 $224,500 $239,950 $255,450

Garrett $79,900 $86,400 $97,200 $108,000 $116,650 $125,300 $133,950 $142,600

Harford $110,400 $126,150 $141,900 $157,650 $170,300 $182,900 $195,500 $208,100

Howard $110,400 $126,150 $141,900 $157,650 $170,300 $182,900 $195,500 $208,100

Kent $82,450 $94,200 $106,000 $117,750 $127,200 $136,600 $146,050 $155,450

Montgomery $135,450 $154,800 $174,150 $193,500 $209,000 $224,500 $239,950 $255,450

Prince George's $135,450 $154,800 $174,150 $193,500 $209,000 $224,500 $239,950 $255,450

Queen Anne's $110,400 $126,150 $141,900 $157,650 $170,300 $182,900 $195,500 $208,100

St. Mary's $114,150 $130,450 $146,750 $163,050 $176,100 $189,150 $202,200 $215,250

Somerset $79,900 $86,400 $97,200 $108,000 $116,650 $125,300 $133,950 $142,600

Talbot $91,800 $104,900 $118,000 $131,100 $141,600 $152,100 $162,600 $173,100

Washington $81,100 $92,650 $104,250 $115,800 $125,100 $134,350 $143,600 $152,900

Wicomico $79,900 $86,400 $97,200 $108,000 $116,650 $125,300 $133,950 $142,600

Worcester $83,800 $95,800 $107,750 $119,700 $129,300 $138,900 $148,450 $158,050