Residents struggling with how to pay their rent may be interested in a new housing assistance website. The U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD) has teamed up with the Consumer Financial Protection Bureau (CFPB) and the Federal Housing Finance Agency (FHFA) to launch the site.
The website provides tools for those who may need housing assistance by consolidating “the CARES Act mortgage relief, protections for renters, resources for additional help, and information on how to avoid COVID-19 related scams.”
For renters, the site explains:
- the federal eviction moratorium
- access to a list of states and local governments with eviction bans
- what to do if their income has fallen
- how to check if they live in covered housing
- what to do if they have issues with their landlord
The website also reminds renters that even if the CARES Act eviction moratorium applies to them, rent is still due as outlined in their lease. The site stresses that if they can pay their rent, they should continue to do so to avoid future eviction.
Homeowners can also use the housing assistance site to determine if a mortgage is federally backed.
“This invisible enemy has a lot of Americans concerned about how they are going to stay safe and make ends meet,” said HUD Secretary Ben Carson. “No one should lose their home because of Coronavirus.. HUD is continuing to monitor the needs of our FHA borrowers and HUD-assisted families, and we are prepared to take additional actions as needed.”
The three agencies are also working closely with the Borrowers Protection Program to ” share servicing information to protect borrowers during the coronavirus national emergency.”
Spread the word about housing assistance
Share the housing assistance website with your residents. The site not only informs families of their rights during this pandemic, but also reminds them of their responsibilities to pay their rent if they have the means to do so.
Go to the website.
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