Wyoming looks to homeowner relief fund

The State of Wyoming is seeking public input on the development of the Homeowner Assistance Fund, which would provide an estimated $40-million in federal funding to assist eligible homeowners in the state with mortgage and utility cost relief.

The program is to benefit those who have been financially impacted by COVID-19 and meet income eligibility criteria. The Wyoming Department of Family Services, with assistance from the Wyoming Department of Workforce Services, is administering the state’s Homeowner Assistance Fund, which is a U.S. Treasury Department initiative passed through the American Rescue Plan Act of 2021.

Of the $50-million earmarked to Wyoming for the program, $40-million would be dedicated for direct assistance with the remaining $10-million for administration, counseling and legal services. In April, the Treasury gave Wyoming $5-million to start a pilot project but didn’t yet release guidance to develop the program until August.