Commonly referred to as the HGAP Program, this statewide program provides Delaware homeowners with assistance in preventing residential mortgage foreclosure(s) that result from circumstances beyond the homeowner's control. Assistance is provided in the form of a grant of up to ,000 or four monthly mortgage payments, whichever is less. The guidelines define all arrearages as one payment, therefore it is possible that the grant may pay arrearages plus up to three "continuing" payments as long as the total amount does not exceed the ,000 maximum benefit. Please click here to see HGAP Brochure.
How To Apply
| Please contact DSHA at 1-888-363-8808 or 302-577-5001. Appointments will be held at the DSHA Office: Carvel State Office Building 820 N. French Street 10th Floor Wilmington, DE 19801 |
Grant Recipient Qualifications:
- Families must have at least one related child in the home under the age of 18.
- Relationship required to the dependent child: Any relative by blood, marriage, or adoption that is within the fifth degree of kinship to the dependent child.
- To qualify, a borrower's current gross family income cannot exceed:
Income Limits:
The maximum household incomes eligible for wage earning households are:
| 1 Person Families | ,418 Per Month (,016 annually) |
| 2 Person Families | ,290 Per Month (,480 annually) |
| 3 or more Person Families | ,455 Per Month (,470 annually) |
The maximum household incomes for families which do not have a wage earning parent or caretaker to meet eligibility requirements of the program as delineated in the following chart.
| Family Size | *Maximum Monthly Parent/Caretaker Income |
| 2 | 0.99 |
| 3 | ,143.99 |
| 4 | ,377.99 |
| 5 | ,611.99 |
| 6 | ,844.99 |
| |
- The program was created to address specific needs for homeowners with dependent children. Funds are to be spent in a manner consistent to achieve that purpose and:
- Are designed to deal with a specific crisis situation or episode of need;
- Are not intended to meet recurrent or ongoing needs; and
- Will not extend beyond four months.
- Support provided to families using funds under this program must meet all three of the above criteria and be expected to stabilize the household so that they are able to meet their needs.
Mortgage Sustainability:
Applicants for Homeownership GAP must demonstrate a reasonable expectation that they will be able to resume their regular mortgage payments after they receive their grant.
Homeownership GAP may be used in conjunction with Delaware Emergency Mortgage Assistance Program:
Assistance may be combined as long as applicants meet both Homeownership GAP and DEMAP eligibility requirements. This would allow an applicant access up to ,000 in combined grant/loan benefits. For DEMAP program, please click here to see DEMAP brochure.
Applicants for the grant program must provide the following at time of application:
- 1040 Tax Return
- Verification of All Household Income
- Hardship Letter Detailing Specifics on the Nature of the Hardship
- Hardship Supporting Documentation
- Most Recent Mortgage Statement Listing Mortgage Holder, Amount Due, and Payment Address
DSHA retains right to request additional in order to verify applicant eligibility.
