A. No. The Kentucky Homeownership Protection Center is a resource for all Kentuckians. If you have questions about budgeting, credit, utility assistance, home repairs or foreclosure, our staff is here to help you. 

A. No. All counseling services are free to callers through the Protection Center. Some callers may qualify for free legal advice from Legal Aid. Contact us now to find out what possibilities are available for your situation. 

A. A lender originally provided the funds for your loan when you first got your house. A servicer collects the monthly mortgage payments for the lender and if you have an escrow account, they also pay the taxes and homeowner's insurance on your behalf. Often the servicer is a different company than your original lender. 

A. The name of your servicer, their address and phone number should be listed on your monthly mortgage statement or mortgage coupons. 

A. You should have your account number from your mortgage statement or payment coupons, a brief explanation of your situation, a copy of your paycheck stub or other income information and a list of regular household expenses. 

A. Foreclosure is a legal process where a bank or mortgage company can take back a home to satisfy a mortgage debt to them. For a full explanation, please view the About Foreclosure page. 

A. Anyone who has a mortgage or lien on your property can foreclose if you do not repay your loan. 

A. Different types of loans have different time frames. The foreclosure process is also affected by state laws and regulations. Contact us to speak to a counselor who can advise you in your situation. 

A. Yes. Immediately call your servicer to explore loss mitigation strategies and work out options. The sooner you call, the more options you have. If you are unable to work with your servicer, Contact us immediately. A counselor can help you find an alternative at no cost to you. To better understand your options, please view the Alternatives to Foreclosure page. 

A. A counselor can help you determine what your needs are and what plan would work best in your situation. Contact us to speak to someone who can help. 

A. A loan is in default after the first missed payment. Your mortgage contract should state how many payments must be missed before a notice of default is sent. Most servicers will start the foreclosure process after three missed payments, but late charges and fees can quickly add up after the first. If you have missed a payment or are about to, call your servicer immediately and inform them of the situation. If you are unable to work with your servicer, please contact us as soon as possible. 

A. No. You are not required to leave your home until it is the property of another person. Stay in your home to make sure you qualify for any possible assistance. Call us immediately to speak to a qualified counselor at no charge. 

A. Contact an attorney immediately. Many counties have lawyer referral services that can assist you in finding an attorney. Some Kentuckians may qualify for free legal advice from Legal Aid. Contact us to discover all your options. 

A. There are many unscrupulous people in the world who will take advantage of the panic a homeowner feels when faced with foreclosure. Do not sign anything or make any agreement without speaking to a reputable counselor first. Contact us to find a counselor in your area. 

A. Many mortgage agreements specify that if the servicer has to take legal action, any expenses incurred will become the responsibility of the borrower for reimbursement. This would also include any costs for property preservation and would have to be paid in addition to payments that are due. 

A. The property remains the homeowner’s responsibility until the foreclosure sale has been confirmed. This process can take quite some time depending on the circumstances and the court schedule. Even if the homeowner has vacated the property, it still remains in their name until the sale has been confirmed. 

A. There are tax consequences to any financial situation, such as a foreclosure. Your tax consultant will be able to explain these consequences. For more information about the effects of foreclosure on your taxes, visit the IRS Web site or contact us to speak to a counselor who can answer many questions. 

A. No. Losses from the sale or foreclosure of personal property are not deductible. 

A. Bankruptcy will suspend the foreclosure proceedings and give you time to work out a plan through the courts. However, you should speak to a qualified counselor and/or attorney before taking this course of action. Bankruptcy can lead to more financial problems down the road. Call us immediately to find out your options. 

A. Possibly. Before you receive any money, the remaining balance on the mortgage, outstanding property taxes and court fees must be paid first. Usually, there will be little to no money left for you. 

A. Established by the American Rescue Plan Act of 2021, the Homeowner Assistance Fund (HOAF) is a program created 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, and displacements of homeowners experiencing financial hardship after January 21, 2020 (per United States Department of Treasury (U.S. Treasury) guidance).

A.  No. This program is being funded through the department of Treasury and administered by the Kentucky Housing Corporation. KHC mission: We envision all Kentucky families an​​d individuals living in quality housing they can afford. KHC is a quasi-government agency, which is administratively attached to the  Kentucky Finance and Administration Cabinet . We are the chosen Federal partner to administer these grants to homeowners.

A.Applicants should document how the COVID-19 pandemic has affected them. Applicants claiming an increase in expenses will be asked to provide correlating documentation in the application portal. General increases in expenses related to utility bills, gas and groceries are not applicable hardships and will not be considered for the Homeowner Assistance Fund (HOAF).

Starting in 2023, HOAF now accepts applicants experiencing indirect COVID-related financial hardships, which are losses of income that the stresses or impacts of COVID contributed to or caused. Eligible hardships must be associated with the coronavirus pandemic but not necessarily caused by an individual becoming ill with COVID-19. For example, a divorce could be eligible if the stresses of the pandemic caused or contributed to the divorce. 

Homeowners must sign a hardship affidavit saying their hardship occurred after January 21, 2020, and was associated with the COVID-19 pandemic. Homeowner applicants must attest to the loss of income as a result of the pandemic-related hardship.  ​

For more information, speak with a housing counselor. 

A.  The Homeowners Assistance Fund (HOAF) will be administered as a grant and will assist with delinquent: mortgages, property taxes, utilities, homeowner’s association dues, and homeowner’s/flood insurance premiums as well as partial claims and payment deferrals.

A.  Homeowner’s primary residence must be in Kentucky and can be any of the following structures:

• A single family home
  
• A condominium
• A townhome
• A manufactured home
  

Exclusions 

• The property cannot be abandoned, vacant or condemned; and
• The homeowner cannot have more than one property as their primary residence 

A. Those who are eligible and receive assistance will have the assistance paid directly to their mortgage servicer, county property tax administrator, utility company or homeowners association. Monies will not be paid directly to the homeowner.​

A. The entire application process for this program can be completed online. Homeowners can sign up to receive notification when the application portal opens at www.ProtectMyKYHome.org. This site contains all the information you will need to begin your application for assistance, with step‐by‐step instruction and prompts to help you.

You simply click “Get Free Help" and enter minimal information. Once completed, the system will assign a counselor to you and will then lead you to a list of documents to upload to the secure site. Your counselor will assist with uploading the required documents.​

*If you do not have access to the Internet from your residence, public computers can be found throughout many communities at public libraries, schools or educational centers, or government‐run facilities in your county. This portal, when live, will be mobile friendly allowing access from any smart phone or tablet.*

A. You will need access to upload your: deed, property valuation statement, mortgage statement, current income documentations, bank statements, unemployment statement (if applicable), photo ID, past due utility bill (if applicable), past due homeowner association bill (if applicable), and copy of your county tax bill (if applicable).

A. A HUD-approved housing counselor is specially trained and certified by the government to help you assess your financial situation, evaluate options if you are having trouble paying your mortgage loan, and make a plan to get you help with your mortgage. For the purposes of the Homeowner Assistance Fund program, your assigned counselor will assist you with your application/ housing needs.

A. KHC has been chosen to administer this program and will launch statewide hopefully by the end of 2021.

A. Not all homeowners will qualify through the Homeowner Assistance Fund. For complete criteria, speak with a housing counselor. For a list of criteria, visit teamkyhaf.ky.gov​ or read more on our HOAF overview page. 

A. Please continue to visit www.protectmykyhome.org​ or our sign up page​ for more information on the Homeowner Assistance Fund as details become available. There you can also sign-up to receive email updates about the program and follow our progress tracker.

A. Yes, KHC administers the Yes, KHC administers the Healthy at Home Emergency Relief Fund​ to assist renters.​ Information about the program can be found at teamkyhherf.ky.gov​.

A. Homeowners may apply once.

A. Kentucky Housing Corporation will work to connect each homeowner with all available options to assist with their needs. *Effective with new grant agreement executions on or after October 17, 2022, the maximum assistance for past due balances was raised to $60,000. It was previously $35,000.

A. The Homeowner Assistance Fund program is designed to assist homeowners one-time. Homeowners are encouraged to work with their housing counselor to address long-term affordability barriers.

A. Applicants may be in active or discharged Chapter 7 or 13 bankruptcies to participate in HOAF. KHC does not require the reaffirmation agreement following a Chapter 7 bankruptcy. However, the Mortgage Servicer(s) may object to mortgagors in active bankruptcy.

A. A complete list of participating servicers is here. Mortgage servicers may enroll in the program by contacting Kentucky Housing Corporation. Homeowners may also email ProtectionCenter@kyhousing.org​ to report a new servicer. Be sure to include the name of the mortgage servicer and name, phone number, and email address of contact person. Private mortgages (mortgages paid to individuals) cannot be considered for the Homeowner Assistance Fund. 

A. The homeowner assistance fund is not able to pay any past due lot rents.

A. A land contract or other seller-financed mortgages, is ineligible for the Homeowner Assistance Fund program.

A. Homeowners may only retain six (6) months PITI (Principal, Interest, Taxes, and Insurance) in liquid assets. This excludes retirement accounts, like IRA’s, 401k, or other tax deferred accounts. Certificates of Deposit are considered liquid assets. Anything liquid assets exceeding six months’ PITI may be used toward mortgage payments or other debts before you are eligible for HAF.

A. The Homeowner Assistance Fund Program is intended to provide a one-time relief of a temporary financial crisis related to the COVID-19 pandemic. Homeowners experiencing long-term or permanent financial impacts should work with their housing counselor and mortgage servicers to determine if any measures are available to help make the situation affordable. If there are no other options, homeowners may want to explore other options, including but not limited to, selling the house, and finding something more affordable. *Effective with new grant agreement executions on or after October 17, 2022, the maximum assistance for past due balances was raised to $60,000. It was previously $35,000.​

A. The Homeowner Assistance Fund Program is available on the HOAF Dashboard page at https://protectmykyhome.org/Pages/HAF-Dashboard.aspx​. There you can find breakdowns (by county) of disbursed funds.​