*It is possible this information is no longer relevant*

The West Virginia Homeowner Rescue Program (WVHR) supports homeowners who are struggling to pay bills on their primary residence from financial issues caused by the COVID-19 pandemic. West Virginia homeowners financially burdened by or during the COVID-19 pandemic who meet the program’s eligibility requirements (detailed below) may receive financial assistance on their mortgage, utility payments, and more.

West Virginia homeowners may receive up to $15,000 for past due mortgage payments. Homeowners may receive up to an additional $5,000 for other housing debts, like home insurance, property taxes, condominium fees, HOA fees, and other common charges. An additional maximum of $2,500 can be awarded for past-due utility debts including, but not limited to, electric, gas, and internet (internet payment is limited to $300 per household).

To be eligible, the applicant must be the owner of a property located in West Virginia, and it must be their primary residence. Further, the household income may not exceed 150% of the resided county’s median income. A homeowner may not receive funding for more than one house. As part of the application process, the homeowner must describe and demonstrate how they have suffered financially either directly, or indirectly caused from the COVID-19 pandemic. This coverage includes financial issues caused by the pandemic after January 21, 2020, or financial issues from before the pandemic continued into the pandemic. Examples of this include having lost a job, having had to allocate money to healthcare, and a decrease in household income.

Applications are submitted online, and applicants must provide the following:

– Household income

– Qualifying hardship

– Proof of ownership and residency

– Proof of identity

– Documentation sustaining Eligible Expenses

To begin the application process, follow this link, and click the “Apply as a Homeowner” button at the bottom. The webpage further details the application process.

If you have questions about eligibility, please call 211 to speak with a partner representative

If you do not have access to a device such as smartphone, tablet, or computer, please call 844-542-0035 or email wvhr@wvhdf.com to request a paper application.