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The Homeowners Emergency Mortgage Assistance Program (HEMAP)

***HEMAP is no longer accepting applications***

Avoid Mortgage Foreclosure

Since 1984, the Pennsylvania Housing Finance Agency (PHFA) has offered a unique program that helps people who—through no fault of their own—are facing mortgage foreclosure: the Homeowners Emergency Mortgage Assistance Program (HEMAP).

HEMAP helps people bring their mortgage payments up-to-date through a loan from the state, as long as they have a reasonable prospect of resuming full mortgage payments within two years.

RHLS helps individuals who are interested in applying for a HEMAP loan understand the process and requirements.

The HEMAP Help Center

RHLS designed the HEMAP Help Center because a high number of HEMAP applications were not successful in obtaining loans. The Help Center assists applicants by:

  • Providing information about the HEMAP program, application, and other relevant topics.
  • Offering a free and prompt online critique of their application plus constructive comments by an experienced attorney.

Reviewers at the Help Center also search for indications that the loan in question might be a “predatory mortgage”—where a lender misled, tricked or even coerced the applicant into taking out a home loan at excessive costs and without regard to the homeowner’s ability to repay. If this is the case, RHLS makes appropriate referrals to private attorneys or a legal aid office.

The HEMAP Help Center is Keeping Families in their Homes

Aimee Y. fell behind in payments on her adjustable rate mortgage after her husband lost his job and the family incurred some unanticipated medical expenses. She received an Act 91 foreclosure notice that referred her to HEMAP, which, in turn, led her to the HEMAP Help Center. Aimee said, “Within a matter of hours an RHLS lawyer had read my application and gotten back to me with comments. When I met with the credit counselor I had a clear idea of the best way to present my situation and explain my hard­ship. Having that feedback from an expert was a huge relief during a time of great emotional stress and uncertainty.” After working with RHLS to prepare her application, Aimee and her family enjoyed “a happy ending to our story” in the form of an approval for the HEMAP loan.

Resources & Links

 

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