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Is that foreclosure help program still open?

Many websites still list California foreclosure programs that have closed. As of late October 2026, there is no statewide grant for ordinary, non-disaster hardship. The only state mortgage grant, CalAssist, is for disaster survivors and stops taking applications on November 2, 2026. Free counseling, free legal aid, and your loan company's own options are still open.

By Guillermo Serafin, broker and owner of Serve First Realty. Updated October 2026.

Myth: The California Mortgage Relief Program can pay my missed payments

Fact: This program is closed. Its website says it is no longer accepting applications and is no longer offering grants. Its final report is dated December 20, 2024. It now sends homeowners to free HUD-approved housing counselors.

Myth: Keep Your Home California can help me

Fact: Keep Your Home California was the state's program after the 2008 housing crisis. It is closed. The California Housing Finance Agency (CalHFA) says it is fully funded and closed, and tells homeowners with a current need to contact their loan servicer.

Myth: CalAssist helps anyone who is behind

Fact: The CalAssist Mortgage Fund is only for homeowners whose main home was destroyed or made unlivable by a qualified disaster between January 1, 2023 and January 8, 2025, such as the January 2025 Los Angeles wildfires. It stops taking applications on November 2, 2026. After that date, it is closed to new applicants. Completed applications will still be processed.

Myth: My city or county will give me a grant

Fact: Research in late October 2026 found no California city or county running a foreclosure cash-grant program. Older local programs from the COVID years, such as Los Angeles County's 2020 mortgage relief grants, have ended. Local help today is mostly free counseling, legal aid, and fraud alerts. In Los Angeles County, the Department of Consumer and Business Affairs offers free foreclosure counseling at 800-593-8222.

Myth: FHA's COVID-19 options are still available

Fact: FHA's COVID-19 recovery options and FHA-HAMP options expired on September 30, 2025. FHA loans still have other help, such as repayment plans, loan modifications, and partial claims, through your servicer. Read our FHA borrower guide.

Myth: The VA can buy my loan through VASP

Fact: The VA Servicing Purchase program, called VASP, ended in 2025. The new VA Partial Claim Program opened June 15, 2026. Ask your servicer about it, or call VA at 877-827-3702, option 6. Read our VA borrower guide.

Myth: I have to pay someone to get into a program

Fact: Real help programs are free to apply for. California generally prohibits charging homeowners for loan modification or forbearance help before every promised service is fully done, and federal law adds more payment conditions. A real estate license does not create an exception. If someone says they are from a "government program" and asks for money, that is a red flag. Read our scam red flags checklist.

What help is still open?

  • Free HUD-approved housing counselors: 800-569-4287.
  • The HOPE Hotline, free counseling: 888-995-4673.
  • CalHFA's free housing counseling program, funded through December 2027.
  • CalHFA hardship help, if your first mortgage is a CalHFA loan.
  • Property Tax Postponement for homeowners who are 62 or older, blind, or have a disability. The 2026-27 filing period runs October 1, 2026 to February 10, 2027. See our property tax guide.
  • Disaster forbearance rights for Los Angeles wildfire survivors. See our disaster relief guide.
  • Your loan company's own options, such as forbearance, repayment plans, and modifications. Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac loans have their own options too.
  • See the full list on our help programs page.

How can I check a program myself?

  • Go to the program's official website, not a news story or ad.
  • Look for words like "closed" or "no longer accepting applications."
  • Call the number on the official site, or ask a HUD-approved counselor.
  • Never pay a fee to apply.

General information, not legal advice. Program status was checked October 29, 2026, and programs change often. Confirm with the program before you apply. Sources: camortgagerelief.org; CalHFA Keep Your Home California archive; CalAssist Mortgage Fund; CalHFA National Mortgage Settlement Housing Counseling Program; State Controller's Property Tax Postponement Program; HUD FHA Mortgagee Letter 2025-06; VA.gov; California Civil Code sections 2944.7 and 2945.4.

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