DoD Homeowners Assistance Program (HAP)
There are two types of Homeowners Assistance Program (HAP): Conventional and Expanded. HAP is subject to the availability of funds as appropriated by Congress to the Department of Defense (DoD) for the program; HAP will cease when all funds are expended. The U.S. Army is the DoD Executive Agent for administering the HAP. The U.S. Army Corps of Engineers (USACE) implements the program.
- The Conventional HAP was established by the Demonstration Cities and Metropolitan Development Act of 1966 to provide financial relief to eligible civilian Federal employees employed at and service members of the Armed Forces stationed at or near an installation announced for closure or realignment due to Base Realignment and Closure (BRAC), when the announcement causes the residential real estate market to decline and they are not able to sell their homes under reasonable terms or conditions.
- The Expanded HAP was established by the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act of 2009 and temporarily expands HAP to provide financial assistance to certain service members of the Armed Forces when they suffer home value losses due to relocating during the home mortgage crisis for Permanent Change of Station (PCS) purposes (PCSing Soldiers), or for medical treatment and rehab of Wounds, Injuries or Illnesses from deployment (Wounded Soldiers), or for relocating their surviving spouses (Surviving Spouses). It also temporarily expands HAP to provide financial assistance to BRAC 2005 civilian Federal employees and service members of the Armed Forces relocating during the home mortgage crisis (BRAC 2005 Soldiers).
If eligible, both Conventional HAP and Expanded HAP entail providing a financial assistance benefit under any of the following three home scenarios: Private Sale, Government Acquisition, or Foreclosure.
- Private Sale: pays difference between a percentage of the home's prior fair market value (PFMV) and the sold price of home.
- Government Acquisition: pays the greater of mortgage(s) payoff OR a percentage of the home's PFMV.
- Foreclosure: pays legally enforceable liabilities.
If found ineligible, the applicant may appeal the USACE's decision ultimately to the Deputy Under Secretary of Department of Defense for Installations & Environment (DUSD(I&E)). DUSD(I&E) will not waive any HAP law or regulatory criteria but is evaluating the appeal for data errors that reflect the applicant meets HAP law or regulatory criteria. DUSD(I&E)'s decision shall be final and conclusive and shall not be subject to judicial review.
