The NC Homeowner Assistance Fund has helped thousands of North Carolinians since being launched in early 2022. Below are several success stories from homeowners who have been able to hold onto their homes thanks to this assistance.
If you have been helped by this program and would like to share your story, please let us know!
NCHAF Assists Senior on a Fixed Income Facing Tax Debt
For many seniors, the COVID-19 pandemic took a mental and physical toll. A Northampton County homeowner and senior experienced respiratory complications during the pandemic. She fell behind on payments when she became ill and had very limited financial resources. She learned of the North Carolina Housing Assistance Fund (NCHAF) through an advertisement while streaming her favorite news channel. Despite initially struggling to complete her online application while ill, her case manager was able to assist by providing step-by-step instructions over the phone. “My case manager was so helpful, kind, and professional”, she says.
NCHAF Program Helps Nursing Student Avoid Foreclosure
Prior to the start of the COVID-19 pandemic, a Guilford County homeowner was a student working in a temporary nursing position. Once the pandemic began, her hours were cut, and she had no choice but to resign. She had not been working long enough with her company to qualify for unemployment and was four months behind on her mortgage payments. “I exhausted all my deferments and payment plans with the bank and was facing foreclosure,” she said.
Left with very few options, she learned of the North Carolina Homeowner Assistance Fund (NCHAF) from a friend of the family who recommended the program. The NCHAF program assisted her with her past due mortgage payments, and she later completed nursing school and began working as a licensed nurse in the fall of 2022.
“My case manager was always helpful and glad to answer any questions. I was able to avoid foreclosure with the help of NCHAF.”
NCHAF Lends a Helping Hand to Applicant on a Fixed Income
After being let go from his company during the pandemic, Tommy C. remained out of work for nearly a year. He was unsure of how he would make ends meet while surviving solely on his income from social security disability benefits. “I did not know how I would catch up with my mortgage payments,” said Tommy. “Once you are behind on one payment, it’s impossible to catch up.”
After Tommy was able to return to work, he remained behind on his bills. Thankfully, his employer told him about the North Carolina Housing Assistance Fund (NCHAF). He decided to apply for assistance with his mortgage payments.
For Tammie T. of Guilford County, NC, battling colon cancer became overwhelming while she faced numerous challenges throughout the pandemic.
Tammie made ends meet by waitressing and earning tips from regular customers. “I have colon cancer and I go once every other week for chemo,” Tammie says. “My cancer has progressed, and I could not work as much waitressing anymore. With ya’ll helping, I can stand up and breathe again.”
The program helped Tammie cover her past due mortgage payments so that she could get back on track while attending chemotherapy treatments. “This program is a blessing,” she says. “The program staff contacted my mortgage company and got them off my back.”
For Jessica G. in Mecklenburg County, NC, the COVID-19 pandemic put a devastating strain on household finances. After working at her hospital for six years, Jessica faced a tremendous loss in work hours as a patient services representative. “It sounds crazy to not have work hours in a hospital during the pandemic,” she says, “but I worked 120 hours a week prior to the pandemic and those hours were then cut.”
Jessica learned of NCHAF through her electric company, Duke Energy. The program helped Jessica stay afloat by assisting her with past due mortgage payments that accumulated while she picked up work hours again as an elderly companion. “I got the assistance I needed during a difficult time in my life. My case manager was responsive with getting me the answers I needed. I am so grateful.”
For many North Carolinians, like Karen M. of Hoke County, the pandemic felt like a bad rollercoaster ride. Karen is a surgical tech by trade and knows firsthand how lucky she is to have survived the COVID-19 pandemic. “I had to video chat with families to share the news that their family members would not make it,” she says. Karen’s work hours decreased to 20 hours weekly and she had to exhaust her savings account. “My credit cards were maxed out and my credit score dropped,” she says.
The NCHAF program assisted Karen by paying her past due mortgage payments. “The physical and mental toll that the pandemic has taken on those of us in the medical field has been difficult,” says Karen. “When I found out I was awarded with mortgage assistance, I dropped the phone and said ‘Hallelujah!’”
The last thing I remember was losing my taste and smell. I walked into the hospital, but then I woke up two months later in a nursing home. I had been in a coma, and became paralyzed on my left side. I had to stay in the nursing home to further my recovery for another month or so.
While I was sick with Covid we lost so much. The only things I didn’t lose were my faith in God, my husband, and my home. I came home and they shut our power off. They repossessed our car. I couldn’t get in or out of the house because we couldn’t get a ramp built. I prayed to God that I wouldn’t lose my home. I didn’t know where my husband and I would go if we did. We had a very good interest rate and had built up some equity, but we had gotten so far behind.
I am truly blessed and God sent the right people into my life to help me. God came through. Churches came and built ramps for us. Strangers prepared us meals and helped us around the house. My husband couldn’t work because he had to become my full-time caretaker.
I was watching television when I saw information on the NCHAF program. I called the number and I submitted my application. It took a while to get sorted, but I am so grateful that my mortgage has been paid up. It is such a relief, and such a weight off!
I want people to know that there are programs out there that can help. Life can change in an instant. We had A-1 credit and never missed a payment, to being faced with losing our home and we can’t even get a loan for a car. Every time there was a knock at the door I was terrified that it was the Sheriff to take us out of the house. And now our house is saved! God is good and God provides!
NCHAF Assists Single Mom with Tax Payment Assistance
Like many single parents, Brunswick homeowner Keishonna juggled two jobs to support her family throughout the COVID-19 pandemic. While maintaining the household with her income alone Keishonna wondered how she would get ahead carrying the financial burden of past-due tax payments. Keishonna learned about the North Carolina Housing Assistance Fund (NCHAF) while listening to an announcement on the radio. She decided to apply for assistance with her past-due tax payments. “My case manager was knowledgeable, had a positive attitude, and went above and beyond to assist me. I received assistance with property taxes, and it was a smooth process. I am so grateful for the help I received,” she noted.
After 40 years with her company, Belinda was let go when her position was eliminated during the COVID-19 pandemic. While coping with the loss of her household income, she was also caring for an ill parent. Many days, she and her husband questioned how they would get through this.
They began utilizing deferred mortgage payment programs offered by their servicer to maintain monthly payments. That’s when she learned about the NC Homeowner Assistance Fund (NCHAF).
NCHAF assisted the couple with their delinquent tax payments, and they were able to get back on track with their other bills. “My case manager was thorough, polite, and responsive. She talked me through the application process,” said Belinda.
NC Homeowner Assistance Fund Provides Relief
https://ncpro.nc.gov/blog/2023/05/01/nc-homeowner-assistance-fund-provides-relief
We believe sharing real-life stories can inspire other homeowners who are struggling due to the economic impacts of the pandemic to reach out for help themselves. We hope that you will consider sharing your experience with us to help us share this program’s impact on individuals, families and communities across North Carolina.
If you are willing to share your story, please submit the information below and someone from our outreach team will contact you. Thank you for your support of the NC Homeowner Assistance Fund!
