California Extends COVID-Era Mortgage Relief Deadline

The COVID relief program has helped over 30,000 California homeowners catch up on mortgage payments. Justin Sullivan/Getty Images

Thousands of Californians who fell behind on their mortgages or property taxes during the pandemic were eligible for federal relief funds as part of the American Rescue Plan Act of 2021, but the plan covered only payments from Jan. 1, 2020, to March 1, 2023.

Now the program has been extended for applicants with any missed payments prior to Feb. 1, including those who previously took advantage of the program, according to a press release last month by the California Housing Finance Agency.

Officials for the agency, which manages the California Mortgage Relief Program, said the extension comes as homeowners have yet to deplete the $1 billion in funds the state received. The program has aided over 30,000 homeowners with up to $80,000 per applicant.

“By extending the delinquency data, we are broadening the reach of our program to assist more families in need. … These grants represent a crucial support system for Californians, enabling them to catch up on past-due bills caused by the pandemic and secure their financial well-being,” said Rebecca Franklin, president of the agency’s Homeowner Relief Corporation, in the press release.

The non-repayable grants can help anyone catch up on mortgage and reverse mortgage payments, unpaid property taxes, or paying off loan deferrals, according to officials. Those previously denied for missing the past deadline are encouraged to reapply, they said.

As of Feb. 13, nearly $776 million has been distributed, averaging around $25,000 per household, according to data available on the program’s website.

Los Angeles households have received the most aid, with about 4,500 homeowners taking advantage of the program. Some restrictions apply, including that applicants’ household income cannot exceed 150 percent of a county’s median income. For Los Angeles, a family of four cannot make more than $189,150, or $132,450 for an individual to qualify, according to a calculator on the program’s website. The funds are also only available for owner-occupied homes.

Aid is available for qualifying applicants who experienced hardship due to COVID, such as reduced wages or increased living expenses. The program isn’t available for homeowners with more than one home, nor for those who have already paid off their mortgage.

Also, applicants cannot have more cash and assets, excluding savings, than the aid they qualify for, and their mortgage servicer must be participating in the program. A list of servicers can be found on the program’s website.

To apply online, California residents can call 888-840-2594 for assistance in English and Spanish or go online at camortgagerelief.org. Counselors are also available at 800-569-4287 to help with enrollment for those without internet access.

Applicants must provide a mortgage statement, bank statements, pay stubs, and tax returns for proof of income, utility bills, unemployment benefits if any, as well as a California ID or Social Security Number. The application is available online in English, Spanish, Korean, Vietnamese, Chinese, and Tagalog.