The Oregon Homeownership Stabilization Initiative has launched a mortgage relief program to help homeowners at risk of losing their homes due to COVID-related financial hardship. The COVID-19 Mortgage Relief program provides assistance to homeowners who have experienced a financial hardship to help them avoid foreclosure. The program provides a one-time payment directly to mortgage servicers to bring delinquent first-lien mortgage accounts current.

The program eligibility criteria include:

• Became past due on mortgage payments after Jan. 1, 2020.

• Experienced a financial hardship such as job loss, reduced income, high medical costs, disability, death in the family or divorce.

• Mortgage payment is no more than 45% of household monthly income.

More eligibility requirements, as well as the application portal, are available at oregonhomeownerhelp.org.