Photograph by Julie Renée Jones for The Wall Street Journal
But their mortgage company had gotten permission to foreclose on their Middletown, Ohio, home and was about to sell it. The money sat unused while an auction of the home went forward.
“The mental anguish we’ve been through with this house and trying to save this house—it’s just been ridiculous,” Mrs. Rosalez said.
The federal government allocated funds for distressed homeowners as part of its expansive efforts to help Americans cope with the pandemic’s financial strains. Unlike some other stimulus programs, such as checks mailed to individuals, this money moved slowly.
The nearly $10 billion Homeowner Assistance Fund was administered through the U.S. Treasury Department, but relied heavily on individual states to set up programs to distribute aid. Some were slow to get up and running. Others struggled with a backlog of applications. For homeowners, getting money before the foreclosure went through could be a race against time.
The money ultimately came through for Mr. and Mrs. Rosalez, but it came down to the wire. Expecting to be forced out of their home, the couple had packed up their belongings.
Read More at The Wall Street Journal
About Jacksonville Area Legal Aid
Jacksonville Area Legal Aid is a nonprofit law firm focused on delivering economic, social, and housing justice to low-income and at-risk individuals and families on the First Coast.
If you are an attorney wanting to volunteer with probate and heirs property issues, contact JALA Pro Bono Director Aaron Irving, at (904) 356-8371, Ext. 363, or Aaron.Irving@jaxlegalaid.org.
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