While it is uncertain if Americans will get the federal government’s fourth wave of stimulus cheques, homeowners around the country may be eligible for further financial assistance now through the Homeowner Assistance Fund (HAF).
The goal of HAF is to “avoid mortgage missed payments and foreclosures, defaults, loss of electricity or home energy services, and relocation of homeowners enduring financial difficulty after January 21, 2020,” as per the Treasury Department. HAF money can be used to help homeowners pay for mortgage interest, property, utility bills, and other expenses. Many people’s financial conditions had greatly improved by that time. However, this was not the case everywhere.
RAF Stimulus Checks Were Not Distributed Equally
Those who were unable to pay past-due lease or keep up with the new rent might seek help through the federal emergency renter assistance program. Funds for the program were distributed at the state and local levels, with each state responsible for establishing an application procedure.
From mid-2021, countless Americans have benefited from the rent relief stimulus check program, allowing them to remain in their homes and escape eviction. However, fresh data shows that rent assistance monies were not dispersed equitably, casting doubt on the program’s success. One important difficulty is that various states had varied application processes, some of which were more clumsy and onerous than others. As a result, persons in states in which the system was less efficient might be less likely to obtain assistance.
Worse, New America discovered that states looking for Stimulus Checks were underfunded, and states that needed less cash were overfunded. For example, in California, the government emergency rental assistance program allocated $131 per person, whereas, in Wyoming, it allocated $610 per person. However, California has a higher proportion of renters.
