R 111656Z JUN 09
UNCLASSIFIED//
MARADMIN 0354/09
MSGID/GENADMIN,USMTF,2007/CMC WASHINGTON DC MRA MP//
SUBJ/EXPANSION OF HOMEOWNERS ASSISTANCE PROGRAM (HAP)//
POC/K. CERNY/CIV/UNIT:MPO/-/TEL:(703) 784-9386/TEL:DSN 278-9386//
GENTEXT/REMARKS/1. PURPOSE. TO ADVISE MARINES AND CIVILIAN EMPLOYEES OF THE EXPANSION OF THE HAP, PROVIDE GENERAL GUIDANCE AND RECOMMEND THAT INTERESTED MARINES AND CIVILIAN EMPLOYEES BEGIN REVIEWING THE INFORMATION AT THE U.S. ARMY CORPS OF ENGINEERS (USACE) WEBSITE BELOW AND BEGIN SUBMITTING THEIR HAP APPLICATIONS.         
2. BACKGROUND. ARMY (ASA IE) IS THE EXECUTIVE AGENT FOR HAP AND USACE ADMINSTERS THE PROGRAM. THE HAP PROVIDES SOME MONETARY RELIEF FOR ELIGIBLE HOMEOWNER FEDERAL PERSONNEL, BOTH UNIFORMED MEMBERS AND CIVILIAN EMPLOYEES, WHO FACE FINANCIAL LOSS WHEN THEY CANNOT SELL THEIR PRIMARY HOMES UNDER REASONABLE TERMS AND CONDITIONS DUE TO BASE REALIGNMENT OR CLOSURE (BRAC). THE AMERICAN RECOVERY AND REINVESTMENT ACT OF FEBRUARY 17, 2009, INCLUDED A PROVISION TO EXPAND THE EXISTING HAP TO INCLUDE: (1) WOUNDED WARRIORS AND SURVIVING SPOUSE HOMEOWNERS, (2) THOSE AFFECTED BY BRAC 2005, AND (3) MEMBERS OF THE ARMED FORCES ON PERMANENT CHANGE OF STATION (PCS) ORDERS (WHERE HOMES ARE AFFECTED BY THE DECLINING MARKET). THE HAP DOES NOT MAKE THE INDIVIDUAL WHOLE AND INSTEAD SEEKS TO MINIMZE THEIR FINANCIAL LOSSES. THE HAP: (1) REIMBURSES AN APPLICANT FOR PART OF THE LOSS OF SELLING THEIR HOME, (2) ASSISTS APPLICANTS IF THEY DO NOT HAVE ENOUGH PROCEEDS FROM THE SALE OF THEIR THE HOME TO PAY OFF THE MORTGAGE, (3) BUYS THE HOME BY PAYING OFF THE MORTGAGE, OR (4) ASSISTS IF THE APPLICANT DEFAULTS ON THEIR MORTGAGE. IN ALL CASES, THE BENEFIT IS FOR A PRIMARY RESDIENCE ONLY, AND THE BENEFIT MAY ONLY BE USED ONCE.
3. DOD IS EXPECTED TO IMPLEMENT THE NEW PROVISION SOON AND USACE HAS BEGUN ACCEPTING APPLICATIONS. THE HAP POLICIES AND RULES HAVE NOT YET BEEN FINALIZED, AND UNTIL THEN, THEY ARE SUBJECT TO CHANGE.
INTERESTED UNIFORMED MEMBERS AND CIVILIAN EMPLOYEES SHOULD GO TO THE FOLLOWING USACE WEBSITE FOR DETAILED INFORMATION, GUIDANCE AND DOWNLOADABLE APPLICATIONS, HTTP:(SLASH SLASH) HAP.USACE.ARMY.MIL.
INTERESTED MARINES AND CIVILIAN EMPLOYEES ARE ENCOURAGED TO BEGIN SUBMITTING THEIR HAP APPLICATIONS.
4. THE USACE WEBSITE PROVIDES: GENERAL ELIGIBILITY REQUIREMENTS TO APPLY FOR THE HAP, DOWNLOADABLE FORMS AND INFORMATION TO BEGIN THE HAP APPLICATION PROCESS, DISCUSSES THE FOUR WAYS HAP PROVIDES ASSISTANCE, AND DOWNLOADABLE APPLICATION PACKAGE, APPLICATION (DD FORM 1607 (DRAFT)) AND APPLICATION INSTRUCTIONS.
5. TO APPLY, THE BASIC APPLICATION IS MADE ON THE DD FORM 1607, APPLICATION FOR HAP (DOWNLOADABLE). PART III, SECTION IV OF THE FORM MUST BE COMPLETED BY THE MEMBER'S/EMPLOYEE'S PERSONNEL/HUMAN RESOURCES OFFICER, WHO VERIFIES THE APPLICANT'S EMPLOYMENT OR SERVICE. IN ADDITION, APPLICANTS MUST SUBMIT A VARIETY OF DOCUMENTS TO SHOW EVIDENCE OF THEIR OWNERSHIP OF THE PROPERTY, THEIR OCCUPANCY DATES, THEIR ASSIGNMENT ORDERS, THEIR EFFORTS TO SELL THE HOME (WHETHER IT WAS SOLD), AND MORTGAGE DETAILS. THE APPLICATION IS SUBMITTED TO ONE OF THREE USACE HAP FIELD OFFICES THAT COVERS THE TERRITORY IN WHICH THE PROPERTY IS LOCATED. THE WEBSITE HAS CONTACT INFORMATION FOR THE FIELD OFFICES. 
6. INTERESTED MARINES AND CIVILIAN EMPLOYEES ARE ADVISED TO CONTACT THEIR LOCAL MARINE CORPS COMMUNITIY SERVICES FINANCIAL MANAGEMENT COUNSELORS AND/OR LEGAL ASSISTANCE OFFICE FOR ADVICE AND COUNSEL.
7. THIS MESSAGE HAS BEEN COORDINATED WITH CMC (LFF), (JAL) AND (MRR).
8. RELEASE AUTHORIZED BY (SES) MR. M. F. APPLEGATE, DIRECTOR, MANPOWER PLANS AND POLICY DIVISION, M&RA.//