SAN DIEGO — With sky-high gas prices, record-high inflation, and housing costs on the rise, more homeowners are feeling financially strapped. If you’ve fallen behind on your mortgage payments, there may be help available.
CBS 8 is Working for You to explain how you might be able to receive some assistance.
“The whole goal of this is to help residents stay in their homes,” said Monte Jones, president and CEO of Logan Heights Community Development Corporation.
The nonprofit is bringing relief to people either behind on their mortgage payments or their property taxes.
“It’s a grant, that’s what we want to tell residents. You don’t have to pay it back. It’s legitimate, it’s coming through the state of California,” said Jones. “Nothing to be afraid about, nothing to be embarrassed about, the program is here to help.’
The community-based organization is helping people in San Diego County access state funds available through the California Mortgage Relief Program.
“We walk our clients through this process, making sure that they have all the documents that they need because we want them to take advantage of this program,” said Jones. “We want them to get every dime they can to make sure that they are able to stay in their homes and then prepare them to keep the home down the road.”
If eligible, you can receive up to $80,000 worth of assistance to bring you current on your mortgage or property tax payments.
“Oh my God, if you got a problem, call them, they will help you. You don’t have to live in this community to come out here and get help and that’s what I like about it,” said Selina Burns, a homeowner in Hemet, California.
She makes the trek to Logan Heights so she can work with the helpful staff at LHCDC in applying for relief assistance.
“Very, very relieved. It gives you just a hope where you can sleep at night and you know that it’s going to be taken care of,” said Burns.
CBS 8 checked the qualifying criteria. You need to currently own and occupy the property as your primary residence and you must’ve faced a pandemic-related financial hardship.
Regardless, President Jones encourages anyone to stop by their office at 3040 Imperial Avenue or call them at 619-858-0563, and they’ll gladly look into your situation and see how they can help.
“If we’re able to allow you to stay in your home, especially coming up during the holidays, we want to be able to have that opportunity to do that,” said Jones.
The California Mortgage Relief Program will remain open until all funds have been awarded to California homeowners, with an end date projected by 2025. While there is no deadline to apply, funds are awarded on a first-come, first-serve basis.