Coronavirus Relief for Homeowners and Renters: A Resource Guide
The coronavirus pandemic has left over one million Canadians unemployed or grappling with reduced income, making it difficult for many to make their mortgages or rent payments on time. Thankfully, the Canadian government and several private lenders have taken steps to ease the economic strain by providing coronavirus relief for homeowners and renters across the country. In this article, we’ll outline some of the ways in which you might be able to receive financial help during the coronavirus crisis.
Help for homeowners affected by the coronavirus
If you’re one of the growing number of homeowners in the US who have been impacted by the coronavirus, you may be seeking financial assistance quickly to help pay your mortgage. Take a look at the following resources to learn more about how you might be able to receive relief.
Federal mortgage relief
The largest banks in Canada have received an overwhelming half a million requests from homeowners to defer their mortgage payments. The Canada Mortgage and Housing Corporation and other mortgage insurers, the government of Canada, and the largest banks have launched a series of tools and options for homeowners experiencing financial difficulty.
The program enables lenders to defer up to six monthly mortgage payments to borrowers and provides homeowners to defer their payments, loan re-amortization, and make additional special payment arrangements.
If you think you’ll run into difficulty making your next mortgage payment, contact your mortgage servicer as soon as possible to update them on your current financial status and see if you qualify for the government and bank relief programs.
Private mortgage relief
Many private lenders have rolled out financial assistance programs to help borrowers during the COVID-19 crisis. However, not all lenders offer the same relief plans. Contact your bank, credit union, or other lending institution to learn more about the coronavirus-related assistance they’re offering.
Property tax relief
Depending on where you live, you might qualify for certain tax breaks in response to COVID-19. Reach out to your local tax authorities to find out if relief is available in your area.
Homeowner’s insurance relief
If you’re looking for additional emergency financial assistance, your homeowner’s insurer may be able to provide some help. Contact your insurance company to see if they’re offering coronavirus-related financial relief.
Mortgage relief through crowdfunding
It’s never easy to ask for help, but know that there’s no shame in doing so. Your friends, family, and even strangers who are financially secure want to help you during this crisis, and crowdfunding offers a great way for them to do just that.
By creating a online fundraiser, you can raise money and transfer the funds directly to your bank account within days of receiving your first donation, allowing you to quickly cover your upcoming mortgage payment.
- Create a compelling fundraiser and quickly raise money to pay your mortgage with these helpful fundraising tips and ideas.
- Leverage the power of social sharing to spread the word about your fundraiser and reach more potential donors.
Help for renters affected by the coronavirus
As the pandemic continues to stifle the US economy, many of the nation’s 40 million-plus renters are wondering how they can receive coronavirus rent relief, given their recent loss of income. If you’re one of these individuals, you may be eligible for financial assistance programs that offer coronavirus relief for renters. Explore the emergency rental assistance resources below to learn more about the financial help that may be available to you.
The CERB Act
The Canada Emergency Response Benefit (CERB) is the largest economic stimulus bill in Canada’s history, allocating $75 billion in financial aid to individuals and businesses affected by COVID-19. The comprehensive bill includes a variety of measures aimed at helping renters who have lost wages due to the pandemic.
Direct rental assistance
The CARES Act allocates $17.4 billion in funding for the US Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD), which it uses to help subsidize rent, housing vouchers, public housing, and housing for seniors. To find out if you qualify for direct rental assistance, visit HUD Rental Assistance.
Indirect rental assistance
As a part of the CARES Act, the federal government is sending direct payments of up to $1,200 to every individual adult and $2,400 for couples filing jointly. Families will receive an additional $500 for each child age 16 and under in their household.
In addition, individuals who have lost their jobs due to COVID-19 are eligible for expanded unemployment benefits. Following the expiration of your state’s benefits, you may qualify to receive an additional $600 per week from the federal government for up to 13 weeks. Notably, these unemployment benefits also extend to independent contractors, part-time employees, and gig-economy workers.
If you’re eligible for either of these financial relief benefits, you can spend your government-issued funds in any way that you see fit, including on essential expenses like rent and utilities.
Provincial and local eviction moratoriums
Moratoriums have been issued by provincial and local governments to protect all renters in their jurisdictions, and not just those who live in public housing. To learn more about city- or province-specific eviction moratoriums, check out this comprehensive list of cities and provinces that have paused evictions amid the pandemic.
Regardless of whether you’re covered under an eviction moratorium, the best thing to do is speak to your landlord or property manager about your current financial situation. They might still be willing or able to work out a payment plan with you to avoid eviction.
Get the financial relief you need right now
Whether you’re a homeowner or a renter, know that the GoFundMe community is here to support you through these difficult times. With a GoFundMe, you can start raising money within minutes on our fundraising platform and use your donations to help pay your mortgage or rent. Get the additional financial support you need by starting a GoFundMe fundraiser today.