A newly expanded fund provides options for homeowners on Hawai‘i Island and Kaua‘i who are in financial hardship prevent foreclosure. Grants for up to $30,000 from the Homeowner Assistance Fund (HAF) can be used not only to reduce monthly payments or pay past-due mortgages, but can now also be used to pay past-due property taxes and past-due HOA fees.
The counties of Kaua’i and Hawai’i, together with Hawai’i nonprofits including Hawai’i Community Lending (HCL) and Hawaiian Community Assets (HCA), present the HAF program. Begun as a pilot program in November 2021, HAF is now moving to a multi-year program that will be available to homeowners through September 2025 or until funds are fully expended, whichever happens first.
Requirements of the program are as follows:
• Live in your home on Hawai‘i Island or Kaua‘i
• Own no other real property
• Have a first mortgage that was originated before Jan. 21, 2020 (not required for past-due property taxes and past-due HOA fees)
• Have experienced financial hardship
• Have less than $25,000 in assets or less than five times your monthly mortgage payment
• Meet the maximum annual household income requirements
• Have a loan with one of the qualifying mortgage servicers*
*Funding is limited to homeowners who reside on Hawai‘i Island and Kaua‘i who have loans with the following participating mortgage servicers ONLY (not required for past-due property taxes and past-due HOA fees):
• American Savings Bank
• Arvest Central Mortgage Company
• Big Island FCU
• Capital Mortgage Servicers of Texas
• Carrington Mortgage
• CENLAR
• Central Pacific Bank
• Flagstar
• Freedom Mortgage
• Gather Federal Credit Union
• Habitat for Humanity Hawai‘i Island
• HFS Federal Credit Union
• HomeStreet Bank
• Interfirst Mortgage Company
• Kaua‘i Federal Credit Union
• Kaua‘i Habitat for Humanity
• Lakeview Loan Servicing
• M&T Bank
• Mr. Cooper
• PNC Bank
• Planet Home Lending
• Rocket Mortgage (SPS)
• Select Portfolio Servicing (SPS)
• Selene Finance LLP
• ServiceMac
• The Money Source
• Truist
• Wells Fargo
If your mortgage servicer is not listed above, you may be ineligible to receive funds for paying your past due mortgage or reducing your mortgage payment at this time. You can urge your mortgage servicer to participate in the program by downloading and sending them this Participating Servicer Request Letter to help you become eligible for HAF grants. Contact HCA with questions, (866) 400-1116.
For program details and/or to apply for HAF grants, please visit https://hawaiicommunitylending.com/grants-loans/
For more information about HCA’s Financial Opportunity Centers and free financial workshops, please call HCA toll-free (866) 400-1116, or visit www.hawaiiancommunity.net.
If you need an auxiliary aid/service or other accommodation due to a disability, contact 877-477-5990 as soon as possible. Requests made as early as possible will allow adequate time to fulfill your request. Upon request, this notice is available in alternate formats such as large print, Braille, or electronic copy.