Authorized under the Emergency Economic Stabilization Act (EESA) of 2008 (Pub. L. 110-343), the Department of the Treasury established the Making Home Affordable Program (MHA), a voluntary foreclosure prevention program, to help stabilize the housing market. Under MHA, the Department pays financial incentives to homeowners, servicers and investors to facilitate loan modifications and other foreclosure alternatives. MHA includes, among other things, the Home Affordable Modification Program (HAMP). HAMP is designed to reduce qualifying homeowner's first lien mortgage payments to an affordable level. The Department, through its financial agent, plans to conduct a survey of homeowners who have received mortgage modifications under HAMP in order to collect information about the homeowner's experience during the HAMP modification process.
Treasuryâs Making Home Affordable Program (MHA) was established in 2009, to prevent avoidable foreclosure and help stabilize the housing market. To date, nearly 2 million mortgage assistance actions have been taken under MHA, including more than 1.3 million permanent mortgage modifications under the Home Affordable Modification Program (HAMP). Approximately 746,000 homeowners that received HAMP modifications will begin to experience a scheduled increase in their mortgage payment, some as early as August/September of 2014. That increase is a result of a scheduled âinterest rate resetâ which may result in a median monthly payment increase of approximately $100. This survey is aimed at assessing the homeownerâs awareness of, and readiness for, those increases. Given that the recent economic recovery has been uneven, some homeowners may not be able to accommodate a payment increase. For example, their financial situation may not have not improved, or may have in fact declined, since the time of their original modification. Information that is gathered in this survey will be used to identify ways in which Treasury can help these homeowners continue to stay current on their modified mortgages. Accordingly, it is critical that we complete the survey process and collect final results with sufficient time to act prior to the scheduled increases taking effect. We believe it is important to begin the survey (which includes a test run, followed by a principal mailing) as soon as possible.
US Code:
12 USC 5012
Name of Law: Emergency Economic Stabilization Act of 2009
On behalf of this Federal agency, I certify that the collection of information encompassed by this request complies with 5 CFR 1320.9 and the related provisions of 5 CFR 1320.8(b)(3).
The following is a summary of the topics, regarding the proposed collection of information, that the certification covers:
(i) Why the information is being collected;
(ii) Use of information;
(iii) Burden estimate;
(iv) Nature of response (voluntary, required for a benefit, or mandatory);
(v) Nature and extent of confidentiality; and
(vi) Need to display currently valid OMB control number;
If you are unable to certify compliance with any of these provisions, identify the item by leaving the box unchecked and explain the reason in the Supporting Statement.