CHARLESTON, W.Va. — A COVID-era program meant to help West Virginia homeowners become more financially stable is coming to an end.
That’s because funding for the West Virginia Homeowners Rescue Program is running out.
Jessica Greathouse, special programs manager for the West Virginia Housing Development Fund, said they’re encouraging homeowners who’ve been impacted by the COVID pandemic to apply for the program while they still have time.
“This program is allowing us to save homes from foreclosures, keeping them from being sold on the courthouse steps and literally putting roofs over people’s heads with the home repairs program,” she said.
Since March 2022, the program has connected more than 6,300 West Virginia households with nearly $32 million in tax-free federal funding. About $50 million total was appropriated to West Virginia to provide the services.
Greathouse said there is a limited amount left to help homeowners with their past-due mortgages, utilities, property taxes, insurance premiums and home repairs.
“The program is only as good as the money lasts,” she said. “We have a little bit left and so we’re encouraging people that, if they haven’t applied yet and they had had a COVID-related hardship, they should apply.”
In July 2023, the program began offering up to $10,000 to help qualified homeowners make critical repairs to their homes. The program has paid out nearly $4 million since then.
With that money, homeowners have replaced damaged roofs and worn-out HVAC systems and fixed plumbing, electrical, and structural issues. The program also helps pay for late utility bills, taxes and homeowners’ insurance.
A homeowner must be 60 days behind in their mortgage payment. The cap on those payments is at $20,000.
To be eligible for the program, applicants must:
- Own and reside in the home in West Virginia as their primary residence
- Attest to experiencing a COVID-related financial hardship
- Be at least 60 days behind in their mortgage and/or at least one installment payment behind in their utilities, taxes, or insurance
Homeowners do not need to be delinquent in their mortgages to qualify for home repair assistance, but they must:
- Submit a signed bid from a licensed, insured contractor and photos of requested home repairs
- Submit proof of identification, residency, ownership, and income, as well as statements from creditors showing past-due amounts owed; and
- Provide proof that they are up-to-date on their mortgage payments or that they do not owe a mortgage.
To learn more about eligibility guidelines, required documents, covered expenses and to access the online application portal, visit www.wvhomerescue.com.