ATTENTION: All programs under Florida Hardest Hit Fund have CLOSED. We are not taking any new applications or updates to previous applications. Homeowners in need of foreclosure prevention assistance click here to contact a HUD-approved housing counseling agency in your area for information on available foreclosure prevention programs.

If you were a Hardest Hit Fund recipient and have questions about your HHF program or loan, including refinancing requirements, please email hhfcallcenter@floridahousing.org, or you may call 1-877-863-5244 and leave a voice mail.

If you would like to request a payoff statement for a Hardest Hit Fund loan please email payoffs@floridahousing.org.

First announced on February 19, 2010, by the US Department of the Treasury (Treasury), the “Housing Finance Agency (HFA) Innovation Fund for the Hardest-Hit Housing Markets” (HFA Hardest-Hit Fund) provides federal funding to states hardest hit by the aftermath of the burst of the housing bubble. To date, $9.6 billion has been allocated to 18 states and the District of Columbia; Florida’s share totals more than $1 billion. The Florida Hardest-Hit Fund (HHF) Programs are as follows:

Provided up to 12 months of payments (with a cap of $24,000, whichever comes first) paid directly to the mortgage lender to assist unemployed or underemployed borrowers with their first mortgage. In addition, up to $18,000 could be paid to help satisfy all or some of any past due amounts owed to the mortgage lender; this assistance would have been paid prior to the UMAP payments beginning and cannot exceed $18,000 total. Total assistance available was up to $42,000.

Used as a one-time payment to the mortgage lender to help satisfy all or some of any past due amounts owed on the first mortgage, only. This assistance could not exceed $25,000 total, and any past due amounts over and above the $25,000 could not be paid by the MLRP program and were the responsibility of the homeowner.

Provided qualified first-time homebuyers with up to $15,000 in down payment and closing costs assistance. The program was available for prospective first-time homebuyers wanting to purchase homes located in the following counties, only:

• Clay
• Duval
• Hillsborough
• Osceola
• Pasco

For more information on the additional available assistance, visit the Homebuyer Programs Wizard for more program information, income and purchase price limits, participating lenders and realtors and additional qualifications.

The Florida HHF Elderly Mortgage Assistance Program (ELMORE) was designed to assist seniors who were in arrears on their reverse mortgage (also known as a HECM—home equity conversion mortgage) by providing up to $50,000 to pay past due and future property charges, so that they may avoid foreclosure and can stay in their homes.

If you already have a completed application, please contact the toll-free ELMORE Information Line at 1-(800) 601-3534. For more information, visit the ELMORE website at www.FloridaELMORE.org.

Was designed to assist eligible homeowners by providing up to $50,000 to reduce the principal balance of the first mortgage, only, thereby reducing the loan-to-value (LTV) of their outstanding principal loan balance to no less than 100 percent. 

• Click here for Florida Housing's Hardest Hit Fund Reports.

• Click here for client testimonials from Florida Housing's Hardest-Hit Fund program.

To report allegations of waste, fraud, abuse, misconduct or other misconduct abuses, you may file a complaint with Florida Housing's Office of Inspector General. Please complete and submit the online complaint form for the OIG to review at Report Fraud, Waste or Abuse or send an email to OIG@floridahousing.org.

• Click here if you have a tip about potential waste, fraud or abuse in the Troubled Asset Relief Program, please report it to SIGTARP by filling out the below form.