DoD Homeowners Assistance Program Expands Benefits

A provision of the stimulus package, known as the Military Homeowners Assistance Program (HAP), expands benefits previously available only to service members at Base Realignment and Closure (BRAC) locations. Eligibility now includes the following Department of Defense (DOD) military and civilian homeowners who purchased homes before July 1, 2006 and who sell the homes before Sept. 30, 2012:

Wounded warriors who must relocate for medical reasons.

Surviving spouses of fallen service members-DOD, Coast Guard, and civilians, who are forced to move within two years of the death of the service member.

Active duty service members undergoing foreclosure or unable to sell their homes in the event of a permanent change of station at least 50 miles from their current permanent duty station.

Several options are available to assist eligible homeowners, including private sale, government purchase, and foreclosure assistance.

The HAP is administered by the Army Corps of Engineers for the DOD, and guidance/instruction for implementation of the program is pending. Service members who believe that they meet the program criteria and wish to learn more about eligibility, expanded benefits for warriors in transition, surviving spouses, and PCS members are encouraged to visit the HAP Web site at http://hap.usace.army.mil. The BRAC application package is available under the section titled How Do I Apply? Completed applications will be date stamped when received and held until further guidance is provided, and then processed in the order of receipt. Applicants with specific questions may refer to the Frequently Asked Questions section or contact their regional Army Corps of Engineers Field Office, which can be found on the Web site in the Contact section.