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online rental counseling
CALL NOW - - - - 888-738-8233 - - - - for help

Online COVID 19 Rental Counseling (New Jersey Only)

Renters can receive full budget and credit counseling with a credit review to make any transitions easier, landlord advocate/eviction diversion services, or relocation services if necessary

Online Application

Mercer County Rental Assistance

Application Information

The Mercer County Department of Human Services, in conjunction with the Mercer County Board of Social Services, has launched the Emergency Rental Assistance Program (ERAP) to help renter households in Mercer County that have been impacted by COVID-19. The program offers financial assistance to rental household for unpaid rent or utility bills due to the impact of COVID-19. 


Mercer County residents must document that they would have qualified for unemployment benefits, experienced a reduction in income, and suffered major costs directly or indirectly due to COVID-19 that impacted the household.


  

TO APPLY AND FIND MORE INFORMATION:

Visit: http://bit.ly/ERAPAPPLY

Call: (609) 389-3575 M-F 8:30 a.m. – 4:30 p.m.

Email: erap@mcboss.org

LANDLORDS CAN ENCOURAGE TENANTS TO APPLY at http://www.mercercounty.org/ERAP

Mercer County Rental Assistance

Rental Assistance in NJ is coming

New Jersey Total allocation $589,011,704.40



Eligible local governments

• Atlantic County $7,868,230.90

• Bergen County $27,818,032.50

• Burlington County $13,289,751.50

• Camden County $15,113,705.80

• Essex County $15,426,829.50

• Gloucester County $8,702,770.10

• Hudson County $12,244,324.50

• Jersey City city $7,820,634.20

• Mercer County $10,964,554.50

• Middlesex County $24,620,845.60

• Monmouth County $18,465,589.40

• Morris County $14,677,248.30

• Newark city $8,415,548.50

• Ocean County $18,119,162.90

• Passaic County $14,975,093.40

• Union County $16,601,886.70


• PLUS an additional payment to the state $353,887,496.10


New Jersey

Rental Assistance was sent to NJ in Late January.  We expect applications available in late March/Ap

New COVID Assistance Approved

The President signed 12/27/2020

 

Financial Assistance for New Jersey Families

  • $3,928,997,000 in Direct Payments for New Jersey Families. Over 92% of single tax filers and eight-in-ten joint-filers in New Jersey will receive payments up to $600 for individuals earning less than $75,000 and $1,200 for couples earning less than $150,000, plus $600 per child under the age of 17.
    • The bill ensures that U.S. citizens living in a mixed status household will receive direct payments and will receive retroactive payments from the CARES Act when they file their 2020 tax return. Under the provision, at least one of the two parents or heads of household must have a social security number for all eligible family members to receive a direct payment.
  • Extended Unemployment Insurance (UI). The bill provides an extra $300 a week in addition to one’s base unemployment compensation benefit through March 14, 2021. It also extends the Pandemic Unemployment Assistance (PUA) program through March 14, 2021, which will ensure self-employed individuals and gig workers have access to UI benefits, and adds 11 more weeks of eligibility for the Pandemic Emergency Unemployment Compensation program.
  • $591,000,000 in rental assistance prioritized for those most in need. Funds can be used to pay for rent, utilities and home energy costs, and housing stability services.
  • Extends the eviction moratorium until January 31, 2021.
  • 15% increase in Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) benefits through June 30, 2021.

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CDC Eviction Moratorium

Under the direction of the President, the Centers for Disease Control (CDC) issued an eviction moratorium to prevent the spread of the novel coronavirus.  The policy will take effect immediately and will be in force until December 31, 2020, (Now march 31, 2021).  There are some restrictions, but the order basically applies to individuals who received a coronavirus stimulus check earlier this year.


Understand the this action delays but does not prevent evictions. RENT IS STILL DUE and has NOT BEEN FORGIVEN.  


We are still urging Congress to get back to work on negotiations to enact a COVID-19 relief bill with at least $100 billion in emergency rental assistance so that renters will not be hit with a unmanageable delinquent rent bill when the moratorium is lifted.  


In the meantime, you can download the Eviction Moratorium Form for renters affected by COVID 19 below to send to your landlords.  This form should be printed out, and signed by all adults listed on the lease or rental agreement.


You can also download the Eviction Moratorium FAQ's for additional information on the CDC Order.


Eviction Moratorium Form (pdf)

Download

CDC Agency Order FAQ (PDF)

Download

rental assistance available IN Somerset County

Somerset County

Somerset County has established an Emergency Rental Relief Program for County households that had a loss of income as a result of the COVID-19 pandemic.  Applicants may be eligible for up to 3 months’ rent or $3,000.00, whichever is less, for payment toward rent that is owed.  The Program will only pay rent that is owed and will NOT pay late fees.  Payments will be issued directly to the landlord.  Note that this program is funded by the Community Development Block Grant (CDBG) and as a result, residents of Franklin Township, which has its own CDBG program, are not eligible.


 

There are 3 different ways to apply and submit your application:

  1. Apply directly online:

  • Gather all documentation from CDBG-CV Emergency Rental Relief Required Documentation Checklist (PDF) prior to applying.
  • Upload your documents to your computer or device before starting your application.
  • Once you reach the "File Uploads" section of the application, be sure to attach all your documents as indicated. 
  • At the end of the application process, you will have the option of having a copy of your submitted application emailed directly to you.
  • Click on the link CDBG-CV Emergency Rental Relief Online Application to begin your application.

           2.   Print application and submit printed copy via email:

  • Print and complete PDF application form:  CDBG-CV Emergency Rental Application  (PDF)
  • Submit the completed package (application and required documents) via email to commdevelop@co.somerset.nj.us with the subject line “CDBG-CV Rent Relief Assistance, (your last name and first initial)"

3.   Request application by mail and submit a paper copy:

  • Print a paper copy or request one to be mailed by calling 908-541-5756. 
  • When you receive it,  gather your documents and complete the application form.
  • Because the building is closed to the public, you must call the Office at 908-541-5756 before you drop off a completed application, Monday through Friday between 8:30am and 4:30pm.

       OR

  • Mail your completed application with documents in an envelope addressed to: Community Development, P.O. Box 3000, 27 Warren St. 4th Floor, Somerville, NJ 08876.

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Princeton Rental Assistance

from Patch.com

 

PRINCETON, NJ — The Housing Initiatives of Princeton (HIP) has secured a second round of funding to help township residents facing eviction during the pandemic.

Princeton Town Council passed a resolution on Dec. 14, agreeing to the assistance. The funding will come from the Community Development Block Grant (CDBG) the town received from the federal government to promote housing stability.

"Too many Princeton residents have been hit hard by this pandemic and need some help to pay their rent. HIP has been providing Emergency Rental Assistance for years and is well situated to administer the $319,527 of the CDBG that will go directly to landlords on behalf of tenants in need, mayor Liz Lampert said in a statement.

As part of the rental assistance, the Princeton Landlord Tenant Mediation Program (PLTMP) was recently created. It will allow landlords and tenants to resolve the issue of outstanding rent and reach an agreement, giving HIP the ability to extend the financial assistance. Retired Judge Phil Carchman, Judge Debbie Poritz, and others helped in crafting the PLTMP.

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Franklin Township Rental Assistance

Rental Assistance

 Franklin residents having difficulties paying rent will soon be able to apply for rental assistance through federal CARES Act funding received by the township. 

The program will use $85,000 of the $160,933 the township received earlier this year from the Community Development Block Grant program, or CDBG, allocated by the CARES Act. Applications will be available on the township’s website by Dec. 14. 

“That process will begin hopefully earlier than the 14th, so look to the website and there will be information and we’ll have instructions on how applications can be submitted,” Township Manager Robert Vornlocker said. 

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Atlantic County offers Rental Assistance

Rental Assistance

 

CDBG-CV Short Term Emergency
Rental and Mortgage Assistance Grant Program

Purpose

The CDBG-CV Short Term Emergency Rental and Mortgage Assistance Grant Program will provide temporary rental and mortgage assistance, for up to six months, to low- and moderate-income households that have had a substantial reduction in income or became unemployed due the COVID-19 pandemic. Applicants may be eligible for a grant for a maximum of up to six months of emergency rental or mortgage assistance. The assistance, per month for rental assistance and mortgage assistance, will be capped at DCA’s fair market rent standard or the total of the rent or mortgage payment, whichever is lesser. The maximum amount of assistance available per rental household is $10,000 throughout a period of six months.   All participants will be reviewed at the three-month interval to see if they are still in need of assistance. Persons applying must meet all applicable program income and eligibility requirements.

The program will be administered by the Atlantic County Improvement Authority under the direction of the Executive Director, John Lamey.


Eligibility

Current annualized household income must be at or below 80% of the Area Median Income (AMI) for Atlantic County for the size of the applicant household.


# of Household Members  80% of Median Income

1 Person  $46,450.00

2 Persons  $53,100.00

3 Persons  $59,750.00

4 Persons  $66,350.00

5 Persons  $71,700.00

6 Persons  $77,000.00

7 Persons  $82,300.00

8 Persons  $87,600.00


Prohibition on Duplication of Benefits

Applicants must disclose other local, state and federal rental/mortgage assistance received. These benefits will be taken into consideration when determining the amount that will be provided to the applicant for rental or mortgage assistance.


Evidence of Financial Hardship Due to COVID

Applicants will be required to document financial hardship due to COVID-19.


Rental or Mortgage Assistance Available

These funds are intended to be emergency assistance.

  • Applicants without housing costs in arrears can apply for the cost of one month of housing only, starting with current month’s housing costs.
  • Applicants with housing costs in arrears may apply (in one application) for assistance for multiple past months beginning March 1, 2020, as well as for the current month’s housing cost.
  • If funds are available, applicants can submit a re-application for assistance in subsequent months for up to six months.


To apply go to: https://www.acianj.org/applications/application.asp?ty=R#start


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Rental Assistance

Closed for now - Additional Funds from Congress may reopen program

On Friday, May 29, 2020 Governor Phil Murphy and Lt Governor Sheila Y. Oliver announced the COVID-19 Short-Term Rental Assistance Program. The program will provide rental assistance to low- and moderate-income households that have had a substantial reduction in income as a result of the pandemic, including those who are homeless or at risk of homelessness.


The COVID-19 Short Term Rental Assistance Program will provide temporary rental assistance to low- and moderate- income households that have had a substantial reduction in income or have become unemployed due to the COVID-19 pandemic. The program will offer an initial three months of temporary rental assistance, with the ability for the household to renew for an additional three months if needed. Approximately 20 percent of the rental assistance funds will be reserved for homeless families impacted by the COVID-19 pandemic.


  • The program will open for applications in July and begin paying rental assistance in September. Qualifying households will be expected to pay 30 percent of their income toward rent, and the program would pay the remainder of their rent up to DCA’s fair market rent payment standard. At the three-month mark, the household budget will be reviewed to determine if assistance is still needed. Assistance that is no longer required will be used to serve additional families.


DCA will select applicants for short-term rental assistance through a randomized lottery process. 

Further information on how to apply and Frequently Asked Questions, will be available on June 15th, and applications will be taken in July.


To submit an application, you must:

  • Be a resident of New Jersey
  • Have a current income that is at or below 80 percent of Area Median Income for your county 
  • Have been current in your rent payments as of March 1, 2020
  • Show that your income was affected by the COVID-19 pandemic beginning on March 9th when the public emergency was declared. You can show this by documenting:

  1. A layoff
  2. Reduced work hours
  3. Unpaid leave to take care of children due to school and daycare closures
  4. Need to self-quarantine for 14 days resulted in a loss of income

 

CVERAP Pre-applications will only be accepted ONLINE.  The open enrollment period is

Monday, July 6, 2020 at 9:00 a.m. to Friday, July 17, 2020 at 5:00 p.m. Eastern Time. 

*************EXTENDED to July 17th*************


PROCESS:

CVERAP pre-applications can be submitted ONLINE starting on July 6th at 9:00 a.m. with the use of a personal computer, laptop, smartphone, or tablet at https://www.waitlistcheck.com/NJ559-2809. This link will not be accessible before July 6th at 9:00 a.m.

Paper CVERAP pre-applications will not be distributed or accepted.  Submission of a CVERAP pre-application does not guarantee placement in the Program. Only one CVERAP pre-application per household per county will be accepted. Duplicate CVERAP pre-applications will be rejected. 


HOUSEHOLD INFORMATION REQUIRED:

Names, birthdates, income and assets information for all individuals living in the household. An email address is also required. If you do not have an e-mail address, the application process will allow you to create one.  If you are not proficient in English, the CVERAP pre-application is available in 90 languages; this information can be found starting on July 6th at 9:00 a.m.at https://www.waitlistcheck.com/NJ559-2809, at the top right of the pre-application. This link will not be accessible before July 6th at 9:00 a.m. 

  


Rental Assistance

Have you missed or going to miss a payment?

Use Security Deposit to Pay your Rent

Governor Murphy signed Executive Order # 128 which allows renters to direct that their Landlords apply the security deposit the renters own to any past due and current rent obligations as a result of the “Stay at Home” order.  This communications has to be made in writing (including email).  We have recommended language below.  


Yes you CAN direct your landlord to use your Security Deposit to pay your rent


This is NOT free money.  The tenant will be required to replenish or reestablish (pay back) the security deposit if the lease is extended, or 6 months after the emergency order is lifted.   


Further, this order does not relieve the tenant from paying for any money that the landlord would recoup from the rental deposit at the end of the lease for damages beyond the normal “wear and tear”.  


However, it will stop the late fees that the landlord is charging you when you can’t work and are waiting for unemployment.  



Suggested wording of a request to use the security deposit to pay your rent:


Dear Landlord;


NJ governor Phil Murphy signed Executive Order # 128 on April 24, 2020 allowing for the following request. I hereby request that the security deposit you are holding on my behalf which is governed by the provisions of N.J.S.A. 46:8-19 et seq., as well as the interest portion of the interest and/or earnings accumulated thereon, be applied to or credited towards rent payments due or to become due from the tenant during the Public Health Emergency established in Executive Order No. 103 (2020) or up to 60 days after the Public Health Emergency terminates.


In other words, the security deposit you are holding for me should be used to pay my past due, current and any future rent until it is exhausted.


I understand that I will be required to pay back the security deposit in full in six months following the end of the Emergency or when I renew the lease.  


Please send me an accounting of the amount of funds in my rental deposit account including accrued interest, and how you are applying it to my rent.


Thank you,

Rental Deposit

Use your rental deposit to pay rent

Check If Your Apartment is Covered by CARES Act

The CARES Act provides a temporary moratorium on evictions for most residents of federally subsidized apartments, including those supported by HUD, USDA or Treasury (Low Income Housing Tax Credit developments) as well a moratorium on filings for evictions for renters in homes covered by federally-backed (FHA, Fannie Mae, and Freddie Mac) mortgages for 120 days after enactment.

Most Apartments that are covered are listed

Thank you to the National Low Income Housing Coalition. 

Check Your Apartment

NJ Declares a State of Emergency

With the new FEMA Emergency Declaration:  New Jersey Covid-19 Pandemic (DR-4488), additional Federal Disaster funds will be made available to the state and this move COULD include funds to help Renters. 

Online Application

We do NOT offer rental payment assistance, HOWEVER:

We are working with the National Low Income Housing Coalition to advocate for Rent Assistance.  

  

We suspect like most tenants that you are already paying $1,500 per month. Then you get laid off, like scores of other workers right now. OK  you’re protected from eviction for the next six months, or as long as this pandemic continues. 


But then what? Will you be forced to pay $9,000 in back rent? (For context, 6 in 10 Americans don’t even have $500 in savings.)


Under almost all the proposals being discussed, tenants will still be responsible for all the rent they cannot pay during the crisis—they’ll have massive rent debt. This will ultimately just delay huge numbers of evictions until a few months after the state of emergency is officially declared to be over .


We are advocating for Rental Assistance for all those affected by the COVID 19 Pandemic


See if you are eligible for NJ State Assistance

Renter Action Plan

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All COVID 19 Renters should do the following immediately:

  1. Call your Landlord – Tell them that you will not able to pay
  2. Call all of your Creditors – Each may offer suspension of payment
  3. Call all of your utility Providers - Each may offer suspension of payment

Prepare for Rental Counseling:

  1. Complete Intake Form - download below
  2. Complete Budget Form - Download Below
  3. Complete Third Party Authorization (if necessary)

Prepare for the possibility of having to relocate:

  1. Improve Credit – Follow individualized Credit Action Plan from CCBC (This is a FREE Service for NJ Renters)
  2. Relocation Assistance available.

Prepare for the possibility of having to make up the missed rent

  1. Save funds from Stimulus check
  2. Save funds from Enhanced (+$300) Unemployment Check
  3. Landlord Diversion/Eviction is available

Prepare for the possibility of Getting Rental Assistance

  1. Check www.cc-bc.com for latest updates
  2. Listen to the local news for updates

Consumer Credit and Budget Counseling will:

  1. CCBC will keep you updated on options and assistance available
  2. CCBC will provide FICO credit scores
  3. CCBC will provide a personalized Action Plan advising you of the steps to take to improve your credit
  4. CCBC will analyze your budget
  5. CCBC will assist you with a letter to your landlord
  6. CCBC will provide Landlord Diversion/Eviction (if necessary)
  7. CCBC will provide relocation assistance (if necessary)

Online Application

Get Help Today - NJ only

There are two way to get prepared and get AHEAD of this pandemic and receive FREE  counseling from Consumer Credit and Budget Counseling:

  1. Use the online intake form below.  It will take you about 20 minutes to complete, the form is SAFE AND ENCRYPTED. 
  2. Download and print the PDF's forms below,  then email them back to rgraves@nfdm.org, or fax to: 888-738-8233.

Within 72 hours you will receive:

  1. Your Credit Score
  2. A Personalized Action Plan to improve your score
  3. A Budget Analysis comparing your budget guidelines.
  4. You will be put on our COVID 19 update email list to get notified when monetary rental assistance is available. 
  5. Eligible for Landlord/Eviction diversion
  6. Eligible for Relocation Assistance

Online Appllication

Intake forms & Tenants Rights

Complete both forms below for FREE rental counseling including Credit Score Review and Action Plan to improve your credit .  you can also go here for the online application
Fax to 888-738-8234 or email  us at rgraves@nfdm.org 

Rental Housing Counseling Intake (pdf)

Download

e-mail fill in budget (pdf)

Download

tenantsrights (pdf)

Download

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Increase your income and reduce your expenses  and get your credit under control with Budget And Credit Counseling.

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Review your credit report

Get your credit report in shape prior to finding a new apartment

Eviction Diversion

Relocation Assistance

Relocation Assistance

Having truble with your landlord? You may need an advocate.

Are you having trouble with your landlord? Are they threatening eviction, ask us for help

Relocation Assistance

Relocation Assistance

Relocation Assistance

Relocation Assistance

Looking for a new place?  We will help you look for a new apartment

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Consumer Credit and Budget Counseling d/b/a NFDM

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(888) 738-8233

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