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Housing

Last Updated: 03/30/2022

Hunterdon County Housing Resource Guide & Food Pantry Directory

  • Microsoft Word - Housing Resource Guide.docx (hunterdon.nj.us)
  • Students in Hunterdon County
  • This document provides a comprehensive guide to affordable housing options, housing resources, and utilities assistance available in Hunterdon County. There is also a directory of area food pantries and locations with affordable or free clothing and furniture.
  • Review the index to locate the resource(s) that meet your needs. Contact the responsible organization using the phone number provided for information about the application process.

Volunteers of America Delaware Valley Emergency Housing

  • Emergency Housing | Volunteers of America (voadv.org)
  • Students in Southern New Jersey; Somerset, Mercer, Camden, and Gloucester counties
  • Provides several emergency housing options for different populations, such as families, single adults, and male veterans. Locations also offer case management, benefits assistance, and other supports
  • Contact the organization using the phone number or email provided to learn about eligibility criteria and intake procedures.

Emergency Overnight Shelters and Eva's Village Apartments

  • Food & Housing (evasvillage.org)
  • Students in Paterson community
  • Overnight shelters for men and women aged 18 or older who are experiencing homelessness. Individuals are also connected to support services in the community. Eva's Village Apartments are 50 affordable housing units from efficiency to three bedroom in size that are intended to provide permanent housing for individuals and families.
  • Contact the organization using the phone number or email provided to learn about eligibility criteria and intake procedures.

LifeTies

  • Programs Archive - LifeTies
  • Students aged 16-24 of various types, including foster youth, parenting students, and students experiencing homelessness in Ewing
  • Offers several supportive and transitional housing options for various populations, including youths 18-21 years old who are aging out of the foster system, LGBTQ youth aged 16-21, and homeless, pregnant, and/or parenting young adults aged 18-24 and their children. Residents are connected with resources and support services designed to foster successful independent living
  • Contact the organization using the phone number or email provided to learn about eligibility criteria and intake procedures.

Roots & Wings

  • The RISE Residential Program - Roots and Wings (rootsandwingsnj.org)
  • Former foster youth in Denville, NJ
  • A two-year residential housing program for individuals aged 18-24 who have aged out of the foster system. Participants are required to have an educational goal, such as receiving a post-secondary credential.
  • Scroll to the bottom of the page & click the link labeled "Please click here to be taken to our referral form." Complete the application on that page.

HomeFirst

  • Homeless Prevention – Homefirst | Interfaith Housing & Family Services (homefirstinc.org)
  • Students in Plainfield
  • The Homeless Prevention Program offers assistance with security deposits, first month rent, rental arrearages, and utilities assistance. Housing services include permanent housing, transitional housing, and permanent supportive housing for families, and permanent housing for individuals.
  • Contact the organization using the phone number provided to learn about eligibility criteria and intake procedures.

Visions and Pathways

  • Programs – Visions and Pathways
  • Former foster youth in Bridgewater
  • Several different supportive and transitional housing options for foster youth as they age out of the system. Residents are also provided with tools and skills to succeed living independently.
  • Review the programs under Residential Services and Housing to identify the one(s) that meet your needs. Contact the program at the phone number listed on their page for information about the application process.

The Elizabeth Coalition

  • Programs | The Elizabeth Coalition to House the Homeless
  • Students in Union County
  • Winter shelter for those experiencing chronic homelessness. Individuals receive toiletries and a meal in addition to shelter.
  • Homelessness prevention support, including assistance with first month's rent, back rent, and other housing expenses as well as emergency shelter to Union County residents
  • Hospitality House offers temporary, transitional housing with supportive programing for families. Designed to help build savings and skills for families to live sustainably and independently after leaving.
  • Scroll to the bottom of the page; click Receive Help under the Quick Links. Click the application link on that page and complete the application.

The Hoboken Shelter

  • Hoboken Homeless Shelter (hobokenshelter.org)
  • All students in Hoboken
  • Homelessness prevention services include security deposits, tenant rights counseling, and referrals to additional assistance.
  • The shelter offers space for 50 men and women as well as case management services.
  • Permanent supportive housing provides apartments alongside case management that includes independent living skills training and peer support.
  • Contact Ana Prado at 201-656-5069 or ana.prado@hobokenshelter.org for information about the application process and any required documents for the shelter, homelessness prevention, and permanent supportive housing services.

U.S. Department of Housing & Urban Development Directory of Shelters & Emergency Housing

HomeFront

  • Client: Housing | HomeFront NJ
  • Students in Mercer County
  • Family Campus Shelter offers private rooms and baths for 38 families experiencing homelessness. Includes meals, on-site childcare, health and wellness, and others services
  • Homelessness prevention services include back rent payments, security deposits, and small subsidies.
  • Housing for families that includes food, case management, and children's programs. Rents capped at 30% of a family's income.
  • Click the tab for the program(s) that meet your needs. Use the contact information listed in that entry to start the application process.

Catholic Charities Diocese of Trenton

  • Housing & Food - Catholic Charities, Diocese of Trenton (catholiccharitiestrenton.org)
  • Students in Burlington, Mercer, Ocean, and Monmouth counties
  • Homelessness prevention services provide assistance with rent, mortgage, and utilities with some locations offering housing units.
  • Rapid re-housing helps individuals and families locate affordable permanent housing and provides financial assistance, case management, and skill building.
  • Transitional housing is offered via emergency shelter to families in Monmouth County through the Linkages program, which includes skills training.
  • Emergency Temporary Sheltering is available on a limited basis in Burlington County along with homelessness prevention and referral services
  • Scroll down the page until you see the line of blue tabs and click the Housing tab. Identify the program(s) that meet your needs and use the contact information provided to begin the application process.

Ocean County Board of Commissioners Residental Emergency Rental Assistance Program

  • Ocean County Residential Emergency Rental Assistance Program | Ocean County Government
  • Students in Ocean County
  • Rental assistance for individuals and families impacted by COVID-19. Supports up to 12 months of rental arrears plus 3 months of future rent up to $26,610
  • Click on each of the blue boxes for information about eligibility criteria, forms, and required documents. To complete the application, scroll to the bottom of the page and click the Go to the Emergency Rental Assistance Program Application. For assistance, click the How To Get Help With Your Application button for a list of locations that offer assistance. Call 1-833-753-9671 listed to schedule an appointment.

Morris County Office of Temporary Assistance

  • Homeless Services – Morris County, NJ (morriscountynj.gov)
  • Students in Morris County
  • Social work staff provide assistance with temporary shelter, warming centers, rent, utilities, security deposits, and other basic needs.
  • Call the phone number provided during hours of operation to begin the intake process.

Bergen County Department of Human Services

  • HEARTS: Homeless Family Services (bergen.nj.us)
  • Students in Bergen County
  • The HEARTS program includes a coordinated intake for families experiencing homelessness, which will connect them with the appropriate available resources. The program also includes temporary emergency shelter for families who are experiencing homelessness or about to lose their housing. For families receiving TANF, the HEARTS program also offers BRIDGE temporary housing for a maximum of one-year. This housing includes case managment and the development of a housing permanency plan. Participants are required to contribute 30% of their income to rent.
  • Call 201-488-2525 provided during hours of operation to begin the intake process.

United Community Corporation

  • About Us - (uccnewark.org)
  • Students in Newark
  • Shelter up to 30 days for adult men and women experiencing homelessness. Includes case management services and occasional meals. They also offer utility assistance, homelessness prevention, and rapid re-housing services.
  • For the emergency center, visit the location provided with the following required documents: valid ID, social security card, and proof of address. For other housing supports, contact the phone number or email addresses provided for information about how to apply for assistance.

Gateway Community Action Partnership Weatherization Assistance Program

  • Weatherization - Gateway Community Action Partnership (gatewaycap.org)
  • Students in Cumberland, Gloucester, and Salem Counties
  • The program provides energy efficient home upgrades to income-eligible families to reduce heating and cooling costs.
  • Download the Weatherization Application located on the left side of the webpage. If you need assistance, contact the organization at 856-455-5900.

New Jersey Board of Public Utilities Winter Termination Program

  • Board of Public Utilities | Customer Assistance (state.nj.us)
  • All students
  • Protects eligible households from gas/electric shutoffs between November 15 and March 15. Those enrolled in programs including TANF, USF, and HEAP are eligible, as are other households unable to pay their bills due to situations such as unemployment or illness.
  • Call 1-800-624-0241 for information on how to apply.

New Jersey Board of Public Utilities

  • Comfort Partners | NJ OCE Web Site (njcleanenergy.com)
  • All students
  • A program providing income-eligible households free energy efficient upgrades to reduce their utility bills.
  • Scroll to the bottom of the page and complete the request form or call the phone number provided.

New Jersey Department of Community Affairs DCAid

  • https://njdca-housing.dynamics365portals.us/en-US/
  • All students
  • This page provides a quick screening questionnaire for an array of housing-related benefits, including rental assistance (e.g., Section 8, rental assistance, Housing Opportunities for People with AIDS, Veterans Affairs Supportive Housing), homeless and eviction prevention, home energy assistance (e.g., LIHEAP, Universal Service Fund), and weatherization assistance.
  • Complete the brief screening questionnaire. Once finished, you can click on the Start button for information about how to apply, or click on links to organizations that provide application assistance. If directed to an organization's website, complete their application or contact them using the information they list.

New Jersey Power On

  • NJPowerOn – NJPowerOn
  • All students
  • A page containing information about and applications for various energy assistance programs, including Universal Service Fund (USF), Low Income Home Energy Assistance Program (LIHEAP), Payment Assistance for Gas & Electric (PAGE), and Gift of Warmth (For New Jersey Natural Gas customers)
  • Click on the boxes for each program to learn more about what they provide and their eligibility criteria. Select the program that meets your needs and click the Application tab or the Apply for button to complete your application. Per the website, households must receive LIHEAP before they can apply for additional support through USF.

New Jersey Housing and Mortgage Finance Agency Foreclosure Mediation Assistance Program

Department of Community Affairs

  • NJ Department of Community Affairs
  • All students
  • Provides temporary assistance for individuals and families who are at risk of becoming homeless. Support includes rental arrears, relocation, security deposits, utility deposits, and moving assistance.
  • Review the assistance offered and eligibility requirements for each program. Then click the contact list link for that program and contact the agency in your county using the listed phone number.

New Jersey SHARES

  • Programs – NJ SHARES
  • All students
  • Grants to assist with gas, electric, and water bills for qualified households, including those facing a temporary financial crisis
  • Click on Energy or Water for information about related programs. Identify the program(s) that meets your needs and click the Apply button. Review the eligibility information and required documents (if included). Click Apply Online or (if available) Download Applications to complete the application. If downloading, submit the application and required documents to the email or physical address listed on the program page.

Department of Community Affairs COVID-19 Emergency Rental Assisstance Program and Eviction Prevention Program

  • Home - NMA Portal (onlinepha.com)
  • All students
  • Rental assistance programs for low- and moderate-income families impacted by the COVID-19 pandemic who cannot pay their rent and utilities.
  • Click the More button under Step 1: Submit Pre-Application for Waiting List and follow the prompts to complete the pre-application. If selected, follow the instructions provided to complete your application.

Family and Youth Services Bureau Directory of Transitional Living Programs

New Jersey Courts

  • Covid Housing Assistance Programs (njcourts.gov)
  • All students
  • A directory of rental assistance programs organized by county. Each resource includes a contact phone number and a link to the agency's website and/or application form.
  • Scroll to your county & click on their linked website. Review any available eligibility information and required documents listed, then follow the instructions to complete the application. For questions, contact the agency using the phone number listed in the directory or on their website.

Hamilton Township

  • At risk of eviction, foreclosure or utility shut-off? | Arm In Arm
  • Students in Hamilton
  • A program providing with rental, mortgage, or utility assistance to low or moderate income households that have had a substantial reduction in income or become unemployed due to the COVID-19 pandemic. Therer is a cap of $10,000 over a six month period.
  • Scroll down to the I Need Housing Assistance & I Need Utilities Assistance sections & click the arrows to review eligibility criteria & required information/documents. Then, call the phone number provided to begin the application process.

The City of Jersey City

  • Jersey City COVID-19 Rent Relief Program - City of Jersey City (jerseycitynj.gov)
  • Students in Jersey City
  • Rental assistance that provides up to $10,000 per qualifying household to cover rent and arrears up to April 1, 2020.
  • Review the linked FAQs for specific program information, then scroll to the bottom of the page for a video on completing the application. Click the link under Apply for the Program, create an account & complete your application.

Greater Bergen Community Action

  • Greater Bergen Rental Assistance Support
  • Students in Bergen County
  • Provides one-on-one assistance with the Bergen County Rental Assistance Program's online application either on the phone or in person. Support is available in Spanish, Korean, Russian, Portugese, French, Tagalog, and Turkish.
  • Call 201-464-8970 provided to schedule an appointment.

Hudson County Rental Assistance & Eviction Protection Program

  • New Jersey Rental Assistance & Eviction Protection Program (kearnynj.org)
  • Students in Hudson County except Jersey City
    Rental assistance program for households that earn less than 80% of area median income who have experienced a reduction or loss of income due to due to the COVID-19 pandemic, have been served with an eviction, or are experiencing homelessness/housing instability.
  • Click the link under Apply at. Review the listed criteria and required documents. Scroll to the bottom of the page & click the Click here to read the FAQ link for additional information. Click the Apply button in the top right corner of the screen to complete the application.

Coordinated Entry Assessment System Center

  • Rental Assistance and Eviction Prevention | Trenton, NJ (trentonnj.org)
  • Students in Mercer County
  • Emergency housing vouchers for single adults without children who are experiencing homelessness; have a household income at or below 50% of the Area Median Income. The page also lists additional rental assistance programs for individuals or families who do not meet these criteria along with contact information for these programs.
  • Review eligibility criteria, and then contact Janet Porter at 609-815-2579 or jporter@trentonnj.org. Include your name and a contact number in the email or a voicemail message. If you do not qualify for the Emergency Housing Voucher program, review the other programs listed on the page and contact the coordinating agency using the information listed.

Mercer County Department of Human Services

  • Emergency Rental Assistance Program (ERAP) | Mercer County, NJ
  • Students in Mercer County
  • Provides financial assistance toward unpaid rent or utility bills for households inmpacted by the COVID-19 pandemic. Households must be at or below 80% of the Area Median Impact & have a document disruption of income and/or unemployment.
  • Scroll to the bottom of the page & click the application link in the paragraph that begins If your household or tenant… Click the link on the next screen to redirect to the application. Scroll to the bottom of the page to review the Required Documents section & then complete the application.

Union County

  • Union County Emergency Rental Assistance Program (ERAP) – Union County Department of Economic Development (ucnj.org)
  • Students in Union County
  • Rental assistance for households impacted by the COVID-19 pandemic. Must have gross income at or below 80% of the Area Median Income & documentation of a reduction of income and/or unemployement.
  • At this time, the application portal is closed, but you can join the waiting list by clicking the Click here link at the top of the page. Additionally, you can scroll to the bottom of the page for a checklist of required documents and additional information to prepare for the application's reopening.

ImmigrationLawHelp.org

  • New Jersey Organizations - ImmigrationLawHelp.org | Helping low-income immigrants find legal help
  • All students
  • This page includes a directory of available legal aid for immigrants, including DACA recipients, farmers, juveniles, asylum seekers, and more.
  • Review the listed organizations (there are two pages) to identify the one(s) whose location is most convenient for you and whose services meet your needs. Each organization's profile includes additional information about their services (including any services in addition to legal aid). Click on the organization(s) that meet your need & follow the Contact method(s) instructions listed in the top right corner of their profile page.