WACOG is assisting struggling homeowners who have been affected by COVID-19

WACOG's HAF Program can help local residents who are behind on their mortgage - 13 On Your Side's Vanessa Gongora reports

YUMA, Ariz. (KYMA, KECY) - You could qualify for up to $25,000 If you're struggling to pay your mortgage.

If you're behind on your mortgage due to COVID, the Homeowner Assistance Fund Program (HAF) can help you get back on track.

The Western Arizona Council of Governments, better known as WACOG says the program is only for homeowners who are behind on their mortgage payments due to the COVID pandemic.

WACOG's housing counselor, Regina Gonzalez, says the program assists local homeowners in many ways.

"It will help with their past due amounts, their delinquency in their mortgage, it can help them with their electricity, gas water, back taxes," explains Gonzalez.

The money will also assist with homeowner association fees and could even cover the next three months of your mortgage payments.

Gonzalez says this is an important program to help locals get out of the unfortunate situation they're in.

"COVID was really hard on all of us and so this is an assistance that will help if they have been impacted by COVID," continue Gonzalez.

Yuma, La Paz and Mojave County residents can apply.

One Somerton homeowner, Thalia Castro, says the program saved her.

"If it wasn't for WACOG, I would have never known about this program and assistance and you know, I think there was a big possibility that I would have lost my home," says Castro.

It is funded through the US Treasury Department and there is no application deadline.

Yuma resident Alexia Neyoy, says she hopes other locals take advantage of WAYCOG's programs because it is free and the counselors help every step of the way.

"It's very important because I always want to make sure that I have a home and that my kids can have a roof over their head and it was a very beneficial program," says Neyoy.

Neyoy says she was also able to take a budgeting class and learn how to rebuild her credit.

You can go to WACOG to pick up an application, call 1-866-559-2264 for more information or go to https://www.wacog.com/ to find the application online.