Hardest Hit Housing Act of 2019

The Neighborhood Reinvestment Corporation (in this section referred to as the “NRC”) may make grants under this paragraph to counseling intermediaries approved by the Department of Housing and Urban Development (in this section referred to as “HUD”) (with match to be determined by NRC based on affordability and the economic conditions of an area; a match also may be waived by NRC based on the aforementioned conditions) to provide mortgage foreclosure mitigation assistance to the 15 States with highest rates of home mortgage defaults and foreclosures, as of January 1, 2019, to help eliminate the default and foreclosure of mortgages of owner-occupied single-family homes that are at risk of such foreclosure and located in metropolitan statistical areas having the greatest such need. Other than areas with high rates of defaults and foreclosures, grants may also be provided to approved counseling intermediaries based on a geographic analysis of the Nation by NRC which determines where there is a prevalence of mortgages that are risky and likely to fail, including any trends for mortgages that are likely to default and face foreclosure. A State Housing Finance Agency may also be eligible where the State Housing Finance Agency meets all the requirements under this paragraph. A HUD-approved counseling intermediary shall meet certain mortgage foreclosure mitigation assistance counseling requirements, as determined by NRC, and shall be approved by HUD or NRC as meeting these requirements.

Mortgage foreclosure mitigation assistance shall only be made available to homeowners of owner-occupied homes with mortgages in default or in danger of default. These mortgages shall likely be subject to a foreclosure action and homeowners will be provided such assistance that shall consist of activities that are likely to prevent foreclosures and result in the long-term affordability of the mortgage retained pursuant to such activity or another positive outcome for the homeowner. No funds made available pursuant to this paragraph may be provided directly to lenders or homeowners to discharge outstanding mortgage balances or for any other direct debt reduction payments.

The use of mortgage foreclosure mitigation assistance by approved counseling intermediaries and State Housing Finance Agencies shall involve a reasonable analysis of the borrower's financial situation, an evaluation of the current value of the property that is subject to the mortgage, counseling regarding the assumption of the mortgage by another non-Federal party, counseling regarding the possible purchase of the mortgage by a non-Federal third party, counseling and advice of all likely restructuring and refinancing strategies or the approval of a work-out strategy by all interested parties.

NRC may provide up to 15 percent of the total funds made available pursuant to this paragraph to its own charter members with expertise in foreclosure prevention counseling, subject to a certification by NRC that the procedures for selection do not consist of any procedures or activities that could be construed as a conflict of interest or have the appearance of impropriety.

HUD-approved counseling entities and State Housing Finance Agencies receiving funds made available pursuant to this paragraph shall have demonstrated experience in successfully working with financial institutions as well as borrowers facing default, delinquency, and foreclosure as well as documented counseling capacity, outreach capacity, past successful performance and positive outcomes with documented counseling plans (including post-mortgage foreclosure mitigation counseling), loan workout agreements, and loan modification agreements. NRC may use other criteria to demonstrate capacity in underserved areas.

Of the total amount made available pursuant to this paragraph, up to $250,000 may be made available to build the mortgage foreclosure and default mitigation counseling capacity of counseling intermediaries through NRC training courses with HUD-approved counseling intermediaries and their partners, except that private financial institutions that participate in NRC training shall pay market rates for such training.

Of the total amount made available pursuant to this paragraph, up to 5 percent may be used for associated administrative expenses for NRC to carry out activities provided under this paragraph.

Mortgage foreclosure mitigation assistance grants may include a budget for outreach and advertising, and training, as determined by NRC.

NRC shall report bi-annually to the House and Senate Committees on Appropriations as well as the Senate Committee on Banking, Housing, and Urban Affairs and the House Committee on Financial Services on its efforts to mitigate mortgage default.

The Neighborhood Reinvestment Corporation may make grants to counseling intermediaries approved by HUD or the NRC to hire attorneys to assist homeowners who have legal issues directly related to the homeowner’s foreclosure, delinquency, or short sale.

Such attorneys shall be capable of assisting homeowners of owner-occupied homes with mortgages in default, in danger of default, or subject to or at risk of foreclosure and who have legal issues that cannot be handled by counselors already employed by such intermediaries.

Grants under this paragraph may only be made to counseling intermediaries and legal organizations that (i) provide legal assistance in the 15 States with the highest rates of home mortgage defaults and foreclosures, as of January 1, 2019, and (ii) have the capacity to begin using the financial assistance within 90 days after receipt of the assistance.

No funds made available pursuant to this paragraph shall be used to provide, obtain, or arrange on behalf of a homeowner, legal representation involving or for the purposes of civil litigation.