BISMARCK – North Dakota Health and Human Services (HHS) is encouraging North Dakota homeowners who are at risk for foreclosure to apply for the Homeowner Assistance Fund, also known as ND Help for Homeowners, by Aug. 15.

“Since the program’s inception in 2022, nearly 3,400 North Dakota households received assistance, for a combined total of $37 million,” HHS Housing Stability Unit Director Nikki Aden said. “The program was launched in response to the pandemic, and approximately $6 million in funding remains available until the program ends in August 2026.”

Through the Homeowner Assistance Fund, eligible homeowners may receive up to $40,000 of assistance to go towards delinquent payments for their home. Examples of past-due costs that qualify for assistance include reinstatement of a delinquent first mortgage, property taxes or homeowner insurance premiums, condo or homeowner association fees, attorney’s fees, special assessments, delinquent junior liens, past-due lot rent and water, home energy, electricity and garbage service balances.

To qualify for the Homeowner Assistance Fund, a homeowner must have experienced financial hardship related to the COVID-19 pandemic, have income equal to or less than 150% of area median income and own and occupy the property as their primary residence. Income limits can be found on the HAF income limits search tool.

Examples of financial hardships include, but are not limited to lost or reduced income, increased costs, caregiving impacts, general financial hardships such as using savings, retirement or other investments to pay for cost of living, accruing debt to cover expenses. It also includes longer term impacts that indirectly tie back to the pandemic, such as inflation impacts during that time

Individuals who have previously received benefits from this program are not eligible to apply for additional assistance.