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Covid-19 Homeowner & Renter Resources






Covid-19 Homeowner & Renter Resources



Posted on March 30, 2020


COVID-19 Housing Resources and Assistance
For immediate assistance in discussing a potential foreclosure, rental housing resources
(including eviction prevention) and financial counseling, please contact Self-Help Enterprises at
(559) 651-1000.
TDD (800) 735-2929 Se Habla Español

Download PDF here. 

 

Renter, Homeowner & COVID-19 Resources

Rental Payment Problems: Contact your landlord within 7 days of when rent is due if you cannot make the payment; keep documentation of the hardship; evictions have been suspended 60 days if proper notice is provided with documentation.

 

Utility Payment Issues: Both SCE & So Cal Gas have temporarily suspended service  disconnections. Contact your utility company for details.

 

Southern California Edison (SCE) – Visit sce.com/billhelp or call 1-800-950-2356 for more information.

 

Federal Tax deadline extended : 7/15/2020  https://www.irs.gov/newsroom/tax-day-now-july-15-treasury-irs-extend-filing-deadline-and-federal-tax-payments-regardless-of-amount-owed

 

State Tax deadline (if affected  by COVID 19): 6/15/2020

https://www.ftb.ca.gov/about-ftb/newsroom/covid-19/extensions-to-file-pay.html

 

Centers for Disease Control (CDC) – https://wwwnc.cdc.gov/travel/notices

 

Consumer Financial Protection Bureau (CFPB), Federal Housing Finance Agency (FHFA), and the Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD) mortgage and housing assistance website: https://www.cfpb.gov/housing 

 

Fannie/Freddie Insured Loans – Contact Mortgage Provider Immediately:

  • Homeowners impacted by this national emergency are eligible for a mortgage forbearance plan to reduce or suspend their mortgage payments for up to 12 months
  • Homeowners in a mortgage forbearance plan will not incur late fees
  • Credit bureau reporting of past due payments of borrowers in a mortgage forbearance plan as a result of hardships attributable to this national emergency is suspended
  • After forbearance, a servicer must work with the borrower on a permanent workout option to help maintain or reduce monthly payment amounts as necessary, including a loan modification
  • Foreclosure sales and evictions of borrowers are suspended for 60 days

FHA Insured Loans – Contact Mortgage Provider Immediately:

  • Halt all new foreclosure actions and suspend all foreclosure actions currently in process; and
  • Cease all evictions of persons from FHA-insured single-family properties.
  • Contact FHA directly at 1-800-CALL-FHA or email answers@hud.gov if you are unable to reach a live operator

Rural Housing Service Single-Family Housing (USDA) – Contact Mortgage Provider Immediately:

Borrowers with USDA single-family housing Direct and Guaranteed loans are subject to a moratorium on foreclosure and eviction for a period of 60 days. This action applies to the initiation of foreclosures and evictions and to the completion of foreclosures and evictions in process.

  • Guaranteed Loan Program:
    • Guaranteed Loan borrowers who are in default or facing imminent default due to a documented hardship can have payments reduced or suspended by their lender for a period not to exceed 12 month’s delinquency. Once the hardship is resolved, the lender can modify the loan to cure the delinquency or make up the missed payments based on the borrower’s individual circumstances.

 

 

  • Direct Loan Program:
    • USDA has waived or relaxed certain parts of the application process for Single-Family Housing Direct Loans, including site assessments, and has extended the time period that certificates of eligibility are valid.

 

  • A Direct Loan borrower who is experiencing a reduction of income by more than 10 percent can request a Payment Assistance package to see if he/she is eligible for payment assistance or for more assistance than currently received.

 

  • Moratorium Assistance is available for Direct Loan borrowers experiencing medical bill expenses (not covered by insurance) or job loss because of COVID-19. Qualifying borrowers can receive a moratorium on house payments for a period of time, repaid at a later date.

 

  • Direct Loan questions should be directed to USDA’s Customer Service Center at 800-414-1226 (7:00 a.m.-5:00 p.m. Eastern Time Monday-Friday) or https://www.rd.usda.gov/contact-us/loan-servicing (Call volume and wait times are high at this time)

 

VA Insured Loans – Contact Mortgage Provider Immediately

  • Forbearance Request – VA encourages holders of guaranteed loans to extend forbearance to borrowers in distress as a result of COVID-19. We understand the impact may be temporary, but it is still a hardship. Servicers should work with impacted borrowers who are unable to make their mortgage payments to ensure they are evaluated for VA Loss Mitigation options

 

  • Late Charge Waivers. VA believes that many servicers plan to waive late charges on affected loans and encourages all servicers to adopt such a policy for any loans that may have been affected.

 

  • Credit and VA Reporting. In order to avoid damaging credit records of Veteran borrowers, servicers are encouraged to suspend credit bureau reporting on affected loans. Please contact the appropriate Regional Loan Center (RLC) with any questions.

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ADDITIONAL RESOURCES FOR HOMEOWNERS:

Water and Sewer – Publicly Owned Utilities (POU’s); Please check with your utility for specific provisions

  • Disconnections: Many of the larger water and sewer POUs are suspending service disconnections due to non-payment for both residential and commercial customers until further notice. .
  • Water Quality: Water and sewer utilities are continuing essential work functions to provide clean and safe tap water during the COVID-19 outbreak.
  • Flexible Payment Plans: Many of the water and sewer POUs are offering customers the opportunity to create flexible and extended payment plans if financial hardship is a challenge.

 

Cable, Cell and Internet Service Providers – Contact your company directly for assistance

Most are universally assisting with the following:

  • Waiving late fees and/or disconnect fees
  • Currently suspending all disconnects due to non-payment
  • Flexible payment plan options
  • Free access to wifi hotspots all over the country for customers and non customers

Additional Offerings noted by specific companies listed below:

  • COMCAST – Offering two free months’ internet service to low income families seeking new service and increasing speed on internet service to all customers in an effort to help with those working or teaching from home.
  • ATT – Waiving overage charges on cellular data for those affected
  • VERIZON – Waiving activation fees for new customers and free international calling
  • TMOBILE – Free international calling and increased bandwidth for all customers

Electricity and Natural Gas Utilities- Contact your company directly for assistance




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