How to Apply for the Georgia Homeowners Assistance Fund (2024 Complete Guide)

Table of Contents#

What Is the Georgia Homeowners Assistance Fund (GA HAF)?
GA HAF Eligibility Requirements
Expenses Covered by GA HAF
Step-by-Step GA HAF Application Process
Common Application Mistakes to Avoid
What to Expect After You Submit Your Application
Frequently Asked Questions About GA HAF
Final Tips for Application Approval

What Is the Georgia Homeowners Assistance Fund (GA HAF)?#

GA HAF launched in 2022 to prevent foreclosure, eviction, and utility disconnection for homeowners who experienced financial hardship during or after the COVID-19 public health emergency. Unlike loans, almost all GA HAF assistance is grant funding that does not need to be repaid, as long as you meet program requirements. Funds are paid directly to your mortgage servicer, tax authority, utility provider, or other approved vendor, not to individual applicants. As of 2024, funds are still available, but are allocated on a first-come, first-served basis until the full $354 million is disbursed.

GA HAF Eligibility Requirements#

To qualify for GA HAF support, you must meet all of the following criteria:

Primary residence requirement: You own and occupy the property as your full-time primary home in Georgia. Investment properties, second homes, and vacation homes are not eligible.
Property type: The home is a 1-4 unit residential property, townhome, condo, or manufactured home (permanently affixed to land you own or hold a long-term lease for).
Income limit: Your household income is at or below 150% of your county’s Area Median Income (AMI). For example, the 2024 AMI limit for a 4-person household in most Georgia counties is $134,400. You can check your county’s specific AMI limit via the official GA HAF portal.
Hardship requirement: You experienced a qualifying financial hardship on or after January 21, 2020 related to the COVID-19 pandemic (including job loss, reduced work hours, unexpected medical costs, or loss of household income).
Risk of displacement: You are at least 30 days past due on one or more eligible housing costs, or have received a foreclosure, eviction, or utility disconnection notice.
Maximum assistance cap: You can receive up to $50,000 total in GA HAF support per household.

Expenses Covered by GA HAF#

GA HAF funds can be used to cover the following eligible past-due costs:

Past-due mortgage payments (including first and second mortgages, reverse mortgage fees, and deferred mortgage balances from loan modifications)
Past-due property taxes and special municipal assessments
Past-due homeowner association (HOA) or condo association fees
Past-due utility bills (electric, gas, water, wastewater, trash, and high-speed internet for remote work/school)
Emergency home repair costs for hazards that make the property unlivable (e.g., roof damage, mold remediation, heating/cooling system failure) caused by your qualifying hardship

Step-by-Step GA HAF Application Process#

Step 1: Complete the free pre-qualification check#

Start by visiting the official GA HAF portal and using the 5-minute pre-qualification tool. This tool asks basic questions about your home, income, and hardship to confirm you meet eligibility requirements before you spend time gathering documentation.

Step 2: Gather all required documentation#

You will need to submit the following documents to support your application:

Document Type	Examples
Proof of identity	Valid Georgia driver’s license, state ID, passport, or permanent resident card
Proof of home ownership and primary residence	Property deed, current property tax statement, or mortgage statement with your name and address
Proof of household income	Last 30 days of pay stubs, W-2 forms, unemployment benefit statements, Social Security/Disability award letters, or 2 most recent tax returns (if self-employed)
Proof of COVID-related hardship	Layoff notice, employer letter confirming reduced hours, medical bills dated after January 21, 2020, or unemployment benefit award letters
Proof of past-due costs	Mortgage statements showing past-due balances, past-due property tax bills, HOA fee statements, or utility disconnection notices

Step 3: Submit your full application#

You can submit your application in one of three ways:

Online: Create an account on the official GA HAF portal, fill out all required fields, and upload your documentation.
Phone: Call the GA HAF customer support hotline at 1-800-356-1589 to complete your application over the phone with a representative.
In-person: Visit a HUD-approved Georgia housing counseling agency for free, one-on-one help filling out your application (you can find a list of approved agencies in the references section below).

All application options are 100% free to use.

Step 4: Respond to follow-up requests promptly#

The DCA may reach out to you via email, phone, or mail to request additional documentation or clarify information on your application. You will have 10 business days to respond to these requests, or your application may be placed on hold or denied.

Common Application Mistakes to Avoid#

Submitting incomplete documentation: Missing even one required document can delay your application by 2-4 weeks, or lead to a denial. Double-check your uploads before submitting.
Misreporting income: Over or under-reporting your household income will trigger an automatic verification failure. Use exact numbers from your pay stubs, tax forms, or benefit statements.
Waiting until you receive a foreclosure notice to apply: Funds are first-come, first-served, and processing times can take up to 6 weeks. Apply as soon as you fall behind on housing costs.
Paying third parties to submit your application: GA HAF applications are always free. Scammers often target homeowners by offering to "speed up" HAF applications for a fee—you do not need to pay anyone to apply.
Applying for non-covered expenses: Only the expenses listed earlier in this guide are eligible for support. Requests for non-covered costs will be rejected.

What to Expect After You Submit Your Application#

GA HAF processes applications in the following stages:

Initial review (7-14 business days): You will receive a confirmation email after submission, followed by a notice confirming your application is complete, or requesting additional information.
Verification (2-4 weeks): The GA HAF team will verify your documentation and contact your mortgage servicer, tax authority, or other vendors to confirm your past-due balances.
Approval decision: If approved, you will receive a written notice outlining the total amount of assistance you will receive, and which expenses it will cover. If denied, you will receive a letter explaining the reason for denial, and you can file an appeal within 30 days of the decision date.
Fund disbursement: Approved funds are sent directly to your vendors within 7-10 business days of approval. You will receive a confirmation once all funds have been disbursed.

Most mortgage servicers will pause foreclosure proceedings while your GA HAF application is under review, but you should notify your servicer directly that you have applied for the program to confirm this protection.

Frequently Asked Questions About GA HAF#

Q: Do I have to pay back GA HAF funds?#

A: Most GA HAF assistance is grant funding that does not need to be repaid, as long as you continue to occupy the home as your primary residence for at least 3 years after receiving funds. If you sell or move out of the home before the 3-year period ends, you may be required to repay a prorated portion of the grant.

Q: Can I apply for GA HAF if I already received a loan modification?#

A: Yes, as long as you still meet all eligibility requirements and are past due on housing costs.

Q: Can I apply for multiple types of expenses in one application?#

A: Yes, you can request support for mortgage payments, property taxes, utilities, and other eligible costs all in a single application, as long as the total requested amount is under $50,000.

Q: Is GA HAF still open in 2024?#

A: Yes, as of 2024, funds are still available, but will be closed once all $354 million in allocated funding is disbursed.

Final Tips for Application Approval#

Work with a HUD-approved housing counselor before applying: These professionals offer free help to review your eligibility, gather documentation, and fill out your application correctly to reduce the risk of denial.
Keep copies of all application materials: Save copies of your submitted forms, uploaded documentation, and confirmation emails for your records in case you need to file an appeal or resolve a discrepancy.
Check your email and mail regularly after submitting: Most follow-up requests are sent via email, so check your spam folder if you haven’t received an update within 2 weeks of applying.
Notify all relevant vendors of your application: Let your mortgage servicer, HOA, and utility providers know you have applied for GA HAF to request a pause on collection activities while your application is processed.

References#

Georgia Department of Community Affairs Official GA HAF Portal: https://georgiahaf.com
U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD) Georgia Approved Housing Counselors: https://www.hud.gov/states/georgia/housing/counseling
U.S. Department of the Treasury Homeowners Assistance Fund Program Overview: https://www.treasury.gov/programs/haf
GA HAF Customer Support Hotline: 1-800-356-1589 (available Monday-Friday, 8AM-8PM EST)