This program has ended. HomeHelpMN stopped accepting applications on July 7, 2023. If you are a Minnesota homeowner looking for mortgage help or financing options today, see our mortgage and home equity loans page.
About HomeHelpMN (Program Closed)
HomeHelpMN was a federally funded COVID-19 relief program that helped Minnesota homeowners who had fallen behind on their mortgage and other housing costs. It opened in May 2022 and stopped accepting applications on July 7, 2023, after nearly all of its $109 million in federal funding was committed. This article is kept as a historical reference.
What Was HomeHelpMN?
HomeHelpMN was Minnesota's Homeowner Assistance Fund, administered by Minnesota Housing. It assisted homeowners at risk of default, foreclosure, or displacement because of COVID-19-related financial hardship. Assistance was a grant, not a loan, and did not need to be repaid. The maximum was $35,000 per household when the program opened and was later raised to $50,000.
Eligible expenses included:
- Past-due mortgage payments
- Contract for Deed payments
- Manufactured housing loans
- Property taxes
- Property insurance
- Homeowner or condo association fees
- Manufactured home lot rent
Who Was Eligible?
To qualify for HomeHelpMN, homeowners had to meet these criteria:
- Minnesota resident: Own the property as your primary residence
- Income limits: Household income below county-specific thresholds (varied by household size)
- Financial hardship: Experienced a reduction in income or increase in living expenses due to COVID-19 after January 21, 2020
- Past-due obligations: Have housing-related payments that became past due on or after January 21, 2020
- Eligible property: Single-family homes, townhomes, condos, duplexes, co-ops, or manufactured housing (owner-occupied only)
Program Status and Timeline
The program opened in May 2022. The original application deadline was June 17, 2022, and it was extended more than once as funding allowed. The final deadline was 5 p.m. on July 7, 2023. The program is closed and is not accepting new applications.
If you received assistance through HomeHelpMN: the assistance was a grant and does not have to be repaid. If you have questions about your file, contact Minnesota Housing or your mortgage servicer.
Next Steps for Homeowners
If you are a Minnesota homeowner facing payment challenges, considering refinancing, or looking at financing options, Security Bank & Trust Company offers mortgage products and home equity solutions. Our lenders can talk through:
- Mortgage refinancing and rate options
- Home equity loans and lines of credit
- Construction and renovation financing
If you are behind on payments, call us before you fall further behind. The earlier we hear from you, the more options are usually still on the table.
Explore our mortgage and home equity loan options
Have questions about your home financing? Contact a mortgage specialist today.
