NEWS RELEASE: Last call for MiVHAP applications

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE                                                                                  July 6, 2015

Contact: Lauren DeVol, 517-284-5236

 

Last call for MiVHAP applications

Grants help eligible veterans avoid home foreclosure

 

LANSING, Mich. – Military service members and honorably discharged veterans affected by the housing crisis have until Aug. 7 to submit an application for financial grant assistance through the Michigan Veterans Affairs Agency.

 

The Michigan Veterans Homeowners Assistance Program is expected to help more than 750 veterans and their families with mortgage payments, delinquent property taxes, loan refinancing, essential home repairs and overall financial situations.

 

MiVHAP was created as a result of the $1.5 billion National Mortgage Settlement, when the Michigan attorney general set aside $5 million in funds specifically for service members and veterans. 

 

Now, with funds running out, MVAA is encouraging those who are struggling with mortgage or property tax payments to fill out an application. Applications will be accepted through Aug. 7, with one-time grants being distributed through the end of September or until funds are gone.

 

"The MiVHAP fund has had a tremendous impact on veterans, active duty and reserve service members and their families during the past three years, helping them keep and maintain their homes and get back on a track to financial stability," MVAA Director Jeff Barnes said. "As this program winds down, it's critical that eligible veterans or military service members facing foreclosure apply for a MiVHAP grant and get the assistance they need."

 

Since the program began in May 2013, MiVHAP distributed more than $4.2 million to 708 eligible service members and veterans.

 

Grants are awarded on a first-come, first-served basis and will continue to be made until the funds are depleted.

 

"When a military service member is deployed or a veteran is returning to civilian life, the last thing they want to worry about is losing their home," said Lindell Holm, director of the Michigan Veterans Trust Fund and MiVHAP. "These grants have helped many veterans and their families overcome financial setbacks and remain in their own homes."

 

The program is open to military service members and honorably discharged veterans who have not previously received a MiVHAP grant. Eligible surviving spouses of military service members, whose deaths were combat-related since 2006, may also apply for grant funding.

 

The Michigan Veterans Trust Fund administers MiVHAP as well as the MVTF emergency grant program, which is designed to help veterans experiencing short-term financial emergencies get their finances back on track.

 

"Emergency financial assistance is still available through the MVTF and has been since World War II," Barnes said. "Both grant programs offer a way for Michigan veterans and their families to deal with unexpected expenses and get back on their feet more quickly."

 

Veterans and family members in need of emergency assistance may contact MVAA by visiting MichiganVeterans.com or calling (800) MICH-VET (800-642-4838). Applications for MiVHAP are available at http://www.michiganveterans.com/Home/Quality-of-Life/Housing.

 

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About the Michigan Veterans Affairs Agency: MVAA serves as the central coordinating point for Michigan veterans, connecting those who have served in the U.S. Armed Forces, and their families, to services and benefits throughout the state. Learn more at MichiganVeterans.com or call 800-MICH-VET (800-642-4838).