Kansas Homeowner Assistance Fund (KHAF)
The Need
The pandemic created a housing crisis, threatening Kansas homeowners’ ability to keep up with mortgage and utility payments. As of May 2021, this has led to 15,430 home loans delinquent, of which 70% of these loans were behind more than 90 days.
As a result, thousands of homeowners were at risk of losing their homes and having their utilities shut off. Without aid, homeowners were left to struggle through the pandemic’s effects.
KEEP YOUR HOME
The Kansas Homeowner Assistance Fund (KHAF) was a federally funded, temporary emergency program to support homeowners experiencing hardship during the COVID pandemic.
KHAF was established with American Rescue Plan Act (ARPA) funds to help qualifying Kansas homeowners get current on their mortgages and avoid foreclosure. KHAF has provided nearly $49 million in assistance, preventing foreclosure for more than 4,350 homeowners.
The program’s impacts were felt across the state:
- 98 of 105 Kansas counties assisted
- 93% of homeowners assisted were below 100% of their area’s median income
- 275 mortgage servicers collaborated with KHAF
- Homeowners were offered HUD housing counseling and/or legal services
According to the U.S. Department of Treasury, Kansas had distributed or allocated 96.3 percent of its federal Homeowner Assistance Funds by the first quarter of 2023. This was the highest percentage of Homeowner Assistance Fund disbursements among all 50 states.
Additional data revealed Kansas’ foreclosure starts for the first half of 2023 were down significantly to just 34 percent of 2019 levels, among the lowest of all states.
The closure process followed three phases.
- Final Funding Phase: On January 30, 2023, homeowners were encouraged to apply as soon as possible to be considered for final funding.
- Hold Phase: On February 21, 2023, KHAF had received enough applications to exhaust all funds.
- Closure Phase: On Dec. 15, 2023, KHAF closed and stopped accepting new applications. Approved forward mortgage payments were paid as scheduled, with the last payment sent on May 3, 2024.
A list of HUD housing counseling agencies, legal services, the Kansas foreclosure timeline, and loss mitigation options can be viewed at Additional Housing Resources.
For more questions, review the KHAF closure FAQs.
Program Description
The Kansas Homeowner Assistance Fund (KHAF) program helped qualifying Kansans get current on their mortgages and property taxes and avoid foreclosure.
The KHAF program provided:
- Mortgage payments
- Property taxes and charges
- Utility, internet, and broadband fees
- And more
Funding Source
The KHAF program was funded through the federal American Rescue Plan Act. Governor Laura Kelly designated Kansas Housing Resources Corporation (KHRC) to serve as the administrator of the majority of these funds through the KHAF program.
Program Description
The KHAF program provides financial assistance for past-due mortgages, property taxes, homeowner association fees, utility costs, and internet / broadband payments to homeowners financially impacted by the COVID pandemic. Homeowners apply through an online process. If the application is approved, the KHAF funds are sent and applied directly to homeowners’ accounts, helping homeowners receive aid as quickly as possible.
KHAF METRICS TO DATE
Total Applications Submitted
Applications In Process
Applications funded
Funding Provided
Updated 9/10/24
What does assistance cover?
- Mortgage Reinstatement – Past due mortgage payments including principal, interest, escrowed taxes and insurance, and any reasonable fees associated with the delinquency.
- Mortgage Payments – Up to 6 months of future mortgage payments to homeowners who qualify for Mortgage Reinstatement.
- Property Taxes and Charges – Past due property taxes, homeowner and flood insurance, homeowner association and condominium association fees, cooperative maintenance charges, common charges and any reasonable fees associated with the delinquency.
- Utilities/Internet/Broadband Fees – Past due utility payments, including electricity, gas, home energy, water, wastewater as well as non-bundled internet and broadband services.
Please Note:
Only one application per homeowner/household.
Past due utility assistance is secondary to mortgage and property tax assistance.
Non-Conforming Loans are not eligible for KHAF assistance.
Income Guidelines
KHAF funds are used for qualified expenses that assist homeowners having incomes equal to or less than 150 percent of the greater of the area median income (AMI) for their household size, or the area median income for the United States, as determined by the Secretary of Housing and Urban Development. The KHAF Income Limits are used for determining eligibility for KHAF funds.
Documents | Forms | Resources
KHAF in the News
COVID-era program to aid Kansas homeowners to soon close – KCTV – Feb. 21, 2023
COVID-era program to aid Kansas homeowners to soon close – WIBW – Feb. 21, 2023
KANSAS HOMEOWNER ASSISTANCE FUND IN HOLD PHASE – Fort Scott Biz – Feb. 21, 2023
Kansas Homeowner Assistance Fund in hold phase, closing soon – KSNW – Feb. 21, 2023
The Kansas Homeowner Assistance Fund Program (2/1/23) – KOAM – Feb. 2, 2023
Kansas Homeowner Assistance Fund to close soon – Fox 4 KC – Jan. 31, 2023
Kansas Homeowner Assistance Fund to close soon – MSN – Jan. 30, 2023
HOMEOWNERS IN NEED OF ASSISTANCE: HELP IS AVAILABLE – Fort Scott Biz – Jan. 30, 2023
Kansas Homeowner Assistance Fund to close soon – KSNT – Jan. 30, 2023
Program meant to help Kansas homeowners during pandemic to close soon – WIBW – Jan. 30, 2023
KANSAS HOMEOWNER ASSISTANCE FUND CLOSING SOON – KRSL – Jan. 30, 2023
Stimulus money is still available for renters and homeowners in Kansas – Newsbreak – Dec. 27, 2022
Only 25 percent of Kansas Homeowner Assistance Funds remain – Great Bend Tribune – Dec. 20, 2022
Headlines for Tuesday, December 20, 2022 – Kansas Public Radio – Dec. 20, 2022
Homeowners in need of assistance encouraged to apply now – Fort Scott Biz – Dec. 19, 2022
About 75% of Kansas Homeowner Assistance funds dispersed, only 25% remain – WIBW – Dec. 19, 2022
Only 25% of Kansas Homeowner Assistance Funds remain – Emporia Gazette – Dec. 19, 2022
Homeowner assistance fund helps support over 2,300 Kansans – Derby Informer – Nov. 5, 2022
The Johnson County Government Magazine – Fall 2022 Edition – JoCo Magazine – Sept. 21, 2022
The Kansas Mortgage Relief Program Is Helping Homeowners – EIN News – June 23, 2022
State has $56 million for homeowners struggling to pay mortgages – Derby Informer – June 22, 2022
Mortgage Money Available – WIBW News Now – Apr. 20, 2022
New help available for struggling homeowners in Kansas – KSN – Apr. 18, 2022
New help available for struggling homeowners in Kansas – Fox 4 KC – Apr. 18, 2022
Kansas Housing Launches Mortgage Relief Program – EIN Newswire – Apr. 18, 2022
Help available for homeowners behind on mortgage – Fox 4 KC – Mar. 1, 2022
Weather program available for low-income residents – Leavenworth Times – Feb. 5, 2022
Questions?
Contact
800-752-4422
This project is being supported, in whole or in part, by federal award number HAFP-0140 awarded to Kansas Housing Resources Corporation by the U.S. Department of the Treasury.
