LINCOLN, Neb. -- Homeowners have until June 30 to apply for the Nebraska Homeowner Assistance Fund (NHAF). 

NHAF was established in February of 2022 to prevent mortgage delinquencies, defaults, foreclosures and displacement.

NHAF said that homeowners who visit the portal after June 30 will be referred to an online waitlist.

The organizations said that Nebraska has distributed more than $30 million for the program this far from the U.S. Treasury to help income-qualified, pandemic-impacted homeowners.

According to the press release, NHAF provides up to $40,000 in relief per household to homeowners who experienced a COVID-19 related financial hardship that began or continued after Jan. 21, 2020.

“Nebraska Investment Finance Authority (NIFA) aims to help as many impacted homeowners as possible before the NHAF dollars are exhausted,” said Shannon Harner, executive director of NIFA. “This fund has helped 2,568 homeowners stay in their residence with 48.91% of those assisted classified as socially disadvantaged.”

After June 30, NHAF said that homeowners will be referred to an online waitlist where there will be contact information, and where they will answer pre-qualification questions and identify what type of assistance they are looking for.

NHAF said that priority will be given to applications completed before June 30 that are already in the program queue, then waitlist applications for those facing an active foreclosure, and then waitlist applications by date received.

If funds become available after June 30 the waitlisted applicants will be contacted and given a secure login to the NHAF portal to finish their application.

Because all applications completed before June 30 will be processed first, there is no estimation for when, and how many, waitlist applicants will be notified to complete the full application process.

NHAF said that those on the waitlist needing immediate help after applying should speak to a HUD-certified housing counselor.

To qualify the household income must be equal to or less than 100% of the Area Median Income for the county the homeowner lives in to be eligible for help. Another qualification is that at least one member of the household must have been financially impacted by the pandemic after Jan. 21, 2020. NHAF said that assistance can only be given for the homeowner’s primary residence.

Nebraskans can apply online through June 30 at NebraskaHAF.com. A call center is also available to provide assistance Monday through Friday from 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. CT.