Last updated: August 2026, Program status corrected to reflect closure as of March 1, 2026.
The Georgia Mortgage Assistance Program stopped accepting new applications on March 1, 2026. It helped nearly 12,000 Georgia homeowners avoid foreclosure by providing grants for past-due mortgage payments, a HAF refinance loan option, and one-on-one housing counseling. Homeowners who submitted complete applications before March 31, 2026 at 11:59 p.m. were still being reviewed at program close, and should monitor georgiamortgageassistance.ga.gov for updates. Georgia renters who need help staying housed can apply through the separate Georgia Rental Assistance program.
What Was the Georgia Mortgage Assistance Program
The Georgia Mortgage Assistance Program was a state initiative funded through the federal Homeowner Assistance Fund (HAF), established under the American Rescue Plan Act of 2021. Georgia received approximately $354 million in HAF funding to help homeowners who experienced financial hardship after January 21, 2020, the program closed to new applications on March 1, 2026, after helping nearly 12,000 homeowners and preventing over 1,600 foreclosures statewide.
Administered by the Georgia Department of Community Affairs (DCA), the program paid assistance directly to mortgage lenders and servicers on the homeowner’s behalf, no cash changed hands with the borrower. A HAF refinance loan, added as a statewide option in 2025, was scheduled to run through September 2026 or until funds ran out, whichever came first. Homeowners who submitted complete applications before March 31, 2026 at 11:59 p.m. were still being processed at program close.
Georgia renters facing housing instability should use the state’s separate Georgia Rental Assistance program, the two programs served distinct populations with different funding sources. For context on how pandemic-era housing relief programs have wound down across the country, the COVID-19 housing relief overview covers the national picture.
Types of Assistance the Program Offered
The program provided three forms of grant assistance, which could be combined up to a maximum of $50,000 per household:
- Mortgage Reinstatement: a one-time grant to bring a delinquent loan current, covering past-due principal, interest, taxes, insurance, and certain fees. Paid directly to the servicer.
- Mortgage Payment Assistance: temporary grant payments covering future monthly mortgage payments for a defined hardship period, also paid directly to the servicer.
- HAF Refinance Loan: a long-term solution added statewide in 2025 for homeowners who needed a structural fix rather than short-term relief. Funds were finite; this component closed when exhausted or by September 2026.
All approved homeowners also received one-on-one housing counseling through the program, a HUD-certified counselor worked with each household on budgeting, credit, and a recovery plan. The counseling was not optional; it was built into the assistance process.
Georgia renters facing similar instability can find support through the alternatives to eviction guide, which covers options available statewide for tenants rather than homeowners.
Note on Program Status
The Georgia Mortgage Assistance Program closed to new applications March 1, 2026. If you applied before that date and have not received a determination, contact DCA Customer Service at georgiamortgageassistance@dca.ga.gov or call during business hours (Monday through Friday, 8:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m.).
Need housing assistance in Georgia? Find out which programs are currently available.
Who the Program Was Designed For
Three conditions determined eligibility:
- Owner-occupancy. The home had to be your primary residence. Investment properties, vacation homes, and second mortgages were excluded.
- A qualifying financial hardship after January 21, 2020. Documented job loss, income reduction, unexpected medical expenses, or a comparable setback tied to the pandemic period. The hardship had to be documented, a termination letter, medical bills, or another verifiable record.
- Ability to resume payments. The program targeted temporary hardship, not permanent inability to pay. Applicants needed a realistic path back to covering their own mortgage.
For the HAF Grant: household income had to be at or below 100% of Area Median Income. For homeowners classified as socially disadvantaged, the limit was 150% AMI. Most HAF recipients nationally, 85%, had incomes below AMI, and over half earned less than 50% AMI. The program prioritized those with the greatest financial need.
How the Application Process Worked
Applications were submitted entirely online through the Georgia Mortgage Assistance portal. The process required coordination between the homeowner, their loan servicer, and DCA. Servicer participation was essential, lenders holding loans for non-participating servicers were ineligible.
- Contact your loan servicer first to verify participation and confirm the type of assistance you need, reinstatement, payment assistance, or refinance loan. A servicer referral to the program did not guarantee eligibility.
- Gather documents before starting the application: government-issued photo ID, proof of income for all household members (recent pay stubs or tax returns), your most recent mortgage statement, property deed or proof of ownership, and hardship documentation (termination letter, medical bills, or comparable records).
- Submit a complete application package through georgiamortgageassistance.ga.gov. Incomplete submissions were the most common cause of processing delays.
- After submission, applicants received a determination within a few weeks for complete files. Urgent cases, where foreclosure proceedings had already begun, could request expedited review.
Georgia homeowners who still need housing support should check the Georgia housing assistance directory for current programs, including HUD-approved housing counseling agencies that remain active. Atlanta residents can explore the Atlanta emergency rental assistance program for tenant-side support, while residents in other parts of the state can check rental assistance programs in Augusta.
Frequently Asked Questions
Still Looking for Housing Help in Georgia?
The Georgia Mortgage Assistance Program has closed, but other resources remain available for homeowners and renters across the state.
