Oregon Housing and Community Services (OHCS) announces a foreclosure prevention program and has launched their website, www.oregonhomeownerhelp.org. Community Action Team Inc. has been identified as the local agency to help deliver the state’s Mortgage Payment Assistance (MPA) Home Rescue Program in Clatsop, Columbia and Tillamook counties. The funding for this program comes from the U.S. Department of Treasury’s “Hardest Hit Fund.”

On Wednesday, OHCS will open an online application for the MPA/Home Rescue program at www.oregonhomeownerhelp.org. Community Action Team will help homeowners throughout the application process. The Home Rescue program is designed to help homeowners who are struggling to pay their mortgage. Home Rescue can provide up to one year of mortgage payments, with a maximum benefit of $20,000, and if needed, up to $15,000 in funds to bring the loan current.

To qualify, applicants must be able to demonstrate at least a 10 percent reduction in projected 2016 income compared to any tax year between 2009 and 2015. Every two weeks the program opens a limited number of application slots that remain open until filled. The program opens new opportunities to apply every two weeks at noon until all program funds have been exhausted.

For the most current information about the program, including eligibility criteria and FAQs, please visit www.oregonhomeownerhelp.org. The website will serve as the primary source of information about the MPA program and Oregon’s other foreclosure prevention programs.

Homeowners who need immediate help, including use of a client computer to access the Home Rescue program, should call Community Action Team at 800-325-8098 or 503-325-8098, or email Cindy Peake at cindkp@cat-team.org

Cindy Peake

Northwest Oregon Regional Housing Center

Astoria