The Biden administration extended the mortgage relief and foreclosure ban programs through the end of June 2021 to help prevent people from losing their homes during the pandemic. “The COVID-19 pandemic has triggered a housing affordability crisis,” a Feb. 16 written statement by the White House says, with a recent study by the Center on Budget and Policy Priorities finding that just over 10 million homeowners are behind on mortgage payments. The temporary foreclosure moratorium, initially enacted by the Trump administration in the early months of the pandemic, was set to expire at the end of March. “Now, homeowners will receive urgently needed relief as we face this unprecedented national emergency,” the White House statement says. Besides prolonging the foreclosure ban, the new moratorium also extended the enrollment window for borrowers who want to request mortgage forbearance, which is a pause or reduction in mortgage payments. The option to request forbearance …