Friday is the last day eligible homeowners in Seminole County can apply for mortgage assistance.
What You Need To Know
- Due to lack of participation, the mortgage assistance program is closing early
- To qualify, you also have to prove that you are still able to make payments toward your mortgage
The Emergency Mortgage Assistance Program (EMAP) was made possible due to the CARES Act Funding, but according to county leaders, there has not been much participation. That is a big reason why they are closing the program early.
The qualifying income is about 80% of the area median income.
For example, for a family of four, that would be an annual income of about $61,000.
To qualify, you also have to prove that you are still able to make payments toward your mortgage.
The program is designed to help families who have been negatively impacted financially as a result of the pandemic.
It can provide up to 12 months of help, and that can include retroactive payments.
County officials said they just wish they could help more families because the need is still there.
“We have struggled with being able to provide as much assistance as is probably needed, just due to the federal income limitations," said Allison Thall, Seminole County's Director of Community Services.
Since its start, though, EMAP has provided 62 households with $820,000 of mortgage assistance.
The program helps homeowners in unincorporated Seminole County and Seminole County municipalities, with the exception of Sanford.
The deadline to apply for EMAP assistance is March 18 at 4 p.m.
If you are not eligible for this program, there is help at the state level.
The state of Florida’s department of economic opportunity opened a homeowner assistance fund program.
You can find the link to that here.
