(Harrisburg) -- Housing advocates are urging Pennsylvanians who are behind on their mortgage payments to apply for assistance before a deadline next month. The state’s homeowner emergency loan program was shut down earlier this year due to insufficient funds, but federal money remains for those who need help paying their mortgage. House Democrat Mark Cohen of Philadelphia says there’s no guarantee the federal Emergency Housing Loan Program will continue next year, so Pennsylvanians should try to benefit from it now. "As of a couple weeks ago, there was a surplus of $96 million for Pennsylvania in the program," he says. "The deadline for applying is September 16th, and it takes some time to apply, you can’t just do it in ten seconds." Eligible homeowners must have seen an involuntary drop in their income by 15 percent or more, be at least three months behind on their mortgage payments or they must have received a foreclosure notice. A spokesman for the agency administering the program says applying right away is crucial, because counseling agencies are getting backed up due to high demand. More than 50 percent of applications for the federal loans have been approved.Homeowners can call 800-342-2397 during normal business hours to learn how to apply for an emergency loan.