In December 2021, the State launched the California Mortgage Relief Program to
provide assistance to homeowners who fell behind on their housing payments due to
financial hardships they experienced during the COVID-19 pandemic. The program is
funded by the 2021 American Rescue Plan Act’s Homeowner Assistance Fund and
administered by the California Housing Finance Agency Homeowner Relief Corporation.
The California Mortgage Relief Program is expanding to help homeowners who may be
current on their mortgage payments but are delinquent on property tax payments.
Eligible homeowners could receive up to $20,000 to cover past-due property tax
payments.
The California Mortgage Relief Program is pleased to announce an expansion to eligibility requirements that will offer funding to a greater number of California homeowners who have fallen behind on housing and property tax payments due to the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic.
The Program has reset the delinquency date for households seeking assistance for past-due mortgage payments or unpaid property tax payments.
There is no cost to apply, and the funds never have to be paid back.
Applicants seeking property tax relief must meet all of the following criteria:
- Faced a pandemic-related financial hardship due to the COVID-19 pandemic after January 21, 2020.
- Household income at or below 100 percent of their county’s Area Median Income.
- Missed two mortgage payments or at least one property tax payment before February 1, 2024. This means that effective 2/1/2024:
- The 1st installment of Current Year taxes, if late, is now eligible for payment as well as any Prior Year defaulted amount
- The 2nd installment of Current Year taxes is also eligible for payment (late or not), as long as the 2nd installment taxes are not the only taxes owed.
- Only own and occupy one property in California as their primary residence.
- Own a single-family home, condominium, or permanently affixed manufactured home.
Homeowners can check their eligibility, apply for property tax relief, and obtain
information in several additional languages at https://CaMortgageRelief.org. For
assistance, please contact (888) 840-2594 or info@camortgagerelief.org. Homeowners
may also sign up for the program’s e-newsletter for notification when applications open.