Detroit homeowners have until November 1 to apply for property tax assistance through HOPE program to avoid risk of foreclosure, City and County Treasurer to host final HOPE event

• The 2024 HOPE application deadline was moved from early December to November 1 to give the City of Detroit Property Assessment Board of Review extra time to reach applicants with incomplete submissions, ensuring they have a fair chance to benefit from HOPE.
• Last Healthy Home Resource Fair is Saturday Oct 26 where residents can receive on-site HOPE application assistance and other homeowner resources
• The Homeowners Property Exemption (HOPE) program provides qualified homeowners the opportunity to reduce or eliminate their current year property taxes, avoiding the risk of foreclosure

The City of Detroit is reminding homeowners who need assistance with property taxes to apply for the HOPE program before its new application deadline, November 1.  HOPE, which stands for Homeowners Property Exemption, is an income-based program that may reduce or eliminate a homeowner’s current year’s taxes by 10%, 25%, 50%, 75% or 100%.

 The new HOPE application deadline first announced in January 2024, gives the Property Assessment Board of Review more time to evaluate applications and allows applicants extra time to submit complete forms before the end of the year.

Those needing assistance with the HOPE application should attend the Healthy Home Resource Fair, Saturday, October 26, 10A – 3P at Perfecting Church, 7616 East Nevada.

“The number of applications received by the Board of Review has grown tremendously over the years,” said Willie Donwell, Director of the Property Assessment Board of Review for the City of Detroit. “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.”

Last year, more than 15,000 homeowners received a HOPE exemption.

Eligibility for HOPE is based on whether the Detroit resident owns and occupies their home as their primary residence, as well as their household income or circumstances.

The HOPE program is a vital tool to avoid property tax foreclosure, which occurs after three consecutive years of delinquency. HOPE income limits can be found in the chart below. Required documents and a full list of eligibility requirements can be found here.

HOPE applicants can learn more about the program and get application assistance through the Detroit Housing Network, a coalition of housing service providers in Detroit, funded by the Gilbert Family Foundation and the City of Detroit, and managed by CHN Housing Partners. Detroit Housing Network Members can also connect residents to other programs, like the Gilbert Family Foundation’s Detroit Tax Relief Fund, which eliminates delinquent back taxes for families who qualify for HOPE.

For more information about the HOPE program, including eligibility, required documents and how to apply, visit Detroitmi.gov/HOPE or call the Housing Resource Helpline (866) 313-2520.