There are three programs in which impacted families may be eligible. Homeless Prevention Program The Department has administered one of the nations top performing Emergency Rental Assistance programs, helped put in place critical eviction prevention tools for pandemic-impacted renter households to use to remain in their homes, and launched innovative eviction and homelessness prevention initiatives that have touched every county in the state. The bill also mandates new eviction and foreclosure moratorium deadlines and special eviction protections for tenants who were directly impacted by the pandemic. Depending on your household's income level and specific circumstances, you may also be eligible for protection from eviction or removal through December 31, 2021, and other assistance and services. The last category of households consists of those with current gross annual income in excess of 80% but less than 120% of the area (typically county) median income (AMI) for a household of the same size and composition. You should also submit a self-certification for protection from eviction at https://nj.gov/dca/ - those whose income is below 120% of Area Median Income may be eligible for permanent protection from eviction for rental arrears accrued March 2020-August 31, 2021; those whose income is 80% of Area Median Income or below, who have experienced impac. When in doubt, there is no reason not to communicate with the tenant before you file to try to avoid wasting money on legal fee. NJ Renters Have 2 Weeks To Apply For Rental Aid As Eviction Moratorium Sunsets | WNYC DCA Announces COVID-19 Emergency Rental Assistance Application Period Closes on December 15, 2021The New Jersey Department of Community Affairs (DCA) announced that the second Phase of the COVID-19 Emergency Rental Assistance Program (CVERAP) and Eviction Protection Nov 4, 2021 | covid, Feature Articles, News & Views. Income Tier I- Very low-income household with the percentage of AMI that is 50% or less. To be eligible, you must be a New Jersey homeowner with a demonstrated COVID-19-related financial hardship, own and occupy an eligible primary residence, were current on mortgage and property taxes as of January 2020, and have an income below 150% of their Area Median Income. %PDF-1.5 We must attach it to any new complaint we file. For eviction actions based on non-payment of rent (or failure to pay rent increase or for habitual late payment), the eviction moratorium expires on August 31, 2021, except for those with certain self-certified income levels for whom it expires on December 31, 2021. CHAPTER SOURCE AND EFFECTIVE DATE: R.2010 d.257, effective October 14, 2010. A business entity is a corporation, a limited liability company, or a partnership. New Eviction Rules as of August 4, 2021 Gov. The fact that staff created programs nearly from scratch during the height of the public health emergency and continue to administer the programs with empathy and efficiency speaks volumes about their commitment to the people of New Jersey,said Lt. Emergency Rental and Utility Assistance Program, Emergency Mortgage and Utility Assistance program, Cherry Hill Rental and Mortgage Assistance Program, Essex County Emergency Rental Assistance Program, Acls Certification American Heart Association, American Safety And Health Institute Certification Card Lookup, What Do You Need To Get Birth Certificate, New Jersey Department Of Education Certification. You should complete the form online as soon as possible. The applicants household income must also meet the HUD low- and moderate-income limits for the county. or has experienced a reduction in household income, incurred significant costs, or experienced a financial hardship, directly or indirectly, to the COVID-19 pandemic; Demonstrates a risk of experiencing homelessness or housing Income: Maximum gross annual income 30% of AMI, Homelessness Prevention and Rapid Re-Housing Program Agency List (HPRP). All rights reserved. composition. Yes, you should still submit a self-certification in order for your case to be considered for dismissal. NJAA has compiled a list of these programs, by county, below for our members and their residents. In addition to the COVID-19 Emergency Rental Assistance Program and Eviction Prevention Program, the State introduced critical eviction protections for renter households that have experienced economic hardships during the pandemic. If you make under the 80% of your countys median income, landlords cant file for eviction for missed rent through Dec. 31, 2021. Click here to view the signing statement for S-3691.Click here to view the signing statement for A-4463. Per federal guidelines, documentation of household legal status is not required and there are no restrictions on who can apply as long as they meet income and other economic hardship eligibility requirements. instability; Falls within a household income threshold that establishes eligibility for rental assistance under the program; Has a lack of assets and savings to pay rent arrears or current and future rent; Is a New Jersey resident; Their bill would also extend New Jersey's eviction moratorium to July 31, 2021, a full month beyond the end of the CDC eviction moratorium on June 30. . Your IP: Essex County Essex County Emergency Rental Assistance Program is offering eligible applicants money to pay rent or utility bills for those affected by COVID-19. NJ evictions: Hurdles in landlord-tenant court as NJ fights backlog As such, we have provided a brief description, along with a direct link to each program for more information. For additional information click on the link: or call the NJ DCA COVID-19 Rental Assistance at 609-490-4550. Landlords who are receiving rental assistance must waive any late fees accrued by tenants during the special protections period. (The law prohibits eviction of protected tenants but without a certification there is no protection). Email: fniemann@hnlawfirm.com, COPYRIGHTCopyright Hanlon Niemann & Wright, P.C. Read here for more details and frequently asked questions regarding renter protections and the self-certification form. Help with Your Utility Bills. 3700.29 0 0 3872.98 1.1671 0.26709 cm You cannot report any unpaid covered period rent to a third party. If you make between 80% and 120% of your countys median income, landlords cant file for eviction for rent that you missed during the pandemic through Aug. 31, 2021. Are there any penalties if landlords or tenants submit fraudulent information? How do I determine how many individuals are included in my household? Black and Latino communities were hit especially hard by the pandemic, and are also disproportionately represented among those currently facing eviction in our state. This funding milestone is in addition to the $91.75 million that DCA distributed to 15,000 households in the first phase of the CVERAP program last year. ), Expenses incurred due quarantining or social distancing as mandated by employer (computer equipment, internet expenses, etc. Visit to get started. In addition, there will be new processing protocols. A household is defined as all persons occupying the same housing unit, regardless of age and/or relationship to each other. Income from Unemployment Insurance, including Pandemic Unemployment Assistance and Pandemic Unemployment Compensation All other consistent income received from other sources All income from all household members 18 and older SPECIAL It is not applicable to any other cause for eviction (e.g. discussing the approaching deadline. What does the new eviction and homelessness prevention law do? Pursuant to recently enacted legislation, if you submit a Self Certification Form and if you are eligible you may be protected from being evicted or removed from where you are living at any time for past due rent accrued between March 1, 2020 and either August 31, 2021, or December 31, 2021, depending on your income. Therefore, if a qualifying certification is filed with the DCA, it will file it with the court and in any tenancy case that is pending or any tenancy case that was filed gets filed before the end of the year, then the case will be dismissed. Programs to Prevent Eviction VI, sec. Temporary rapid re-housing assistance to individuals and families living on the streets or in emergency shelters (up to 90 days) obtain permanent housing. Yes, that qualifies as applying for rental assistance. Very low-income household means a household with a total current annual household income less than or equal to 30 percent of the area median income for a household of the same size and composition. NJ Eviction and Homelessness Prevention Certification: This self-certification process might protect you from eviction if the complaint alleges rent due from March 1, 2020, through August 31, 2021. You can contact our Client Call Center at 609-490-4550, click here for LIVE CHAT, or submit a SERVICE REQUEST, You can contact our Client Call Center at 609-490-4550, or submit a SERVICE REQUEST, With more than 35 years of experience serving housing authorities across the nation, Nan McKay and Associates (NMA) is widely known as the gold standard for performance excellence in the public housing and affordable housing industry. Unemployment letter dated on or after 3/13/2020. Disclaimer | Privacy Policy | Site, About Hanlon Niemann & Wright and Our Attorneys, Business, Partnership & Corporate Litigation, Including Arbitration, Elder Law, Disability and Guardianship Rights, Medicaid Eligibility and Protecting Assets from a Nursing Home, Probate Estate Litigation and Will Contests. A bill Gov. In addition, individuals that are currently homeless are another focus and they to can receive assistance from the Rapid Re-Housing Program. Governor Sheila Oliver, who serves as DCA Commissioner. In one section of the Lord suggests that any certification they file with the DCA should include a certification that they have applied for assistance (in the DCA certification form does provide for this information) the strict reading of the bill does not justify a clear argument that dismissal should be a remedy which is withheld from them unless they are making a good-faith attempt to apply for state rental assistance. Tenants Must Self-Certify for Eviction Prevention Under New Law. may be eligible for permanent protection from eviction for rental arrears accrued March 2020-December 31, 2021. Yesterdays announcement from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention extending the nationwide moratorium on evictions for 60 days may provide additional protections for certain residents. K) ?K?m8fgoRIL%iJ%>r} KmiC1~IHaXPeepSir?RN= "v>,2%$*d 69w^t]'W9\qE . <> They can also be reached toll-free at (855) 376-5291. While many tenants have faced economic hardship during the pandemic, landlords have shouldered the financial burden of housing their tenants, maintaining their buildings, paying their mortgages, taxes, and other financial obligations with limited help from the State or federal government and reduced rental income. For the special eviction protections to take effect, the tenant MUST provide the required self-certification form to their landlord and, when applicable, to the courts. The Eviction Protection Program is currently closed to new pre-applications as funding has been fully obligated. We have heard the continuing calls for help from New Jerseyans who are struggling to pay their rent and utilities. Can I still get evicted? You will be notified when/if your application is selected via email should additional funding become available. endobj If you need technical assistance or do not have internet access, please call(609) 490-4550for help. The waiting list for both programs are currently closed. Risk of experiencing homelessness and housing instability is defined as the household accumulating at least one month of rental arrears in their current residence but not before March 1, 2020 and no later than You should complete the form online ( https://covid19.nj.gov/renter ) as soon as possible. Burlington County The Emergency Mortgage and Utility Assistance program of Burlington County provides Burlington County homeowners with financial hardships due to the COVID-19 pandemic with up to six months of mortgage and/or utility assistance. endobj Yes. The deadline for this program is November 1, 2022 and funding cant be guaranteed. Office of Eviction Prevention REQUEST FOR PROPOSAL - January 2023 (competitive) FY23 A. Any republication, retransmission, reproduction, downloading, storing or distribution of all or part of any materials found in this publication is expressly prohibited.NO REPRESENTATIONS This material may contain technical or typographical errors. @Hp^#Hgh&gMU/%VrO`(?B pVG9) .:xPUC ]Gq |U;foJ]SxDLS#OeE{ RpBWR}L1>a02 J-1 02j 2021, c. 188 and P.L. website portal containing details required by the statute to confirm their entitled status. If you need technical assistance or do not have Internet access, please call (609) 490-4550 for . NJ Eviction Prevention Self-Certification Form, Details and Frequently Asked Questions About the Self-Certification Form, COVID-19 Emergency Rental Assistance Program, Details and Frequently Asked Questions About the Emergency Rental Assistance Program. Resource Navigators must be trained in anti-eviction resources and programs, including the New Jersey Department of Community Affairs' Eviction Prevention Program (EPP) self-certification and rental assistance process, homelessness prevention assistance, and benefit programs at the federal, state and local levels. Murphy signed S3691 (now PL 2021, c. 188). DCA Surpasses Milestone of Delivering Over $100 Million in Federal Emergency Rental Assistance COVID-19 & SBA Economic Disaster Loan InformationLike you, we're closely monitoring the quickly developing effects of the Coronavirus (COVID-19) pandemic. of the Area Median Income (AMI). !9?yd_&fCI{~ya RrFsSvnm6/p>50L(-s71! Applications will be accepted on an ongoing basis until all funds are expended. The bill contains a lot of information regarding qualification for participation in this program which will not be set forth here. You can call the court clerk and ask these questions about your case: TRENTON, NJ The New Jersey Department of Community Affairs today announced that through the success of its eviction and homelessness prevention programs, DCA has helped more than 72,800 households avoid eviction and homelessness during the pandemic. 2021 for all households earning less than 80% of AMI. New Jersey. The laws eviction & removal protections are based on household income level. ERA funds are provided directly to states . If you require any assistance during this closure . I live in a hotel/motel. The program is accepting applications and will remain open until all available funds have been committed. Qualifies for unemployment is defined as any member of the household on the lease that has received unemployment between March 1, 2020 to the date of application. The Homeless Prevention Program provides rental/mortgage assistance, utility assistance, approved case management and approved supportive services directly related to the prevention of homelessness to eligible individuals and families who are in danger of eviction, foreclosure or homelessness or are currently homeless. The duration of the program will depend on the number of eligible applicants. 8 E. Front Street Keyport. 5:41 (2014) Title 5, Chapter 41 -- Chapter Notes CHAPTER AUTHORITY: N.J.S.A. On the other hand, no cases will continue to get expedited treatment as an emergent case, facilitated by an Order to Show Cause process, other than Rent Cases where the tenant has died. (See chart enclosed). applying, you can call customer service at 609-490-4550. Does this program provide mortgage assistance? This program provides residential rental assistance. If you would like to schedule and appointment to discuss you landlord matter, please contact Christopher J. Hanlon, Esq. If you require a reasonable accommodation to assist in Rest assured that keeping people stably housed will continue to remain a top priority at DCA and in the Murphy Administration. Information on this website has been prepared for general information. Update on Warrants of Removal/Reissuance of Expired WarrantsNOTICE TO THE BARLANDLORD TENANT-RELAXATION OF RULE 6:7-l(d) ("WARRANT OF REMOVAL,ISSUANCE, EXECUTION"); REISSUANCE OF EXPIRED WARRANTSThe moratorium on evictions pursuant to Executive Order 106 prohibited Update on Reissuance of Expired Warrants of RemovalSUPREME COURT OF NEW JERSEYIT IS ORDERED, pursuant to N.J. FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS FOR EVICTION PREVENTION PROGRAM (EPP). HPP funds for back rent are distributed by local nonprofit organizations located in every county in New Jersey. There are several resources listed below by city and county that are offered to qualified applicants, including one time emergency rent assistance, free government grants or legal aid. The law also prohibits the reporting of rental arrears debt to credit agencies or debt collectors or to other landlords, imposes strict fines on landlords who report such debt, strictly prohibits the sale of civil debt related to rental arrears. In order to ensure that your household benefits from these protections,you must complete the Income Self-Certification Form (Form). If you are behind on your rent and need eviction prevention assistance, please call the Eviction Prevention Hotline at 212-776-2039 . % 5 0 obj stream You can find out which organization that is by call calling 1-866-889-8270. If DCA receives additional funds, your application will be considered at that time. Am I eligible if I or a member of my household has previously or is currently receiving other rental or utility assistance? What should I do now that the portal is closed if I still owe my landlord money? If tenants dont appear, you can obtain a default judgment. It includes a ban on eviction (dismissal of a tenancy complaint) if the eviction could be based on a Rent Case involving rent due during the covered period, i.e., March 1, 2020 through August 31, 2021. Program The HOMELESSNESS PREVENTION PROGRAM (HPP) is a grant program we administer under the direction of our friends at the New Jersey Department of Community Affairs Housing Unit. Online at or by calling for assistance. Tier I and Tier II Families can receive a maximum of 24 months of assistance. PDF New Jersey Department of Community Affairs Division of Housing and This new law is being referred to as, New Jerseys Lead Safe Certification and will require lead-paint inspections, (Visual &/or Dust wipes) on all Copyright 2020, Property Owners Association of New Jersey. Landlords and tenants are particularly put on notice that 18 U.S.C. Or, if you cannot get adequate cooperation, file the complaint to force the certification process. View the chart below for income thresholds: New Jersey families facing an eviction can get help from non-profits and government agencies. You can ask the Resource Navigator if this self-certification process is applicable to your case. Atlantic CountyThe Atlantic County COVID-19 Emergency Rental Assistance Grant Program will provide temporary rental assistance, for up to 12 months, to low- and moderate-income households that have suffered a COVID hardship. This first is to limit evictions against four classes of households: very low income households; low-income households; middle income households; and moderate income households. New Jersey's Eviction Protections and Self-Certification Form: If you live in a New Jersey household with income below 120% of your county's Area Median Income, you are permanently protected from eviction or removal at any time for nonpayment of rent, habitual late payment of rent, or failure to accept a rent increase that accrued from March 1, 2020 to August 31, 2021. Notice of business closure on employer website. This legislation will ensure that New Jerseys eviction moratorium continues through August for all state residents with household incomes below 120% Area Medium Income (AMI) and through the end of the year for certain households with incomes below 80% AMI. PDF Eviction Diversion Initiative (EDI) NJ Department of Community Affairs New Eviction Rules as of August 4, 2021 NJ 07728. View Income Self-Certification - 5183643273912114176Jamie Robinson.pdf from BMGT 110 at University of Maryland, University College. Tenants experiencing difficulty in paying rent should apply for rental assistance today by visiting https://njdca.onlinepha.com. For the foreseeable future most proceedings will continue to be virtual, facilitated by Zoom or Microsoft Teams. Moderate-income household means a household with a total current gross annual household income in excess of 50 percent but less than 80 percent of the area median income for a household of the same size and These protections are not affected by the Supreme Court's decision on the CDC's eviction moratorium. Does the court offer mediation or provide referrals to housing counselors. ), Expenses for childcare due to school closures because of COVID-19, Purchase of PPE (Personal Protective Equipment), Funeral costs for deceased family members due to COVID-19, Penalties, fees, and legal costs associated with rental or utility arrears, Payments for rent or utilities made by credit card to avoid homelessness or housing instability, Alternative transportation for households unable to use public transportation during the pandemic, A past due utility or rent notice for charges incurred after March 2020, Living in unsafe or unhealthy living conditions, such as conditions that increase the risk of exposure to COVID-19 because of overcrowding (examples include condemnation order from the Board of Health or Do I need to be served a court ordered eviction to qualify? N.J. eviction moratorium ends in 2022 as COVID cases rise - WHYY The laws eviction & removal protections are based on household income level. New Jersey's Eviction Prevention Program will pay up to two years of rent arrears and future rent, as well as utility assistance, for low-, moderate-, and middle-income households that have experienced an economic impact due to the COVID-19 pandemic.