Home Affordable Modification Program
Program Guidance

Program Guidance

The program documentation provided on this page contains guidance and requirements for servicers to use in their understanding and implementation of the Making Home Affordable (MHA) Program.

The MHA Handbook is a consolidated reference guide outlining the requirements and guidelines for the Making Home Affordable (MHA) Program for non-GSE mortgages. The current version of the MHA Handbook replaces and supersedes all effective guidance contained in Supplemental Directives (SDs) and related frequently asked questions (FAQs); to the extent guidance is not effective as of the date of the of the current version of the MHA Handbook such guidance is not replaced and superseded. Previous SDs can now be found in the Archives tab. The MHA Handbook will be updated periodically to include additional guidance on related programs.

Making Home Affordable Handbook v5.3
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Tier 2 Servicer DTI Ranges and Minimum Payment Reduction Requirements - Supplemental Directive 12-09 provided servicers with flexibility to select a post-modification debt-to-income (DTI) range under Tier 2 suitable for their portfolio and as provided in the Supplemental Directive, effective February 1, 2013. Similarly, Supplemental Directive 14-02, effective July 1, 2014, provided servicers with the ability to establish a minimum principal and interest payment reduction requirement, not to exceed 10%, for HAMP Tier 2. Tier 2 DTI ranges and minimum payment reduction requirements provided by the largest servicers.

Access the Frequently Asked Questions, previous versions of the MHA Handbook, and Supplemental Directives outlined in the current version of the MHA Handbook.

Supplemental Documentation - Frequently Asked Questions

  • Supplemental Documentation FAQs

    • These frequently asked questions clarify the Supplemental Directives issued in connection with the Home Affordable Modification Program.
    (Last Updated: July 15, 2010 )
  • HAMP Conversion Campaign FAQs

    • These frequently asked questions provide policy guidance issued during the 2009 Conversion Campaign for the Home Affordable Modification Program.
    (Last Updated: June 21, 2010 )

Making Home Affordable Handbook

2017 MHA Supplemental Directives

2016 MHA Supplemental Directives

2015 MHA Supplemental Directives

2014 MHA Supplemental Directives

2013 MHA Supplemental Directives

2012 MHA Supplemental Directives

2011 MHA Supplemental Directives

All documents are in PDF format, unless otherwise stated.

  • 11-02: Making Home Affordable Program - Administrative Clarifications

    • Guidance related to case escalation; net present value (NPV) clarifications; policy clarifications related to the Home Affordable Modification Program (HAMP), Home Affordable Unemployment Modification Program (UP), Home Affordable Foreclosure Alternatives Program (HAFA), and Second Lien Modification Program (2MP) (including Dodd-Frank Certification under 2MP); Treasury Federal Housing Administration - HAMP (Treasury FHA-HAMP) incentives; and subordination fees under the Treasury/FHA Second Lien Program (FHA2LP).

2010 MHA Supplemental Directives

All documents are in PDF format, unless otherwise stated.

  • 10-16: Making Home Affordable Program - Policy Update

    • Guidance relating to borrowers affected by a federally declared disaster and updates to servicer guidance relating to the Home Affordable Modification Program (HAMP), the Home Affordable Unemployment Program (UP) and the Second Lien Modification Program (2MP).
  • 10-14: Principal Reduction Alternative Update

    • Update to guidance to servicers on a principal reduction alternative that gives servicers additional flexibility to offer relief to borrowers whose homes are worth significantly less than the remaining amounts owed under their first lien mortgage loans.
  • 10-10: Modifications of Loans Guaranteed by the Rural Housing Service (RD-HAMP)

    • Guidance to RHS servicers for adoption and implementation of RD-HAMP, which provides for pay-for performance incentive compensation to borrowers and pay-for-success incentive compensation to servicers for RHS-guaranteed first lien mortgages that are modified pursuant to RHS's final rule on Special Loan Servicing and that meet Treasury's eligibility requirements.
  • 10-02: Borrower Outreach and Communication

    • Additional guidance on the initiation and continuation of foreclosure actions during the Home Affordable Modification Program evaluation period, and new requirements for extending HAMP benefits to eligible borrowers who have filed for bankruptcy.

2009 MHA Supplemental Directives

All documents are in PDF format, unless otherwise listed.

  • 09-08: Borrower Notices

    • Additional guidance to servicers related to the format, content and timing of notices that must be provided to borrowers requesting consideration for a HAMP modification.
  • 09-04: Home Price Decline Protection Incentives

    • Additional HAMP guidance to servicers regarding incentives to modify loans in markets with declining home prices, including information on eligibility, calculating HPDP incentives, timetable for potential HPDP payments, and compliance.
  • 09-03: Trial Period Guidance

    • Additional guidance to servicers for HAMP trial period and modification timing, as well as guidance for submitting loan-level data for processing during the HAMP trial period.