Concord Monitor – Homeowner Assistance Fund ends March 8th

A state program for needy homeowners created with federal pandemic funds will end next week after running out of funding.

Since 2022, the New Hampshire Homeowner Assistance Fund has helped residents pay property taxes, mortgages, utilities and other costs during the pandemic. Now, New Hampshire Housing, which oversees the program, has announced a March 8 deadline for applications.

New Hampshire is receiving $50 million in funding from the American Rescue Plan Act for this program. As of February 27, $36.5 million had been distributed.

Homeowners were eligible for up to $40,000 in assistance. More than 3,000 families received some type of assistance, with Hillsborough County receiving the most applications.

The majority of the funds ($19.4 million) were used to pay mortgages. This was followed by a property tax abatement in which $10 million was distributed.New Hampshire has the highest property tax burden in the country, according to the Tax Foundation, a think tank in Washington, D.C.

The Homeowner Assistance Fund provided a unique form of relief to taxpayers in the state. While other programs offer tax credits and exemptions to slightly reduce annual bills, none provided the level of support that federal funding established.

As funding began to dwindle, the program paused the application process in December and began reviewing applications on a first-come, first-served basis. Currently, no new applications will be accepted after March 8, and a waiting list will be formed for those who apply before the deadline.

Editor’s note: The Concord Monitor, in collaboration with Report for America and the Investigative Editorial Unit, is working on a series of articles examining property tax pressures. If you have ever faced a tax deed or lien, or have struggled year after year to pay your property taxes, and would like to share your story, please contact my reporter girlfriend Michaela Towfighi at mtowfighi@cmonitor.com Please contact me.