ProLink+ Glossary

Two times the income limit for very low income families, for the relevant household size, as published by the Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD) in accordance with 42 U.S.C. 1437a(b)(2) for purposes of the HAF. (U.S. Department of the Treasury)

The median income of the United States, as published by HUD for purposes of the HAF. (U.S. Department of the Treasury)

Three times the income limit for very low income families, for the relevant household size, as published by HUD in accordance with 42 U.S.C. 1437a(b)(2) for purposes of the HAF. (U.S. Department of the Treasury)

ProLink+'s back-office system that supports program counselors, program servicing, and program administration.

(1) The formal request for assistance. The application in the Homeowner Portal includes fields for all of the information required by the Agency to make a decision about eligibility.

(2) Within the ProLink+ Agency Portal, the application serves as the top-level system record for all programs and information throughout all stages of the process for a single applicant.

The contact for the Agency responsible for preparing, reviewing, and submitting important documents for the loan closing.

Each application progresses through eight pre-defined stages. Each stage has specific completion requirements, ensuring that all required program-specific steps are completed before moving on.

The fifth stage, Closing, is when the Agency's Closer generates materials for the Closing Agency.

An additional applicant whose name appears on loan and legal documents for the program and who shares the responsibilities and obligations for the program benefits.

Each application progresses through eight pre-defined stages. Each stage has specific completion requirements, ensuring that all required program-specific steps are completed before moving on.

The eighth and final stage, Completed, is when the application has processed through all previous stages and no longer requires activity in ProLink+.

The contact at a HUD-approved entity who is available to the homeowner to help them make responsible and informed decisions related to their application.

Each application progresses through eight pre-defined stages. Each stage has specific completion requirements, ensuring that all required program-specific steps are completed before moving on.

The sixth stage, Disbursement, is when the Agency pays out funds on the application.

Any building, structure, or portion thereof that is occupied as, or designed or intended for occupancy as, a residence by one or more individuals. (U.S. Department of the Treasury)

The principal residence of a borrower that is a) a one- to four-unit dwelling, or b) a residential real property that includes a one- to four-unit dwelling.

Homeowners are eligible to receive amounts allocated to a HAF participant under the HAF if they experienced a financial hardship after January 21, 2020 and have incomes equal to or less than 150% of the area median income. A HAF participant may provide HAF funds only to a homeowner with respect to qualified expenses related to the dwelling that is such homeowner’s primary residence. (U.S. Department of the Treasury)

The status of the pre-qualification that indicates the applicant meets the minimum requirements for the program and can continue to the application process.

A material reduction in income or material increase in living expenses associated with the coronavirus pandemic that has created or increased a risk of mortgage delinquency, mortgage default, foreclosure, loss of utilities or home energy services, or displacement for a homeowner. (U.S. Department of the Treasury)

When the mortgage servicer agrees to temporarily suspend or reduce the monthly payments for a specific period of time.

A legal process where a lender attempts to recover the balance of a loan from a borrower when payments have stopped.

The schedule for reducing the no interest loan over a period of time, calculated based on the type of Loan Forgiveness Schedule selected.

If the program is grant-based with no repayment required, then create a Forgiveness Schedule that is immediately forgiven in the full amount.

An eligible entity that receives funds from the HAF. (U.S. Department of the Treasury)

The legal form used to document the applicant's financial hardship in connection with the program and explain the reasons the applicant could be a candidate for assistance.

HAF participants must require homeowners to attest that they experienced financial hardship after January 21, 2020. The attestation must describe the nature of the financial hardship (for example, job loss, job reduction in income, or increased costs due to healthcare or the need to care for a family member).

Established under 3206 of the American Rescue Plan Act of 2021 (ARP), the purpose of the Homeowner Assistance Fund (HAF) is to prevent mortgage delinquencies and defaults, foreclosures, loss of utilities or home energy services, and displacement of homeowners experiencing financial hardship after January 21, 2020. Funds from the HAF may be used for assistance with mortgage payments, homeowner’s insurance, utility payments, and other specified purposes. The law prioritizes funds for homeowners who have experienced the greatest hardships, leveraging local and national income indicators to maximize the impact. (U.S. Department of the Treasury)

Additional resources:

ProLink+'s front-end website where applicants can request assistance and view their application status.

An Agency representative assigned to assist the homeowner with their application.

Entity that loans money to a borrower to purchase a home. The lender and servicer may or may not be the same entity.

Each application progresses through eight pre-defined stages. Each stage has specific completion requirements, ensuring that all required program-specific steps are completed before moving on.

The seventh stage, Monitoring, begins after the final disbursement is made.

Any credit transaction (1) that is secured by a mortgage, deed of trust, or other consensual security interest on a principal residence of a borrower that is (a) a one- to four-unit dwelling, or (b) a residential real property that includes a one- to four-unit dwelling; and (2) the unpaid principal balance of which was, at the time of origination, not more than the conforming loan limit. For purposes of this definition, the conforming loan limit means the applicable limitation governing the maximum original principal obligation of a mortgage secured by a single-family residence, a mortgage secured by a two-family residence, a mortgage secured by a three-family residence, or a mortgage secured by a four-family residence, as determined and adjusted annually under section 302(b)(2) of the Federal National Mortgage Association Charter Act (12 U.S.C. 1717(b)(2)) and section 305(a)(2) of the Federal Home Loan Mortgage Corporation Act (12 U.S.C. 1454(a)(2)). (U.S. Department of the Treasury)

The status of the pre-qualification that indicates the applicant does not meet one or more of the minimum requirements for the program.

The questionnaire process to determine whether the applicant meets the minimum requirements for the program and can continue to the application process.

The contact for the Agency responsible for reviewing applicant-submitted data and identifying whether the applicant qualifies for a program.

A plan administered by the Agency for fund disbursements.

The Agency representative tasked with managing and monitoring the HAF program.

Each application progresses through eight pre-defined stages. Each stage has specific completion requirements, ensuring that all required program-specific steps are completed before moving on.

The third stage, Qualification, is when the funding Agency (and any partners) reviews the submitted application and determines eligibility.

HAF participants may use funding from the HAF only for the following types of qualified expenses that are for the purpose of preventing homeowner mortgage delinquencies, homeowner mortgage defaults, homeowner mortgage foreclosures, homeowner loss of utilities or home energy services, and displacements of homeowners experiencing financial hardship. (U.S. Department of the Treasury)

The monthly process of confirming that the homeowner is eligible for unemployment.

Each application progresses through eight pre-defined stages. Each stage has specific completion requirements, ensuring that all required program-specific steps are completed before moving on.

The first stage, Registered, is when the applicant has created a profile for the Homeowner Portal.

For loan programs, repayment may be required of homeowners that break the program agreement (for example, sale of the property).

Entity that helps with processing of a loan and manages the loan. The lender and servicer may or may not be the same entity.

Those who have been subjected to racial or ethnic prejudice or cultural bias because of their identity as a member of a group without regard to their individual qualities. The social disadvantage must stem from circumstances beyond their control. There is a rebuttable presumption that the following individuals are socially disadvantaged: Black Americans, Hispanic Americans, Native Americans, and Asian Americans and Pacific Islanders. In addition, an individual may be determined to be a socially disadvantaged individual in accordance with the procedures set forth at 13 CFR 124.103(c) or (d). (U.S. Department of the Treasury)

A partner in marriage. Additional information is collected on the application when a co-borrower is not the spouse.

Each application progresses through eight pre-defined stages. Each stage has specific completion requirements, ensuring that all required program-specific steps are completed before moving on.

The second stage, Submitted, is when the applicant pre-qualifies for assistance, completes the application, including the Hardship Affidavit and any supporting files, and submits the application. An assigned Counselor will review the application for completeness.

Each application progresses through eight pre-defined stages. Each stage has specific completion requirements, ensuring that all required program-specific steps are completed before moving on.

The fourth stage, Underwriting, is when the Agency's Processor/Underwriter prepares required documents.