As of yesterday, February 1, Pennsylvania homeowners who are struggling due to the pandemic can apply for federal assistance to keep them from losing their homes, writes Michaelle Bond for The Philadelphia Inquirer.

Pennsylvania has received $350 million through the federal Homeowner Assistance Fund under the American Rescue Plan Act. The resource is heading to the Pennsylvania Homeowner Assistance Fund for disbursement for residents who apply.

These funds will be a much-needed lifeline.

Area homeowners are being squeezed by the expiration of pandemic-era relief (paused mortgage payments and foreclosure cessations, for example) and the continuance of the public health crisis and its financial consequences.

Eligible households are those earning no more than 150 percent of the area median income, ($141,750 for a family of four).

The federal guidelines dictate that 60 percent of states’ funds must go to households whose incomes are at or below 100 percent of area median income. That is $94,500 for a family of four.

More information is available on the program’s webpage.

“Our mission is to help Pennsylvanians achieve housing stability despite the many hardships faced during these uncertain times,” said Robin Wiessmann, head of the Pennsylvania Housing Finance Agency.

Read more about available financial help in The Philadelphia Inquirer.