Quick answer
Wisconsin has no open statewide mortgage relief fund; the federally funded Wisconsin Help for Homeowners program closed to new applications March 8, 2024. If you are behind on your mortgage now: call your servicer and ask for a loss-mitigation application (forbearance, repayment plan, loan modification, or partial claim); call a free HUD-approved housing counselor (WHEDA funds counseling agencies statewide) to help you apply; and if your loan is with WHEDA, contact WHEDA’s servicing team about its own payment assistance options. Federal rules generally bar a servicer from starting foreclosure until you are more than 120 days behind and restrict “dual tracking” once you submit a complete application. Counseling is free.
Key facts
- Help for Homeowners closed: applications ended March 8, 2024; about $70 million helped 8,600+ households with an average of $8,438.
- Free counseling: in late 2025, WHEDA awarded $4.7 million to 14 HUD-certified housing counseling agencies, including foreclosure prevention counseling.
- WHEDA borrowers: can apply to WHEDA for payment assistance options based on loan type; approval can take up to 30 days.
- 120-day rule: under federal mortgage servicing rules, servicers generally cannot make the first foreclosure filing until a borrower is more than 120 days delinquent.
- Never pay an upfront fee to a “foreclosure rescue” company.
Table of contents
- Is the Wisconsin mortgage relief program still open?
- What can my mortgage servicer do?
- How do free housing counselors help?
- What rights do Wisconsin homeowners have in foreclosure?
- What other help lowers housing costs?
- What goes in a loss-mitigation packet?
- What should I do this week, step by step?
- Related guides
- Frequently asked questions
Is the Wisconsin mortgage relief program still open?
No. Wisconsin Help for Homeowners was run by the Department of Administration with federal Homeowner Assistance Fund money from the American Rescue Plan. DOA states that the program is closed and that applications ended March 8, 2024, on its program page; over its run it provided close to $70 million to more than 8,600 households in all 72 counties for mortgage, tax, and utility payments and counseling. WHEDA notes on its foreclosure prevention page that it did not administer those funds.
Watch out: anyone who charges an upfront fee to “save your home,” asks you to sign over your deed, or tells you to stop talking to your servicer is running a foreclosure rescue scam.
What can my mortgage servicer do?
| Option | What it does | Best when |
|---|---|---|
| Forbearance | Pauses or reduces payments for a set period | Short-term hardship (job loss, illness) |
| Repayment plan | Spreads missed payments over several months | Income has recovered |
| Loan modification | Changes rate, term, or balance to lower the payment | Payment is no longer affordable long term |
| Partial claim (FHA) or deferral | Moves missed payments to a no-interest balance due at payoff | FHA, VA, USDA, Fannie Mae, or Freddie Mac loans |
| Short sale or deed in lieu | Ends the loan without a foreclosure judgment | Keeping the home is not realistic |
Ask the servicer for a complete loss-mitigation application, send everything requested quickly, and keep copies and dated notes of every call. The CFPB’s help for homeowners page explains each option.
How do free housing counselors help?
HUD-approved housing counselors review your budget, help you complete the servicer’s application, and negotiate on your behalf, at no cost. In December 2025, WHEDA announced $4.7 million in grants to 14 HUD-certified housing counseling agencies across Wisconsin for counseling that includes foreclosure prevention. Find an agency through HUD’s counselor search or by calling 1-800-569-4287. If your loan is with WHEDA, WHEDA’s page says assistance is available to WHEDA borrowers with payment difficulties, options depend on loan type, and approval can take up to 30 days after you submit a complete packet.
What rights do Wisconsin homeowners have in foreclosure?
- 120-day rule: federal servicing rules (Regulation X) generally bar the first foreclosure filing until you are more than 120 days delinquent, giving time to apply for help.
- Dual tracking limits: once you submit a complete loss-mitigation application on time, the servicer generally cannot move forward with foreclosure until it decides and any appeal ends.
- Judicial process: Wisconsin foreclosures go through circuit court; you will be served with a summons and complaint and have a limited time to answer. Respond and ask about mediation where your county offers it.
- Redemption period: Wisconsin law gives homeowners a period after judgment to pay off the debt before a sheriff’s sale; the length depends on the case.
- Legal help: Legal Action of Wisconsin and Wisconsin Judicare offer free legal help to eligible homeowners.
What other help lowers housing costs?
- Energy help: the Wisconsin Home Energy Assistance Program (WHEAP) helps with heating and electric bills; see our Wisconsin utility relief guide.
- Homestead Credit: Wisconsin’s refundable Homestead Credit can return part of property taxes or rent to low-income homeowners and renters when you file your state taxes.
- SNAP (FoodShare): from Oct. 1, 2026 – Sept. 30, 2027, up to $1,023 a month for four; estimate with our SNAP calculator.
- Unemployment and BadgerCare Plus health coverage free up money for the mortgage.
What goes in a loss-mitigation packet?
Servicers will not review you for help until the application is complete. A housing counselor can check it before you send it. Most servicers ask for:
| Item | Why it matters |
|---|---|
| Servicer’s application form (often called a Borrower Response Package) | Starts the formal review |
| Hardship letter | Explains what happened and whether it is short- or long-term |
| Two recent pay stubs or benefit letters | Shows current income |
| Two months of bank statements | Confirms income and expenses |
| Most recent tax return | Verifies income history |
| IRS Form 4506-C (if requested) | Lets the servicer confirm tax information |
Send everything by a trackable method or upload it through the servicer’s portal, and note the date. Ask the servicer to confirm in writing when the application is complete.
If the servicer denies a loan modification, it must tell you why in writing. Under federal rules, if your complete application was received at least 90 days before a scheduled foreclosure sale, you can appeal the denial within 14 days; a housing counselor can help you write the appeal and check whether the servicer used the right income figures.
What should I do this week, step by step?
- Call your servicer and request a loss-mitigation application.
- Call a HUD-approved counselor (1-800-569-4287) to help you complete it.
- Gather: pay stubs, bank statements, tax returns, a hardship letter, and your mortgage statement.
- If you have a WHEDA loan, contact WHEDA servicing directly.
- If you were served with foreclosure papers, answer by the deadline and call legal aid.
Counseling is free. HUD-approved counselors, WHEDA, and legal aid never charge upfront fees.
For more specifics, see our guides on Wisconsin hardship relief and Wisconsin assistance programs.
Related guides
- Wisconsin rent relief
- Wisconsin debt relief programs
- Housing help: vouchers, affordable housing, and paths to owning
- Is debt relief right for me?
Frequently asked questions
Is the Wisconsin mortgage relief program still available?
No. Wisconsin Help for Homeowners closed to new applications on March 8, 2024. Homeowners now rely on servicer loss mitigation, free HUD-approved counseling, and WHEDA help for WHEDA borrowers.
Who gives free foreclosure help in Wisconsin?
HUD-approved housing counseling agencies, many funded by WHEDA grants, plus Legal Action of Wisconsin and Wisconsin Judicare. Call 1-800-569-4287 to find a counselor.
Can my lender foreclose right after I miss a payment?
Generally no. Federal servicing rules bar the first foreclosure filing until you are more than 120 days behind, and a complete loss-mitigation application can pause the process.
Does WHEDA help homeowners behind on payments?
Yes, for homeowners with an existing WHEDA mortgage. Options depend on loan type, and approval can take up to 30 days after a complete packet.
What is a loan modification?
A permanent change to your mortgage’s rate, term, or balance that lowers the payment. Your servicer decides after you submit a complete loss-mitigation application.
Sources
Facts on this page were checked against these sources on October 25, 2026. If a source and this page ever disagree, follow the source.
- Wisconsin Department of Administration: Wisconsin Help for Homeowners
- WHEDA: Foreclosure prevention
- WHEDA: $4.7 million for housing counseling (December 2025)
- Consumer Financial Protection Bureau: Help for homeowners
- CFPB: Regulation X § 1024.41 (loss mitigation procedures)
- USDA FNS: SNAP cost-of-living adjustments, FY 2027 tables
This guide is general information, not legal or financial advice. Foreclosure rules are complex; talk to a HUD-approved counselor or legal aid. National Relief Program is an independent website, not a government agency.
Before you apply: program rules, amounts, and deadlines change. Always confirm details with the official agency or program administrator. Applying for government benefits is free.
National Relief Program is an independent guide, not a government agency. Spotted an error? Email support@nationalreliefprogram.org.
