The SC Homeowner Program is administered by SC Housing.
SC Homeowner Rescue Program
SC Housing is administering $145 million via the SC Homeowner Rescue Program for mortgage assistance. Homeowners experiencing COVID-19 related financial hardships and who are at least 30 days delinquent may qualify for assistance. Visit SC Housing for specific guidelines and to apply.
NOTE: This program is NOT administered by Habitat for Humanity South Carolina. All questions should be directed to SC Housing at 803-702-5222.
South Carolina received $145 million for mortgage assistance!
Overview
The American Rescue Plan Act of 2021 (ARPA) named the Homeowner Assistance Fund (HAF) as a mortgage assistance program for homeowners facing COVID-19 related financial hardships. South Carolina received $145 million for this program, which is branded in our state as the SC Homeowner Rescue Program (SC HRP). All 50 states received HAF funds to be administered by each state’s housing agency. In South Carolina, the SC Housing State Housing and Finance Authority (SC Housing) has contracted with Guidehouse to assist with program administration.
Process Overview
Homeowner submits application to SC HRP.
SC HRP program administrators will review application to determine eligibility.
If application appears to meet program qualifications, SC HRP will contact the homeowner’s mortgage servicer for verification purposes.
If SC Housing determines that the homeowner shall be awarded SC HRP assistance, the funding will be made directly to the mortgage servicer on the homeowner’s behalf.
Homeowner Eligibility
Homeowners experiencing COVID-19 related financial hardships and who are at least 30 days delinquent may qualify for assistance. Specific guidelines can be found by visiting SC Housing, but general eligibility considerations are provided below.
Homeowners must apply themselves. Apply online at schousing.com/Home/SC-Homeowner-Rescue or call 803-702-5222 for assistance.
IMPORTANT: To be approved, any expenses for which the homeowner is seeking assistance must be at least 30 days past due on the date the homeowner applied for assistance.
SC HRP covers up to a maximum of 36 months of assistance for as long as funds are available.
The program runs through September 30, 2026, or as long as funds remain available.
A homeowner may be awarded funds to cover the eligible delinquent amount and one additional month.
If a homeowner is awarded SC HRP assistance, the homeowner must wait 12 months after receiving SC HRP award to re-apply for additional assistance.
Examples of qualifying needs include:
Past-due mortgage loan payments (PITI) and one future mortgage payment per award.
Past-due utility bills (including electric, gas, home energy, and water)
One future utility payment per award, not to exceed $1,000 per utility provider
Past-due property taxes
Government or Nonprofit Down Payment Assistance Loans
Homeowners must:
Live at the property address in which they are applying for assistance;
Have experienced a financial hardship associated with COVID-19 after January 21, 2020. This hardship may have started before but continued after January 21, 2020.
Household income is equal or less than 150% of the AMI;
Have not already received assistance from another source (such as federal, state, local, or NPO) for the same expenses and timeframe that is being requested of SC HRP.
Examples of COVID-19 related financial hardships may include:
Reduction of income, such as a temporary or permanent loss of earned income
Unemployment, this may be a temporary or permanent loss of employment
Death of a co-borrower
Material increase in living expenses, such as medical expenses, inadequate medical insurance, increase in household size, the need to care for a family member, costs to reconnect utility services, etc.