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Welcome to Community Matters, a newsletter connecting you to the Department of Community Affairs (DCA).
I'm pleased to offer you this quarter's edition of Community Matters. This issue highlights just a few of the initiatives the Department is taking a part in. I encourage you to also check the DCA website for additional information.
As New Jersey continues to recover from the pandemic, DCA continues to work hard to assist those we serve.
On another note, we'll be back together in person for this year's Governor's Conference on Housing and Economic Development. You don't want to miss it. We hope to see you there.
I hope you will share Community Matters with your colleagues.
See you in the next edition.
Lt. Governor Sheila Y. Oliver
DCA Commissioner
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The Honorable Ras J. Baraka
Mayor
City of Newark
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Alicka Ampry-Samuel
HUD Region II Regional Administrator
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HUD Region II Regional Administrator Alicka Ampry-Samuel and City of Newark Mayor Ras J. Baraka will headline as keynote speakers for the 2022 Governor’s Conference on Housing and Economic Development. Mayor Baraka will deliver his keynote address during the luncheon session on September 29. On the conference’s second day, Friday, September 30, Ampry-Samuel will share her message with attendees over brunch.
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The New Jersey Department of Community Affairs (DCA) recently received official word that the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD) has allocated $228 million to New Jersey to aid the ongoing recovery from Hurricane Ida. The funding is provided through Community Development Block Grant Disaster Recovery (CDBG-DR) funds.
To receive CDBG-DR funds, HUD requires that DCA submit an Action Plan describing the proposed use of the funds. To help develop the Plan, we will complete an Unmet Needs Assessment to learn more about the recovery needs of people impacted by Hurricane Ida and what programs can help meet those needs. We are engaging in several methods to collect information, including an online survey. We are asking local governments to help us get the word out about the survey to our target audience, which includes low- to moderate-income individuals or communities.
To help with the outreach, DCA put together a Partner Outreach Toolkit for Hurricane Ida recovery. We’d appreciate it if your local government could use the toolkit at https://express.adobe.com/page/sNznO60592CAW/. It is very user friendly. From the toolkit, you can download social media content and graphics, a flyer, a CDBG Disaster Recovery fact sheet, and an article and graphic. All of this information is available in English, Spanish, and Portuguese.
We thank you in advance for any help you can provide in DCA’s effort to get the word out about the Hurricane Ida survey and the CDBG Disaster Recovery funding award.
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DEPARTMENT IS SOLICITING PUBLIC COMMENTS FOR THE STATE'S HURRICANE IDA RECOVERY ACTION PLAN |
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The New Jersey Department of Community Affairs will hold two public hearings to solicit public comments on the State’s Action Plan to allocate and utilize $228,346,000 in CDBG-DR funding to support recovery efforts following Hurricane Ida.
This Action Plan outlines the proposed use of the CDBG-DR funds and eligible activities available to help impacted counties meet unmet housing, infrastructure, planning, and other needs that have resulted from the effects of Hurricane Ida. Specifically, this plan aims to promote and ensure fair access to housing for all residents, create new housing initiatives for both rental properties and owner-occupied properties, expand sustainable homeownership opportunities for low- to moderate-income persons, and strengthen neighborhoods impacted by Hurricane Ida by investing in infrastructure. In addition, the Action Plan describes how CDBG-DR funds will be targeted toward and meet the needs of vulnerable communities, including those with low to moderate income, limited English proficiency, racially and ethnically concentrated communities, and individuals experiencing homelessness.
The public hearings will be held:
Thursday, September 8, 2022 (6:00pm – 8:00pm)
Manville High School
School Auditorium
1100 Brooks Boulevard
Manville, NJ 08835
Monday, September 12, 2022 (6:00pm – 8:00pm)
New Jersey Institute of Technology (NJIT)
Campus Center Ballroom, Second Floor
150 Bleeker Street
Newark, NJ 07102
The public comment period on the Hurricane Ida Recovery Action Plan will begin August 17, 2022. Residents may also submit their comments in writing at the public hearings, or by email to DisasterRecoveryandMitigation@dca.nj.gov or by mail to the attention of Constituent Services, Division of Disaster Recovery and Mitigation, NJ Department of Community Affairs, 101 South Broad Street, P.O. Box 823, Trenton, NJ 08625-0823. All comments must be received on or before 5:00 pm EST on September 16, 2022, to be considered.
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DANIEL'S LAW PORTAL IS OPEN FOR APPLICATIONS TO HAVE SPECIFIC PERSONAL INFORMATION REDACTED FROM CERTAIN GOVERNMENT RECORDS AND INTERNET POSTINGS
Daniel’s Law was enacted in response to the tragic death of Daniel Anderl, the son of Judge Esther Salas and Mark Anderl. The law prohibits disclosure of the residential addresses of certain persons covered by the law (“Covered Persons”) on websites controlled by state, county, and local government agencies. The community of Covered Persons includes active, formerly active, and retired judicial officers, prosecutors, and members of law enforcement and their immediate family members residing in the same household. The portal can be accessed at: www.danielslaw.nj.gov.
Both Covered Persons and Authorized Persons can submit a request through the portal. An Authorized Person is a person who is permitted to request this protection on behalf of a Covered Person, and includes parents or legal guardians of Covered Persons as well as other legally designated individuals.
The Office of Information Privacy was established within DCA under P.L.2021, c.371, signed by Governor Murphy earlier this year, to create and manage the process by which Covered and Authorized Persons can register to have a Covered Person’s home address information redacted from certain records and internet postings. The OIP will be issuing guidelines in the coming months that will inform state, county, and local government agencies of the steps they need to follow once a redaction request has been approved by the OIP for a Covered Person. For more information about the Office of Information Privacy, please visit: nj.gov/dca/oip/.
Please listen to this important message from U.S. District Judge Esther Salas.
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LEAD BASED PAINT HAZARD LAW
P.L. 2021, Ch. 182 is an act concerning certain lead-based paint hazards in residential rental property, associated inspection requirements and establishment of lead based paint hazards programs. DCA has undertaken a multifaceted campaign to address the requirements under P.L. 2021, Ch. 182 and assist municipalities and various interested stakeholders to meet their obligations under the law.
The Department has:
- Developed a comprehensive guidance document in advance of the issuance of regulations (as permitted under the Act) that provides information on the various aspects of the law.
- Proposed regulations that were published in the New Jersey Register on July 18th, with a public comment period remaining open until September 16.
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LT. GOVERNOR OLIVER RECOGNIZES DORA FLORES FOR HER NEARLY 55 YEARS OF SERVICE WITH THE HEAD START PROGRAM AT O.C.E.A.N., INC.
In August, Lt. Governor Sheila Y. Oliver joined O.C.E.A.N. Inc. President/CEO Channell Wilkins and leaders from O.C.E.A.N. Inc.’s children’s services programs to honor Mrs. Dora Flores for her nearly 55 years of service making delicious and nutritious meals for children in the Head Start Program at O.C.E.A.N. Inc. Mrs. Flores was first hired in 1967 while serving as the cook at the LEAP Head Start Center in Lakewood, New Jersey. Head Start offers services such as early learning and development, nutrition, health, and family well-being to help children get ready to succeed in school and in life.
Lt. Governor Oliver presented Mrs. Flores with flowers and a certificate for her years of service to the organization. OCEAN, Inc. leaders presented Mrs. Flores with a resolution on behalf of the organization for her long-term commitment and service to the program and children.
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DCA ASSISTANT COMMISSIONER KIMBERLY HOLMES HELPS TO UNVEIL HISTORICAL MARKER ABOUT THE SLAVE TRADE
DCA Assistant Commissioner Kimberly Holmes was humbled to help unveil a historical marker in NJ’s Meadowlands about the slave trade that took place there. The marker is part of efforts in the nation to admit slavery’s brutality and recognize the equality & humanity of all people.
The Meadowlands was known as New Barbados, named after the Caribbean island under England’s rule at the time. Enslaved people were transported to the Meadowlands from the Caribbean, the West Indies and Africa. Pirates also brought kidnapped people to sell into bondage through the Meadowlands during the 1700s. Chattel slavery was abolished in New Jersey per legislation in 1804, though the last enslaved people weren’t freed until 1866.
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DCA STAFF ENJOY THE DAY AT THE SPECIAL OLYMPICS OF NEW JERSEY
DCA lends support to organizations such as the Special Olympics of New Jersey through ongoing grant support, which allows for the continued growth and development of competitive athletic events for citizens of the State of New Jersey with intellectual disabilities. Through the Office of Recreation, DCA plays an instrumental role in the leadership and development of recreation and sports programs for individuals with intellectual disabilities in New Jersey.
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DIVISION OF FIRE SAFETY AND KEAN UNIVERSITY PARTNER FOR 2022 F.I.R.E. BOWL
The New Jersey Division of Fire Safety F.I.R.E. Bowl, in partnership with Kean University, has been a critical part of the Division’s community risk reduction efforts for more than ten years, directing important fire safety information to middle school-age students.
The F.I.R.E. Bowl addresses the critical need to educate young people and their parents on fire safety and prevention. The students immerse themselves in what firefighters and EMTs have to know, along with basic fire safety concepts, which play out in a fun and exciting competition.
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NJ HISTORIC TRUST SPOTLIGHT:
ZABRISKIE-SCHEDLER HOUSE
The Zabriskie-Schedler House was originally constructed in 1825 and was the home of farmer John A. L. Zabriskie. The house survives as one of the few remaining nineteenth-century frame homes in Ridgewood Village.
Over the course of his lifetime through inheritance and purchases, John Zabriskie tripled the size of his landholdings. Following his death in 1864, the house and property passed to his son James Zabriskie, also a farmer, who did not realize the same level of success as his father and was forced to mortgage and eventually sell off portions of his property.
The Smith family purchased the home in 1908 and over the next century made several changes including adding the south entrance, raising the original gambrel roof, reconfiguring, and refinishing the second-floor level, and upgrading the kitchen. A small addition with a bathroom and sun porch were also added during the mid-twentieth century. Florence Schedler, daughter of Carman Smith, lived in the house until her death in 2007.
The Village of Ridgewood purchased the property in 2009 and has been rehabilitating the building and grounds for use as a public parks and recreation facility. A 2021 grant will help fund interior rehabilitation and barrier-free improvements.
Check out photos from the 2022 NJ History and Historic Preservation Conference. |
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LOW INCOME HOUSEHOLD WATER ASSISTANCE PROGRAM
The New Jersey Low Income Household Water Assistance Program (LIHWAP) provides financial assistance to households (billholders) who have fallen behind on their water and wastewater (sewer) payments as a result of the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic.
Households can visit the DCAid Service Portal to find out if they are eligible for DCA's assistance programs.
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HOUSEHOLDS WITH OVERDUE UTILITY BILLS SHOULD APPLY FOR
UTILITY RELIEF TODAY
DCA is alerting households with overdue electric and natural gas bills that the utility moratorium has ended. Households should immediately apply for utility assistance if they haven't already. Those that are having difficulty applying are encouraged to contact the nonprofit community organization in their county of residence that is working with DCA to provide application assistance.
Call NJ 2-1-1 if you or someone you know needs assistance.
Households can visit the DCAid Service Portal to find out if they are eligible for DCA's assistance programs and/or to apply for assistance.
A list of the community organizations providing application assistance is available here.
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PREVENT YOURSELF FROM GETTING EVICTED!
Self-Certify Your Household Income To Avoid Eviction
Even though the COVID-19 eviction moratorium has ended, the State has introduced critical protections to renter households who experienced economic hardships during the pandemic.
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.
Depending on your household's income level and specific circumstances, you may also be eligible for protection from eviction or removal for nonpayment of rent through December 31, 2021, and other assistance and services.
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NJHMFA EMERGENCY RESCUE MORTAGE ASSISTANCE PROGRAM
The New Jersey Housing and Mortgage Finance Agency recently announced the launch of the Emergency Rescue Mortgage Assistance Program (ERMA). The program provides up to $35,000 in assistance to cover mortgage arrearages, delinquent property taxes, and other housing cost delinquencies for eligible homeowners negatively impacted by the COVID-19 pandemic. New Jersey’s program utilizes $325.9 million of federal Homeowner Assistance Fund (HAF) money and is expected to help thousands of families get back on their feet, stabilizing New Jersey’s most at-risk communities. Foreclosures don’t just hurt the family experiencing them. They negatively impact the surrounding properties in their neighborhood and hurt their larger community. This assistance offers struggling families a lifeline and can make other loss mitigation options, such as refinancing, viable.
ERMA will also provide free housing counseling services to help New Jersey homeowners apply for this program, guide them through all available options, and even work with their loan servicers to achieve the best outcome available for their families. These counselors will also ensure that the process is accessible to those without access to the internet or those having difficulties navigating the process.
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EVICTIONS AND LEGAL SERVICES
Tenants threatened with eviction can contact the following legal services organizations for help and representation (in some instances for free).
- Legal Services of New Jersey at (888) 576-5529
- Volunteer Lawyers for Justice at (973) 645-1955
- Community Health Law Project (for individuals with disabilities) at (973) 275-1175
- City of Newark’s Office of Tenant Legal Services (for Newark tenants) at (973) 877-9424
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FORECLOSURE, PRE-FORECLOSURE, AND RENTAL COUNSELING
At the direction of Governor Murphy, the New Jersey Housing and Mortgage Finance Agency’s (NJHMFA) housing counseling initiative has expanded to include renters, who may be concerned with eviction, and homeowners who may need counseling to help prevent possible foreclosure. These services are available at no cost .
NJHMFA is expanding its Foreclosure Mediation Assistance Program (FMAP) to include renter and pre-foreclosure counseling by utilizing a network of participating housing counselors in each county. The counseling is available now and can be provided remotely.
The pre-foreclosure counseling can provide upfront assistance to help homeowners avoid potential foreclosure. At the same time, the counseling made available to renters will guide them on how to approach discussions with their landlords on dealing with their rent situation.
Renters can learn more about their rights and the resources available to them during the
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LEGAL RIGHTS AND RESPONSIBILITIES FOR TENANTS AND LANDLORDS
An updated edition of the Truth in Renting guide is posted on the Department’s website as a resource for residential tenants and landlords to learn about their legal rights and responsibilities.
The reference guide includes information about lease agreements; payment and collection of rent; habitability; evictions; senior citizens and protected tenants; foreclosures; security deposits; and other topics pertaining to residential tenancies in New Jersey.
The Truth in Renting guide is periodically updated to include the most current information available. Because the Truth in Renting guide is a general resource document, it is not meant to reflect the special circumstances that New Jersey experienced during the declared COVID-19 State of Emergency, which ended March 7, 2022. Therefore, the guide does not include Executive Orders or COVID-19 pandemic response programs related to housing since they are temporary in nature. While the guide does not reference specific COVID-19 response programs, they remain in effect in accordance with the applicable program guidelines.
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ELIGIBILITY SCREENING TOOL FOR DCA PROGRAMS |
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DCAid is an eligibility screening tool designed to help New Jersey residents find available DCA housing-related and utility assistance programs for which they may qualify. The completely anonymous eligibility screening process is user friendly and takes only 1-2 minutes to complete.
Access the eligibility screening tool: DCAid
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FREE TECHNICAL ASSISTANCE IS AVAILABLE FOR LOCAL GOVERNMENTS
Need assistance with planning services including master plans and redevelopment plans, land use planning and mapping, economic development plans or special municipal projects?
DCA's Office of Local Planning Services (LPS) has made an ongoing commitment to provide FREE technical assistance to local governments.
Interested municipalities can contact LPS Director Sean Thompson at 609-292-1716 or via email at lpsmail@dca.nj.gov.
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DCA LAUNCHES USER-FRIENDLY DATABASE
DCA launched the User Friendly Budget Database, which is intended to make budget, staffing, personnel cost, debt, and financial information for New Jersey municipalities accessible to the public in a flexible, easy-to-use format.
The budget database allows any user to pull budget, staffing, financial and debt information going back to 2015 for municipalities into an interactive table format. There is also a graph feature that allows any metric to be visualized over time, a glossary tab that explains the meaning of the terms used for the non-municipal finance professionals, and an instructions tab that explains how to use the interactive table. Users can also access summary data for all municipalities, organized by year with each year in its own tab.
The budget database is based on a summary of data already entered in the User Friendly Budgets prepared by New Jersey municipalities for their adopted budgets since 2015.
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IS YOUR MUNICIPALITY INTERESTED IN SHARED SERVICES?
DCA's Division of Local Government Services' (DLGS) Local Assistance Bureau (LAB) offers technical assistance for each step of the shared services process from identification through implementation at no cost.
The goal of the Bureau is to cultivate best practices in local governments and to link local agencies that might be facing challenges to the State’s comprehensive network of resources. DCA is encouraging any local government agency that has a specific need or an idea that requires assistance to reach out to the Local Assistance Bureau (LAB) within DLGS to set up a consultation. The Bureau’s technical assistance advisors have years of expertise and a track record of producing efficiencies and achieving savings in municipalities.
The Bureau can provide shared services and consolidation assistance to help towns achieve property tax savings. DLGS also awards grants to local government entities to help them pursue shared services as an option for driving down costs.
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DCA LAUNCHES OPEN DATA PORTAL TO THE PUBLIC
The Division of Local Government Services recently made available Phase I of its Open Data Portal. This database is directly connected to the Financial Automation Submission & Tracking (FAST) system. It makes full documents and various data points available for public view. In addition to data collected through FAST, the Open Data Portal provides general information about each municipality and county, including form of government, population, and contact information.
Currently, users may access the Annual Debt Statement and Supplemental Debt Statement for municipalities and counties from 2017 to present. The Open Data Portal not only allows users to access these documents, but also contains an interactive “Debt” tile that allows for the comparison of Net Debt expressed as a percentage of Average Equalized Valuation across multiple municipalities and counties, which is displayed on a representative and searchable heat map.
The Division will continue to expand the availability of data across categories and metrics as its data pool increases. The portal will ultimately permit search and comparison of all statutorily required financial documents submitted through FAST, as well as a complementary suite of data exploration tools that empower users to easily compare a variety of metrics across local units based on similar demographics, geography, or location. Visit the Open Data Portal
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COMMUNITY ASSET MAP
The Community Asset Map is an interactive mapping tool that makes it possible to see the characteristics and amenities of each of New Jersey's 564 communities. Municipal leaders, businesses, and even homeowners can use the Community Asset Map to help make strategic development and investment decisions that will benefit their communities.
The mapping tool provides overlay options that allow users to view valuable economic, local planning, environmental, and workforce statistics as well as predominant land uses, property sales, and job density. These features allow potential investors and stakeholders to view where the State has targeted its investments through special designations, such as Urban Enterprise Zones, Transit Villages, Opportunity Zones, and the projects within them.
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NEW JERSEY REDEVELOPMENT AUTHORITY OFFERS NEW TRAINING INSTITUTE COURSES
New Jersey Redevelopment Authority's (NJRA) Training Institute (TI) has announced its new fall courses. TI offers intensive intermediate-level training courses, which focus on development and redevelopment fundamentals. The TI is designed to provide nonprofit and for-profit developers, professional consultants, licensed practitioners, entrepreneurs, and city/state/county staff with a body of knowledge of the redevelopment and real estate development process.
The NJRA understands the importance of education and the need for affordable redevelopment and real estate education for New Jersey communities. Recognizing that many communities are still recovering from the pandemic, all course offerings have been lowered to $10. Register today.
September 15
The Nexus between Cannabis & Real Estate Development in the State of New Jersey
October 20
Understanding and Incorporating Tax Credits in your Project Finance Strategy (LIHTC, NMTC & HTC)
December 8
2023 Economic Outlook along with Emerging Trends in Real Estate Development and Small Business
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