Homeowners Assistance Program designed to ease burden of moving

  • Published
  • By 325th Civil Engineer Squadron
TYNDALL AIR FORCE BASE, Fla. --  The Department of Defense offers the Homeowners Assistance Program to eligible servicemembers and federal civilians, including non-appropriated fund employees.

The program is authorized by law and administered by the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers to assist eligible homeowners facing financial loss when selling their primary residence in areas where real estate values have declined because of a base closure or realignment announcement.

The American Recovery and Reinvestment Act of 2009 temporarily expands the HAP to assist a wide variety of servicemembers and DoD employees.

The list includes:
- Those who were wounded, injured or become ill when deployed
- Surviving spouses of service members or DoD employees killed or who died of wounds while deployed
- Servicemembers and civilian employees assigned to BRAC '05 organizations
- Servicemembers who were required to permanently relocate during the home mortgage crisis

To help determine if a servicemember is eligible the folling must apply:

- Permanent reassignment requiring a move of more than 50 miles

- Reassignment ordered between Feb. 1, 2006 and Sept. 30, 2012.

- Property was purchased or the contract to purchase the property was signed before July 1, 2006.

- The property was the primary residence of the owner.

- The owner has not previously received these benefit payments.

Members of the Armed Forces who are PCSing or who have PCSed can download and complete the application packet. Once completed mail the application to the USACE district responsible for the area in which the home is located.

Contact the Tyndall Management Office at (850) 283-8141 if you have questions or concerns about the HAP program or need assistance filling out the application. The Tyndall Housing Management Office Hours are 8 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. weekdays.

For more information on the HAP program, its benefits and application forms visit the website at: http://hap.usace.army.mil/ or send an E-mail to dodhap1@usace.army.mil.