If you went looking for PAHAF and found the door closed, you still have real, free options in Greater Philadelphia — here’s where to turn next.
If you’re behind on your mortgage and went searching for PAHAF, you’re not alone — and you’re not out of options.
What’s happening with PAHAF
The Pennsylvania Homeowner Assistance Fund (PAHAF) — a state program, run through the Pennsylvania Housing Finance Agency (PHFA), that helped thousands of homeowners catch up on mortgage payments, property taxes, and utility bills after pandemic-era hardship — is no longer accepting new applications. It’s still one of the most-searched terms among homeowners in Philadelphia, Bucks, Montgomery, Delaware, and Chester counties, because it genuinely helped so many families stay in their homes, and word of a program like that travels slowly.
So if you searched "PAHAF" this week and landed on a closed application page, here’s the honest, calm answer: the specific pot of pandemic-era relief money behind PAHAF has been fully committed. That’s frustrating, especially if you were counting on it. But PAHAF was never the only door — it was one of several, and the others are still open. Finding this one closed can feel like a dead end. It isn’t. It just means it’s time to look at what’s still available to you right now, today, in your own county.
What’s still available to you
- HEMAP (Homeowners’ Emergency Mortgage Assistance Program). This is a separate, ongoing Pennsylvania program — also connected to PHFA — that can provide a loan to cover mortgage arrears while you get back on your feet financially. You apply through a HUD-approved housing counselor, not directly.
- A free HUD-approved housing counselor. These counselors can review your whole situation at no cost, help you understand any notice you’ve received, and even call your lender with you to ask about repayment plans or loan modification.
- The PA Legal Aid Network. If you’ve received anything from a court or a lender’s attorney, a legal aid organization can explain what it actually means in plain language — at no cost.
- 211. A quick call connects you to local, county-level help for utilities, food, and other essentials while you stabilize your housing situation.
Free resources to start with
- PHFA – phfa.org — the state’s housing finance agency, and the best starting point for current mortgage-assistance options.
- HUD Housing Counseling Directory – hud.gov — find a free, HUD-approved counselor near you.
- PA Legal Aid Network – palegalaid.net — free help understanding foreclosure paperwork.
- 211 — dial 211 for local emergency assistance programs in your county.
A trusted partner, if it fits
If missed payments have already affected your credit, a free credit review from a partner we trust can show you exactly where things stand before you decide on next steps — no cost to look, and no pressure either way.
You have more time than it feels like
A closed application window for one program doesn’t mean the help is gone — it means the next right call is a different one. Local housing counselors and legal aid organizations deal with exactly this confusion every week, and every one of the resources above is free to use. None of it requires you to have everything figured out first; a HUD-approved counselor’s job is to help you sort out what applies to your specific situation, whether that’s a HEMAP loan, a repayment plan with your lender, or simply a clearer picture of your timeline.
And if none of the above ends up being the right fit — if your home has become more of a burden than an asset, or you’re weighing whether to sell rather than catch up — that’s a conversation too, and it’s one we have every day, without pressure and without a sales pitch attached.
Hablamos español — Way Out Now can connect you with bilingual support at every step above.
Schedule your free, pressure-free Strategy Session at WayOutNow.com, or text Glen or Brie anytime: 215-999-7208.
