Frequently Asked Questions

TXHAF is the Texas Homeowner Assistance program, which provides financial assistance to Texas homeowners who have fallen behind on their mortgage or related payments due to the pandemic.

The TXHAF funds are issued as grants that homeowners do not need to repay. The payments are made directly to the mortgage servicer or applicable property charge payee.

No. In order to be eligible for assistance, the homeowner must currently occupy the home as their primary residence.

Mortgage Program

• Provides assistance to eligible Texas homeowners with qualified hardships to pay past due mortgage payments and, in some cases, up to three (3) months of future payments, including eligible amounts advanced by a mortgage servicer.
• Maximum assistance of $65,000 per household.

Property Charges

• Provides assistance to eligible Texas homeowners with qualified hardships to pay past due property taxes, property insurance and past due mortgage statement, property tax statement, insurance statement, and/or homeowner/condo association fees.
• Of the maximum $65,000 available per household, up to $25,000 can be used for property charge defaults.

Utility Payment Assistance

• Provides assistance to eligible Texas homeowners with qualified hardships to pay past due utility bills and up to three (3) months of prospective payments.
• Of the maximum $65,000 available per household, up to $10,000 can be used for utility assistance (inclusive of past due balance and prospective assistance).
• Eligible utilities include electricity, gas, propane, water, and wastewater.

Below are examples of documents that homeowners are required to submit with the application:

• Identification card
• Mortgage statement
• Proof of occupancy, such as a utility bill
• Income documentation, such as pay stubs
• Signed program documents

Frequently, a loan servicer will collect property tax and insurance payments from the homeowner and maintain them in an “impound” or “escrow” account. An “escrow advance” is when the loan servicer pays these fees on behalf of the homeowner when there are not enough funds in the escrow account to do so.

Of the maximum $65,000 available per household, up to $25,000 can go towards property charges, including escrow advances.

TXHAF funds can help qualified homeowners catch up on late payments on their mortgage, property tax, property insurance, and homeowner/condo association fees. Some applicants may also be eligible for up to three (3) months of future mortgage payment assistance.

The TXHAF program currently does not cover expenses such as home repairs and utility bills.

• Single-family (attached or detached) property
• Condominium unit
• 1 to 4-unit property where homeowner lives in a unit as their primary residence
• Manufactured home permanently affixed to real property and taxed as real estate
• Mobile home not permanently affixed to real property

For any of the above property types, the original principal balance of the mortgage must not be more than the conforming loan limit.

Some applicants may be eligible for up to three (3) months of future mortgage payment assistance.

Texas homeowners may be eligible for assistance through TXHAF if they meet the following:

• Have fallen behind on one or more payments: mortgage, property tax, property insurance, homeowner/condo association fees, utility payments.
• Household income at or below 100% Area Median Income (AMI) or 100% of the median income for the United States, whichever is greater.
• Own and occupy their home in Texas as their primary residence.
• Experienced a qualified financial hardship after January 21, 2020, such as lost income or increased expenses due to the pandemic.

If you qualify for the program and you can continue making your monthly mortgage payments after receiving program assistance, then the program will provide funding to “Reinstate” your mortgage. “Reinstate” means pay the total past due amount.

If you qualify for the program and you cannot afford to continue making your monthly mortgage payments after receiving program assistance, then the program will provide funding to “Reinstate” your mortgage. Additionally the program will provide up to three months of monthly payment assistance to qualified households.

If you cannot afford to continue making your monthly mortgage payments, please contact a housing counselor and/or your loan servicer to explore available options.

For full details about TXHAF Mortgage Reinstatement and Monthly Payment Assistance, please see the Policy Manual.

“Forbearance” is when your mortgage servicer allows you to pause or reduce your mortgage payments for a period of time. Homeowners in forbearance are encouraged to contact their loan servicers to explore options to exit forbearance. Homeowners exiting forbearance are eligible for TXHAF assistance.

If you believe your application was denied in error, you may submit an appeal within 30 days by logging into the portal. Appeal requests must include additional facts or evidence to show why your case should be reconsidered.

Once a homeowner’s application is approved, payment is sent directly to the mortgage servicer, property tax authority, insurance company, homeowner/condo association, or utility provider.

Payment is made by either ACH/direct deposit or check.

TXHAF is not able to make payments directly to homeowners.

After you submit your application, it will be carefully reviewed to see if it meets program eligibility requirements. Mortgage details will be confirmed with your mortgage servicer. If any documents or information is missing from your application, you will be contacted and asked to provide it. Once your application review is completed, you will be notified whether you qualify for program assistance. Application review times can vary. Homeowners can log into the portal at any time to check the status of their applications.

No. The program cannot reimburse homeowners for payments made. Program assistance is only available to help homeowners with past-due payments and, if eligible, up to three (3) months of future payment assistance.