HUD offers financial help

Homeowners facing the threat of foreclosure are being offered an opportunity to catch up on their mortgage payments through the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development.

The Emergency Home Loan Program has been launched to assist homeowners who are at least 90 days late on mortgage payments totaling up to $50,000 and have become unemployed or are working reduced hours as a result of the national recession or medical conditions.

According to Money Management International Regional Director Billie Jo Rogers, a counseling office for the HUD EHLP has been set up at 200 S. Carpe Circle, Ste. F in Houma. Application screening will be conducted through July 22.

Homeowners seeking financial assistance are required to complete a pre-screening worksheet which can be found at www.FindEHLP.org or by calling (855) 346-3345 to become registered in the application process.

According to the EHLP website, if there are more potentially eligible homeowners registered than funds available, completed worksheets will be entered into a random selection process. HUD did not specify a total amount available for this program. Selected homeowners will be contacted by local EHLP counseling agents.

During application interviews, homeowners will be required to provide documentation to support their claims of eligibility. Rogers said there is no charge to homeowners for this service. Final accepted applications will be established beginning at the end of July.

Louisiana is one of 27 states involved with the HUD EHLP program. Attempts to reach a counselor at the designated Houma office were not successful.