Rental Help: New Jersey (2024)

FAQs

Who can help me pay my rent in NJ? ›

The State of New Jersey Rental Assistance Program (SRAP) is a state funded program that provides housing subsidies on behalf of very low-income New Jersey residents, for decent, safe, and sanitary housing. Persons applying must meet all applicable SRAP income and eligibility requirements.

Does the landlord have to cooperate with rental assistance? New Jersey law requires landlords to cooperate with rental assistance programs.

The NJ SMART Program provides assistance to eligible New Jersey residents who have experienced a temporary financial crisis and are facing housing emergencies.

If you are eligible, the program can assist with rent arrears, utility payments, shelter placement, and other costs primarily related to housing. One form of assistance is Temporary Rental Assistance (TRA), which provides ongoing rental assistance to pay a portion of your rent for a period of time.

Individuals and families classified as recently homeless must be referred by the CoC or its designee. For more information or eligibility screening please complete online or call HABC's Homeless Prevention hotline 201-336-6490.

The State of New Jersey does not have a law controlling or governing rent increases or rent leveling. However, any municipality within the State of New Jersey may adopt an ordinance controlling rent increases. Your municipal clerk can tell you if a rent control ordinance exists within your municipality.

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.

If the landlord breaches his obligation of maintaining the property at an adequate standard of habitability, a tenant may withhold the rent or a portion of the rent to be used Page 3 as a set-off, because of the deficient condition.

Rental Assistance: up to 12 months.

What is the hardship stay of eviction in NJ? ›

Hardship Stay: A Hardship Stay is an application to the court seeking emergent relief which could stop the eviction for up to six months, if you pay all the money you owe and can continue to make payments until the expiration date.

Provides legal services and social service resources for people who are in danger of eviction. May work with landlord and tenant issues and other diversion techniques to help the household from entering the homeless service system.

Public Housing and Housing Choice Vouchers (Section 8)

To apply for either type of help, visit your local Public Housing Agency (PHA). Some PHAs have long waiting lists, so you may want to apply at more than one PHA. Your PHA can also give you a list of locations at which your voucher can be used.

To be eligible for a hardship withdrawal, you must have an immediate and heavy financial need that cannot be fulfilled by any other reasonably available assets. This includes other liquid investments, savings, and other distributions you are eligible to take from your 401(k) plan.

NJSave is an online application to help low-income older adults and individuals with disabilities save money on Medicare premiums, prescription costs, and other living expenses.

Emergency Assistance (EA) is provided to WFNJ/TANF/GA and Supplemental Security Income (SSI) recipients on a as needed basis. Assistance includes emergency allowance for food, clothing, furniture, utility, storage, shelter placement, security deposit and or back rent.

In order to apply for an emergency grant, known as a one-shot deal, you must go to an HRA Public Assistance office (or Job Center). You can call 311 to find your local office or you can go to the HRA website.

What is ERMA? The Emergency Rescue Mortgage Assistance program (ERMA) was developed by the New Jersey Housing and Mortgage Finance Agency (NJHMFA)) to deploy federally allocated HAF funds to assist eligible NJ homeowners who have been financially affected by COVID-19.