The deadline to apply for a program that can help Detroiters avoid property tax foreclosure is now Nov. 1.
In previous years, Detroiters had until December to sign up for the City of Detroit’s Homeowners Property Exemption (HOPE) program to see a partial or full reduction in their current year property taxes. The deadline was moved up about a month to give the board responsible for hearing property tax appeals in Detroit more time to review applications and give applicants a chance to submit completed forms, according to officials.
Related:
- Michigan Supreme Court weighs in on tax foreclosure sales and who can benefit
- Mayor Duggan, council members pitch new plan to finance affordable housing
- Deadline to avoid property tax foreclosure in Wayne County is April 1. What to know
“The earlier deadline will allow us to better manage the high volume of applications, especially those that come in without the necessary documentation. This additional time is crucial to helping as many Detroit homeowners qualify for the program and ultimately avoid foreclosure,” Willie Donwell, director of the city of Detroit’s Property Assessment Board of Review, said in a news release.
Here is what to know:
What is the HOPE program?
The HOPE program is a tax exemption that can reduce or exempt qualifying homeowners from property taxes for the current year based on household income. The exemption can help Detroiters avoid property tax foreclosure.
Who qualifies for the program?
Eligibility for the HOPE program is based on whether a resident owns and occupies their home as their primary residence and their household income, according to the city of Detroit. The income limit for a full exemption for a family of three is $26,849. Most homeowners whose income falls below the HOPE program’s income requirements are generally approved. The city received more than 21,300 HOPE applications last year and expects similar numbers this year, including 7,000 carried over from last year.
Applications submitted close to the deadline were often left incomplete, the city says. Last year, more than half of the 2,500 applications that came in between Nov. 1 and the deadline of Dec. 11 missed information and documents.
How to apply
Detroiters have until 4:30 p.m., Nov. 1 to submit a 2024 HOPE application. Residents can apply in the following ways:
- Go to the City of Detroit’s HOPE website at bit.ly/DetroitHOPEApplication to submit an application online or print out a form, fill it out and drop it off at the Coleman A. Young Municipal Center.
- Call the Detroit Housing Resource HelpLine at 866-313-2520. to schedule a meeting with a housing counselor and submit a HOPE application. Detroiters can also schedule an appointment online at bit.ly/HOPECounselingNetwork.
- Attend in-person housing resource fairs to get help completing the HOPE application. The events will take place 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. Saturday at the Northwest Activities Center on 18100 Meyers Road; 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. Saturday Oct. 12 at the Abayomi Community Development Corp. at 24331 West Eight Mile Road, and 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. Saturday Oct. 26 at Perfecting Church at 7616 Nevada Avenue.