It is important to understand fully the reimbursement pathway and its requirements before you apply. To begin, you should:-
Review which costs are covered (and which are not).
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Confirm that you qualify.
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Learn the steps to get started.
HARP can cover the following costs on your current property, whether it is your damaged property or a new property you have purchased:
- Architectural, engineering, or land surveys
- Demolition and debris removal
- Repairs, rehabilitation, or reconstruction of your home
- Land purchased for your replacement home
- Home purchases or home replacements
Note: Land purchases and home purchases or replacements are only eligible if your household income is at or below 120% of the area median income (AMI). - Legal services related to fixing or replacing your home
There are exceptions, listed under the eligibility section below, if you bought a home in Oregon but outside the eight most-impacted and distressed (MID) areas or in a multiplex development with five or more units. (Limited to home purchase or replacement. These reimbursement expenses are available only to households at or below 120% of the area median income (AMI).) The MID areas include Clackamas, Douglas, Jackson, Klamath, Lane, Lincoln, Linn, and Marion County.
- Temporary housing or rental costs
- Moving, relocation, or storage costs
- Forced mortgage payoff (i.e., when your mortgage company requires you to use recovery funds to pay off outstanding mortgage debt)
- Repair or replacement costs for a property where you no longer live
- Personal belongings (e.g., clothing, furniture, or medical supplies)
- Costs for non-primary housing structures (e.g., sheds or garages)
- Removal costs for damaged manufactured homes on leased land when not returning to the site
- Repair costs for homes outside the eight MID counties
- Repair costs for multifamily homes
- Land and home purchase or replacement costs for households with incomes above 120% of AMI
You may qualify if:
- You meet all other general HARP
eligibility requirements.
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Note: There are exceptions if you bought a home in Oregon but outside the eight most-impacted and distressed (MID) areas or in a multiplex development with five or more units. (Limited to home purchase or replacement. Reimbursement expenses are available only to households at or below 120% of the area median income (AMI).)
- You must own and live in the home you repaired or replaced.
- You must have already paid for your home repairs before applying to HARP or by
Jan. 10, 2025, whichever was earlier.
You are not eligible if:
- You do not own and live in the home, whether it was your damaged home or a replacement home you bought.
- You are currently participating in the HARP reconstruction, manufactured home replacement, or home purchase pathway.
- You bought a replacement home outside of Oregon.
Is your home safe and livable?
To get reimbursed, your home must be safe and livable. This means it must pass a HARP habitability inspection, which is a review of the home per HARP’s standards to make sure your home is structurally sound, weatherproof, and safe. The inspection looks for the following:
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Working bathroom: Has a functioning toilet, sink, and shower or bathtub.
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Kitchen area: Capable of preparing food (has a stove and/or microwave).
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Operable windows in each bedroom: Windows and doors that open and can be used as an escape route in case of an emergency.
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Heating systems: A way to heat the home in winter.
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Structural safety: Is intact with no serious cracks in the flooring, foundation, or roof.
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No life-threatening hazards: Free of hazards like exposed wires or broken stairs.
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Potable water: Free of hazards like exposed wires or broken stairs.
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No deteriorated paint or elements (lead-based paint): No peeling or deteriorating paint for homes built before Jan. 1, 1978.
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Pass environmental requirements: Be clear of environmental hazards, e.g., cannot be located in a runway protection zone for an airport.
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Smoke detectors: Have working smoke and carbon monoxide detectors.
If your home is in one of the eight eligible counties, has fewer than four units, and does not meet habitability standards, HARP can help pay for repairs. Once your home meets the HARP standards, you may qualify for reimbursement.
- Complete the
Eligibility Questionnaire on the HARP website to see if you qualify. If you have already submitted an Eligibility Questionnaire or an application, you do not need to reapply. HARP will see if your application is eligible for reimbursement automatically.
- Complete a HARP application with documentation of your expenses, such as receipts, by Dec. 31.
- Complete a program inspection to ensure your home is safe and habitable.
- Receive an award determination based on your eligible expenses and any other aid you received.
- Sign a Homeowner Grant Agreement to accept your award.
- Receive your reimbursement once all requirements are met.