Treasury announced the Hardest Hit Fund ^SM early in 2010 providing more than $7.6 billion in targeted aid to states hit hard by the economic crisis. State housing finance agencies developed innovative programs to stabilize the local housing markets and help families avoid foreclosure. The Hardest Hit Fund programs complement the Making Home Affordable ^© Program but are not limited to homeowners eligible for Making Home Affordable.

Hardest Hit Fund programs vary state to state, but may include the following:

• Mortgage payment assistance for unemployed or underemployed homeowners
• Principal reduction to help homeowners get into more affordable mortgages
• Funding to eliminate homeowners’ second lien loans
• Help for homeowners who are transitioning out of their homes and into more affordable places of residence.

In total, $7.6 billion has been allocated to 18 states plus the District of Columbia. If you live in one of these states or DC, contact your housing finance agency’s program office:

• Alabama 
• Arizona 
• California 
• Florida
• Georgia 
• Illinois 
• Indiana 
• Kentucky 
• Michigan 
• Mississippi 
• Nevada 
• New Jersey
• North Carolina 
• Ohio
• Oregon
• Rhode Island 
• South Carolina
• Tennessee
• Washington D.C.