Connecticut homeowners behind on their mortgage can turn to CHFA's Emergency Mortgage Assistance Program, free HUD-approved housing counselors, the CT Department of Banking's foreclosure hotline, and federal CFPB protections. None of these can promise to stop a foreclosure, but each can help you understand your options.
If you've fallen behind on your mortgage, it's natural to feel like you're the only one dealing with this. You aren't, and there are real people and programs in Connecticut whose whole job is to help homeowners in exactly your situation. None of them can promise a particular outcome, and no one—including us—can promise to stop a foreclosure or guarantee a lender will agree to a modification. But each can help you understand what's available and get organized while you decide what to do next.
This page is a plain-language map of the state and federal resources available to Connecticut homeowners. If you're in the very early days of falling behind, you may also want to read Behind on Your Mortgage: The First 90 Days for a week-by-week look at what typically happens.
What can I do this week if I'm struggling to pay my mortgage?
- Open your mail. Letters from your servicer, even ones that feel alarming, usually contain information about assistance options and deadlines.
- Call your mortgage servicer. Ask what loss mitigation or assistance options exist for your loan type.
- Call or visit a HUD-approved housing counselor. This service is free, and counselors can help you organize your finances and understand your options.
- Avoid anyone who asks for money upfront to \"save\" your home or guarantees a specific result—see foreclosure rescue scams to avoid.
What is Connecticut's Emergency Mortgage Assistance Program (EMAP)?
The Emergency Mortgage Assistance Program is a state program created by the Connecticut General Assembly and administered by the Connecticut Housing Finance Authority (CHFA). It is structured as a 30-year, fixed-rate loan for homeowners having trouble making mortgage payments because of a temporary financial hardship beyond their control—things like job loss or underemployment, divorce, illness, disability, or an unexpected rise in housing costs.
EMAP may help cover overdue payments and, for some homeowners, provide ongoing monthly mortgage assistance. Generally, applicants are expected to have received a notice of intent to foreclose, be 60 or more days delinquent, or expect to fall behind soon. A CHFA- or HUD-approved housing counselor typically helps with the application.
To ask about EMAP, you can contact CHFA's EMAP customer service line at (860) 571-3500 or visit chfa.org.
Is MyHomeCT (Connecticut's pandemic-era relief program) still taking applications?
MyHomeCT was Connecticut's program under the federal Homeowner Assistance Fund (HAF), administered by CHFA, offering grant assistance for COVID-era mortgage and housing hardships. As of CHFA's own program update, MyHomeCT closed to new applications on September 1, 2023. Applications already submitted before that date continue to be processed in the order received, subject to available funds. If you already applied and are waiting on a decision, CHFA says you'll be notified by mail.
If you haven't applied and are currently struggling, a HUD-approved housing counselor can tell you whether any other state or federal mortgage assistance funds remain open in your situation, since availability can change.
Where can I find free, HUD-approved housing counseling in Connecticut?
HUD-approved housing counselors provide free help to Connecticut homeowners who are struggling financially or at risk of foreclosure. They can review your budget, explain your mortgage and assistance options, and help you gather documents if you're preparing for the Connecticut foreclosure mediation program. Many are also approved by CHFA to help with EMAP applications.
You can find a counselor through HUD's directory or by calling HUD's counseling line at 1-800-569-4287.
What can the Connecticut Department of Banking do for me?
The Connecticut Department of Banking runs a free Mortgage and Foreclosure Hotline: 1-877-472-8313, open Monday through Friday, 8:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m., with calls typically returned within two business days. The hotline can direct you to a housing counselor and other community-based resources, and the Department also fields consumer complaints and inquiries about mortgage servicers.
You can also reach the Department at 1-800-831-7225, or call Infoline at 2-1-1 for a broader list of local resources.
What protections do federal rules give me with my mortgage servicer?
Federal mortgage servicing rules, overseen by the Consumer Financial Protection Bureau (CFPB), generally require your servicer to review a complete application for mortgage assistance and consider available loss mitigation options before certain foreclosure steps can proceed. The CFPB's own guidance is blunt about scams: legitimate help is free, and anyone who asks for money upfront or guarantees they can stop your foreclosure is not legitimate.
If you believe your servicer isn't following these rules, you can submit a complaint to the CFPB or to the Connecticut Department of Banking.
Where does selling fit in with all of this?
Assistance programs, counseling, and mediation are all aimed at helping you keep your home if that's possible and makes sense for your situation. For some homeowners, after weighing the numbers and the timeline, selling turns out to be the more workable path—whether that's a regular sale, or something else depending on how much equity and time you have. It helps to understand whether you can sell your house during a Connecticut foreclosure and how that compares with a short sale, deed in lieu, or a regular sale before you decide.
Selling is one option among several, not the default answer, and whether it makes sense depends entirely on your numbers and your goals.
| Need | Who to contact | Phone |
|---|
| Mortgage assistance loan (EMAP) | CHFA EMAP customer service | (860) 571-3500 |
| Free housing counseling | HUD-approved counselor | 1-800-569-4287 |
| Hotline, complaints, general guidance | CT Department of Banking | 1-877-472-8313 |
| Local resource referrals | Infoline | 2-1-1 |
How does RYZE Realty Group fit into this?
We're a Connecticut brokerage, not a housing counselor, lender, or attorney, and we don't negotiate with lenders or promise any particular outcome. What we offer is a free \"should you sell?\" review—a straightforward look at your home's value and your equity, so that if selling is something you're considering alongside the resources above, you have real numbers to work with. For legal questions about your specific case, including deadlines tied to law days and strict foreclosure, please talk with a Connecticut attorney or a HUD-approved housing counselor. For a broader overview of your options, start with Behind on Your Connecticut Mortgage? Know Your Options.