The following some basic information on Step Forward Michigan.

I also attached
a copy of 9th Amendment to these programs. These are official documents,
including statistics, goals and eligibility requirements. It does not include what may
be State administrative guidelines and eligibility rules.
The second attachment is unofficial and lists the numerous restrictions to receiving
these benefits. Note this was written prior to Step Forward giving tax relief, so
doesnt include restrictions related to this. I am not clear of the provenance of this
info (some articles are cited in it), but many of the restrictions are probably still in
effect, but it should only be used to search out documented restrictions.
Those researching this aspect of our project should find this info interesting.
Some Information on Step Forward Michigan
Step Forward Michigan is part of the Federal Hardest Hit Funds program. Key
information on its scope and the changes made to the scope, as well as, a specific
quarterly data can be found at:
http://www.treasury.gov/initiatives/financial-stability/TARPPrograms/housing/hhf/Pages/default.aspxhtt
Clicking on Michigan at this web site will take you to another page it gives quarterly
information on the various programs in effect in Michigan, the general fact sheet
about Step Forward Michigan, and the most recent amendment of the program as
agreed two between Federal government and the State of Michigan.,
The quarterly reports use both general statistics about all the programs, such as,
numbers of applicants, numbers receiving help, total aid distributed in dollars,
administrative costs. Some general statistics are also given on the characteristics
of the applicants, such as, their racial and economic make up, in some general
categories of why the aide is needed. The statistics are given both by the particular
quarter, and are in the life of the program. Theres also a county by county
breakdown only for the all programs together. The most recent quarterly report (as
of this writing) is for the quarter ending a 12/31/14.
Quarterly reports also break down some of the stats for the specific programs. In
Michigan there are five programs including Loan Rescue, Principal Curtailment,
Unemployment Mortgage Subsidy, Modification Plan and Blight Elimination.
Some of the above stats are given for the specific programs and others are not, and
a few new ones, such as, median length of period to process applicant, are given.
There have been 10 amendments to Step Forward Michigan since its
inception about September 1, 2010. These have been agreed to by the State of
Michigan (Michigan State Housing Development Authority) and the Federal
government (United States Department of Treasury). They create a Schedule for
each program that defines the goals of the programs, set some rules of
qualification, and give a spending cap for each program, .

As example, prior to about January of 2013 the Loan Rescue Program was not used
to provide tax relief for Michigan residents. Evidently changes were made for the
schedule of the Loan Rescue Program by the Sixth Amendment dated November
15, 2012. Unfortunately, I do not have a copy of the Fifth or Sixth Amendment to
track these changes.
Interestingly the schedule for the Unemployment Mortgage Subsidy program
includes language about being eligible for one-time reinstatement of

delinquent property taxes. Yet, it doesnt appear this program has been
used to provide tax relief, in fact, recently the spending cap for it was
reduced by about $30 million and diverted to the Loan Rescue program that
we know funds tax relief and had almost reached its spending cap as of
the 4th quarter of 2014. I attached the 9th Amendment so you can see these
changes between it and the most recent 10th Amendment.
The Blight Elimination program did not exist prior to the Ninth Amendment dated
October 14, 2014. While not having former copies of the amendments, we know
this program was not mentioned in the quarterly reports until the fourth quarter of
2014.