The Home Affordable Refinance Program, refered to as HARP, was put in place to assist underwater homeowners refinance their mortgages. The expanded HARP program - also referred to as HARP 2.0 - came into effect December 1, 2011. This was designed to increase the number of people who could benefit and removed some of the roadblocks inherent in the original HARP program. Essentially, HARP 2.0 was designed to help homeowners get a new, more affordable and more stable mortgage. The program ends on December 31, 2013.