.png)
German (DE) 
English (US) 
Spanish (ES) 
French (FR) 
Hindi (IN) 
Italian (IT) 
Russian (RU) 
5 hours ago
2
After a series of severe winter storms and flooding in Virginia that compounded damage sustained from Hurricane Helene last fall, President Donald Trump recently issued a major disaster declaration.
Now the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD) is moving to make disaster aid available for those with Federal Housing Administration (FHA)-insured mortgages.
The relief includes a 90-day moratorium on FHA-insured foreclosures, although evictions are not specifically mentioned by the department. This also includes a 90-day extension for any Home Equity Conversion Mortgage (HECM) borrowers, each of which were effective as of the disaster declaration date of April 9. This places the expiration date on July 8, barring any extensions that may be issued.
HUD is also activating its Section 203(h) program that provides mortgage insurance to disaster victims, along with its 203(k) program for the purchase or refinancing of an existing home for rehabilitation purposes.
Administrative flexibility for recipients of several HUD programs — including Community Development Block Grants (CDBGs), Housing Opportunities for Persons With AIDS/HIV (HOPWA), Continuum of Care (CoC), Emergency Solutions Grants (ESG), HOME Investment Partnerships Program and the Housing Trust Fund (HTF) programs — is also available for impacted Virginia residents.
Additional flexibilities will also be considered for Public Housing Agencies (PHAs). The department is aiming to make its approved counselors available to assist anyone impacted.
“HUD is here to support Virginians as they rebuild their homes, communities, and businesses following the severe winter storms and flooding,” HUD Secretary Scott Turner said in a statement. “Disaster response is a foundational part of our mission-minded approach to serving American communities as they work to rebuild.”
Virginia Gov. Glenn Youngkin (R) thanked the administration for its response.
“These resources aid recovery efforts in the areas of Southwest Virginia affected by Hurricane Helene last fall along with the severe flooding brought on by February’s winter storms,” Youngkin said. “Thank you to Secretary Turner and his team for their strong partnership supporting Virginians adversely impacted by these storms.”
Rep. Morgan Griffith (R), who represents Virginia’s Ninth Congressional District in the U.S. House of Representatives, added that the assistance will help members of local communities get back on their feet.
“Parts of Southwest Virginia faced intense flooding during a wave of February winter storms,” Griffith said. “The resulting damage to businesses and homes impacted many people in Southwest Virginia who were in the middle of recovering from Hurricane Helene.”
Comments