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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.
DCA is hard at work. Throughout the pandemic, we ramped up many new programs to help New Jersey residents get through tough times. We continue to do this in addition to our traditional programming.
We remain steadfast in our mission by providing administrative guidance, financial support and technical assistance to local governments, community development organizations, businesses and individuals to improve the quality of life in New Jersey.
This newsletter highlights some of those efforts.
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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HOW IS DCA MAKING A DIFFERENCE?
COVID-19 EMERGENCY RENTAL ASSISTANCE PROGRAM
“Thank you for your email and remembering me. I truly appreciate it. I received an email from your office so that I could apply. I went in immediately and applied. My landlord had also informed me that he saw something on our mayor's social media about it and that he applied also on my behalf. I really appreciate it and am humbled that he would do that for me. These are definitely humbling times and times of Thanksgiving to everyone that is trying to help us through these difficult times."
Yolandita Rivera
"I want to extend my gratitude and thank you to all parties that were involved in helping me with COVID emergency rental assistance. My landlord did receive the check and I am just so grateful to all of you that saw the need to help me remain in my apartment. I can't say thank you enough. I am so overwhelmed. God bless all the good people like you in the world that see the need to see people like me remain in my home and pick myself up and go forward. Thank you for the assistance."
Linda Sessoms
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TENANTS AND LANDLORDS IN NEED OF RENTAL ASSISTANCE SHOULD APPLY FOR THE COVID-19 EMERGENCY
RENTAL ASSISTANCE PROGRAM
Don't Wait for the Eviction Moratorium to Lift - Apply Today!
DCA is administering two emergency rental assistance programs for households that have had difficulty paying their rent due to the pandemic. The COVID-19 Emergency Rental Assistance Program and Eviction Prevention Program are both using the same application and application process. People can visit https://njdca.onlinepha.com/ to get started. Applications can be submitted online with the use of a personal computer, laptop, smartphone, or tablet. DCA is extending reasonable accommodations on a case-by-case basis to disabled individuals and people who have limited English proficiency. People with questions or who have difficulty accessing the internet can contact DCA’s call center at 609-490-4550 from 8 a.m. to 8 p.m., seven days a week.
Landlords may apply for assistance on behalf of a tenant for both of these rental assistance programs. The landlord must:
- Obtain the signature of the tenant on the application, which may be documented electronically; and
- Must provide documentation of the application to the tenant to notify the tenant that the application has been submitted.
As part of the programs, DCA is encouraging landlords to agree to a reasonable payment plan for any rent arrears and rent not covered by the rental assistance and commit to not filing for eviction for non-payment of rent during the term of the assistance.
The State continues to protect renter households that experienced economic hardships during the pandemic:
- All renter households with incomes below 120% of their county's Area Median Income are permanently protected against 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 through August 31, 2021.
- Low- and moderate-income households that have applied for state or local rental assistance, and that have experienced an economic impact due to the COVID-19 pandemic are also protected from eviction for unpaid rent accrued through December 31, 2021.
Importantly, for these eviction protections to take effect, households must complete a self-certification form and give a copy of the completed form to their landlord, and to the courts if there is a pending action against them. The Self-Certification Form is available at https://covid19.nj.gov/renter.
Even if a household qualifies for protections, their rent is still due to their landlord. Unpaid rent will be considered a "civil debt," recoverable through a money judgment, but not grounds for eviction.
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STOP! HAVE YOU COMPLETED THE EVICTION PROTECTION FORM? PREVENT YOURSELF FROM GETTING EVICTED! SELF-CERTIFY BEFORE DECEMBER 31!
To Be Protected, You Have to Complete and Submit the Form
While 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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DCA LAUNCHES EXPANDED ACCESS TO COUNSEL AND HOMELESSNESS DIVERSION ANTI-EVICTION PILOT TO HELP
LOW-INCOME HOUSEHOLDS STAY IN THEIR HOMES WHEN THREATENED WITH EVICTION
Anti-Eviction Program Is Operating in Three Cities and Providing Households with Access to Legal Representation and Supportive Services
The New Jersey Department of Community Affairs (DCA) recently launched the Expanded Access to Counsel and Homelessness Diversion Anti-Eviction Pilot Program to help low-income households stay in their homes when threatened with or facing eviction. The pilot program is operating in three cities – Atlantic City, East Orange, and Trenton – and is providing tenants in these communities with access to legal representation and a supportive safety net to help them avoid eviction and homelessness.
The pilot program’s launch approach is to coordinate legal and social services for tenants at risk of eviction in an effort to prevent recurring housing insecurity while reducing barriers to justice in court.
The Anti-Eviction Pilot Program is part of a wide-ranging effort by DCA to address tenants’ needs and eviction filings during the COVID-19 pandemic. For example, DCA awarded $1.25 million in late 2020 to the nonprofit Housing and Community Development Network of New Jersey (the Network) to develop and implement outreach strategies to raise awareness of tenant rights, the eviction process, and eviction prevention resources across the state. The Network is also providing training and technical assistance to the 48 housing counseling agencies across the state to enable them to serve renters and work with small and nonprofit landlords to develop and implement a mediation process to prevent eviction.
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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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NEW JERSEY REDEVELOPMENT AUTHORITY SMALL BUSINESS LEASE - EMERGENCY GRANT PROGRAM RECEIVES AN
ADDITIONAL $10.2 MILLION
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Additional funding will be used to provide grants up to $10,000 to businesses currently in the pipeline for the Small Business Lease Emergency Assistance Program. The program will continue to assist small business owners impacted by the COVID-19 pandemic, as well as landlords, many of whom are also small businesses.
The SBL-EAGP, managed by the New Jersey Redevelopment Authority (NJRA) and paid for with federal CARES Act funding, supports small businesses located in the NJRA’s 68 eligible municipalities that have been adversely impacted by COVID-19. This new allocation of funding will support those businesses that did not receive funding in Round 2 of this initiative. The program will be targeted to businesses with 5,000 square feet of leased space or less, and is requiring standard debarment and legal qualifications from applying businesses.
To date, the Administration has allocated nearly $700 million for COVID-19 relief programs, in the process helping tens of thousands of businesses remain open.
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LOW-INCOME HOME ENERGY ASSISTANCE PROGRAM AND UNIVERSAL SERVICE FUND EXPAND TO INCLUDE FAMILIES WITH HIGHER INCOMES
The Low-Income Home Energy Assistance Program (LIHEAP) is a federal program that helps households at or below 60 percent of the state median income ($6,439 a month for a family of four) pay for energy costs (electric, gas, deliverable fuels and those included in rent). The Universal Service Fund (USF) program provides a monthly credit on electric and gas bills for households at or below 400 percent of the federal poverty level ($8,833 a month for a family of four).
Starting October 1, 2021, the Program introduced new income eligibility criteria to enable more families to qualify for assistance in both programs. The LIHEAP program’s income eligibility criteria changed from 200% of the Federal Poverty Level to 60% of the State Median Income, resulting in an increase of the income threshold for a family of four from $4,039.00 gross monthly income to $6,439.00 gross monthly income.
The income eligibility criteria for the Universal Service fund also changed from 185% of the Federal Poverty Level to 400% of the Federal Poverty Level, resulting in an increase of the income threshold for a family of four from $4,367.00 gross monthly income to $8,883.00 gross monthly income.
Approximately $375 million in federal funding has been allocated for utility arrearages. Sixty percent of the allocation is coming from legislation (S-3691) Governor Murphy signed into law on August 4, 2021. The remainder is from Low Income Home Energy Assistance Program (LIHEAP) funding set aside specifically for utility arrears.
Also, the Lifeline Utility Assistance Program, which is administered by the New Jersey Department of Human Services, provides an annual $225 grant for electric and gas costs to seniors and the disabled. The grant appears as a credit on a utility bill or is included in a recipient’s Supplemental Security Income check. Income limits for this program are set at less than $28,769 for a single person or $35,270 if married.
On June 14, Governor Murphy signed Executive Order No. 246, ending the moratorium on utility shutoffs as of July 1, 2021, which was put in place due to the COVID-19 pandemic. The Executive Order also established a sixth-month grace period in which strong customer protections that were put in place through the moratorium will continue through December 31, 2021, giving customers facing utility arrearages the opportunity to sign up for payment assistance plans. The grace period also enables the State to consider how it could leverage federal funding to expand eligibility criteria so more customers could apply for assistance plans. During the grace period, no residential customers will face disconnection of their gas, electric, or water, services before the end of the grace period on December 31. Additionally, households with residential internet service accounts currently in effect that are being used by school-aged children for educational purposes will also be protected from disconnection. The grace period will terminate on December 31, 2021, for all customers. The annual Winter Termination program will remain in effect and preclude electric or gas shutoffs for certain households, including some seniors and low-income families, through March 15, 2022.
Don’t get disconnected. Utility companies will resume service shutoffs for nonpayment after December 31, 2021.
Call NJ211 if you or someone you know needs assistance.
Households can visit: nj.gov/dca/dcaid to find out if they are eligible for DCA's assistance programs.
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NEW URBAN ENTERPRISE ZONE (UEZ) PROGRAM RESTORED TO FULL OPERATION
This past summer, Acting Governor and DCA Commissioner Sheila Oliver signed legislation restoring and revising the UEZ Program and appropriating $42.5 million in Zone Assistance Funds (ZAF) for FY22, bringing the program back to full operation after having been without a funding source for more than ten years.
Currently, there are 32 zones, which are spread across 37 municipalities and home to approximately 7,267 UEZ-certified businesses. The first five municipalities joined the program in 1986, with the most recent joining in 2002. The original UEZ designations granted to municipalities were set to expire after 20 years. 16-year extensions were granted in 2001. The Legislature and Gov. Phil Murphy recognized the value of the program, signing legislation restoring expired UEZ’s in five cities while also extending the program an additional five years. All UEZs are currently set to expire between 2023 and 2025.
Created in 1983, the UEZ Program Authority, an affiliate agency of the Department of Community Affairs, aims to foster an economic climate that revitalizes designated urban communities and stimulates their growth by encouraging businesses to develop and create private-sector jobs through public and private investment.
For more information and to read the full press release, visit:
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NEW MODEL ORDINANCE ENCOURAGES EV CHARGING
INFRASTRUCTURE IN NEW JERSEY MUNICIPALITIES
The Murphy Administration took another step toward electrifying New Jersey’s transportation sector in September, unveiling a statewide municipal ordinance that makes it easier for people to drive electric by streamlining the local approval process for installing convenient and cost-effective charging infrastructure. The model ordinance, which provides minimum requirements and consistent guidance for electrification, is the result of legislation signed by Governor Phil Murphy in July and is effective immediately in each of the State’s 565 municipalities.
The New Jersey Department of Community Affairs (DCA), Department of Environmental Protection (DEP), and the Board of Public Utilities (BPU) developed the statewide municipal ordinance to ensure that Electric Vehicle Supply/Service Equipment (EVSE) and Make-Ready parking spaces would be permitted uses in all areas of the state in order to enable EV adoption among residents who can’t charge at home. It also helps to alleviate “range anxiety” by increasing the proximity of charging infrastructure while giving residents the confidence to drive electric.
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MORE THAN $14 MILLION AWARDED FOR PRESERVATION, PLANNING, HERITAGE TOURISM AND CAPITAL PROJECTS, AND SPECIAL INITIATIVES
The New Jersey Historic Trust, an affiliate of the New Jersey Department of Community Affairs (DCA), in September approved $14,305,959 in grant recommendations from the Preserve New Jersey Historic Preservation Fund for 69 preservation planning, heritage tourism and capital projects to save and promote historic sites throughout the state. Of note this year, the Trust received the highest number of applications requesting funding for heritage tourism initiatives.
Nineteen of the grants will help fund preservation planning projects such as condition assessments, historic structure reports, archaeological investigations, and construction documents. Five grants will help fund heritage tourism initiatives to improve the visitor experience at historic sites. Forty-four grants will fund capital preservation projects on sites listed in the New Jersey Register of Historic Places.
The grant recommendations, which have been approved by the New Jersey Historic Trust Board, will be presented to the Garden State Preservation Trust at its next meeting and require a legislative appropriations bill and the Governor’s approval before funds are made available.
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DCA AWARDS FUNDING TO HELP LOW- AND MODERATE-INCOME FAMILIES REMEDIATE AND ABATE LEAD-BASED PAINT HAZARDS IN THEIR HOMES
To address the ongoing threat of childhood lead poisoning, the New Jersey Department of Community Affairs awarded more than $6.8 million to 12 nonprofits through the Lead-Safe Home Remediation and Single-Family Home Remediation Grant programs. The programs will provide eligible residents with professional assistance to remediate and/or abate lead-based paint hazards in their homes to prevent elevated blood lead levels in children and pregnant women. DCA plays an important role in lead prevention through the regular inspection of multi-family housing for lead-based paint hazards through the Hotel and Multiple Dwelling Regulations, which emphasize lead-safe maintenance and work practices on housing built prior to 1978.
The Lead-Safe Home Remediation Grant Program and Single-Family Home Remediation Program provide assistance to low- and moderate-income families via the identification and remediation/abatement of lead-based paint hazards in pre-1978 single-family residential housing. The target service area for the Lead-Safe program is statewide with the exception of Camden, Newark, the City of Passaic, Paterson, and Trenton, which fall under the Single-Family Program.
Read the full press release for household eligibility guidelines and to see a listing of the nonprofit organization grant recipients .
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NJ DIVISION OF LOCAL GOVERNMENT SERVICES PROVIDES SHARED SERVICES TRAINING TO COUNTIES
In support of the Local Efficiency Achievement Program (LEAP) and Governor Murphy’s commitment to expanding and supporting shared services in New Jersey, DCA's Division of Local Government Services (DLGS) staff completed its first training of recipients awarded the LEAP County Coordinator Fellowship Grants. This program is designed to identify and advance shared service opportunities through the hiring of a full-time fellow within each of New Jersey’s 21 counties.
Five counties applied for and were awarded grant funds to hire a full-time fellow to work in the county and with each local governmental unit within the county or any entity with whom they may be able to identify and advance shared service opportunities. County Coordinator Fellowship Grants were awarded to: Atlantic, Bergen, Cumberland, Ocean, and Union counties.
In addition to providing the fellows with an overview of the LEAP Grants, a program that Governor Murphy allocated another $10,000,000 toward in FY2022, the training also included the fundamentals of shared services, an overview of the Shared Services and Consolidation Act, personnel guidelines for sharing services, six rules for successful shared service partnerships, and a handbook outlining common shared services. It also highlighted successful shared services and creative solutions to overcoming hurdles and ways in which to address roadblocks and objections. DCA staff is on hand to support and mentor the fellows throughout the year.
DCA is encouraging more counties to apply for this unique grant program to be able to hire a fellow and promote shared services. The LEAP grant program is part of the Local Assistance Bureau, also known as LAB, in the Division of Local Government Services, which strives to help all local governments achieve excellence, efficiency and long-term fiscal stability in their daily operations.
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$10 MILLION AVAILABLE FOR NEXT ROUND OF SHARED SERVICES GRANT FUNDING
Applications are currently being accepted for $10 million in available funding through the Local Efficiency Achievement Program (LEAP) that was allocated in the fiscal year 2022 budget. LEAP provides financial assistance to local government entities such as counties, municipalities, school districts, authorities, and fire districts across the State of New Jersey to identify, study, and implement shared services initiatives. The program is aimed at encouraging towns to streamline their government services to increase efficiency and help save taxpayer dollars. The application deadline is January 15, 2022.
The LEAP program is comprised of three grant initiatives: Challenge Grants, which promote innovation and collaboration on more expansive projects that produce shared services of notable significance; Implementation Grants, which assist in covering costs associated with the implementation of shared services and school feasibility studies; and County Coordinator Fellowship Grants, which support the hiring of a full-time County Shared Service Coordinator to identify and advance shared service opportunities within a county.
These grants help local governments pursue shared services to reduce taxpayer costs and enhance services. The grant awards will support design and implementation of a variety of shared services initiatives including reconstruction, public safety, dispatch, sanitation, public works, transportation and school feasibility studies.
Shared Service Czars Jordan Glatt and Nicolas W. Platt, who were appointed by Governor Phil Murphy in 2018, travel across the state meeting with county and local government officials providing support, guidance, and education on the benefits of shared services. Since their appointment, DLGS has received over 2,300 shared services agreements.
To date, over $5.4 million in LEAP grants have been awarded in support of shared services throughout the state. The first round of 2021 LEAP grants were awarded in May to 23 local entities in the amount of $2.5 million. In August, more than $1.4 million was awarded in the second round of 2021 awards.
Read the full press release or more information on the guidelines and application process .
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DCA ANNOUNCES SECOND ROUND OF AFFORDABLE HOUSING TRUST FUND AWARDS
A total of $3.29 million was recently awarded to three community organizations in Camden and Paterson through the Affordable Housing Trust Fund (AHTF) Neighborhood Partnership Fund. The fund is administered by DCA and provides financial assistance for the development of different types of affordable housing projects to create stronger, fairer communities in which people can afford to live.
The Parkside Business & Community In Partnership, Inc. in Camden will rehabilitate one and construct nine single-family homeownership units located at various sites along Haddon, Kenwood, Wildwood, and Princess avenues in the City of Camden.
New Jersey Community Development Corporation will construct a 4-unit affordable rental apartment building located at 157 Wayne Street in Paterson and a 3-unit affordable rental apartment building located at 105 Mill Street in Paterson.
The projects selected for awards demonstrated strong municipal support, participation in other state-funded community development initiatives, partnerships with private sector investors, sustainability/resilience, walkability, mixed-use, accessibility, and thoughtfulness in addressing gentrification.
The awards are geared toward smaller rental and homeownership housing projects sized at 25 or fewer units, which often have difficulty obtaining financing. These projects will fill the gaps within the existing affordable housing ecosystem, build on current assets and investments, and add value to neighborhoods. The projects are also being developed by community-based organizations that have a strong connection to the housing equity issues in their communities.
Read more about the projects here.
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NJHMFA LAUNCHES HFA ADVANTAGE MORTGAGE PROGRAM
The New Jersey Housing and Mortgage Finance Agency recently announced the launch of a new conventional Freddie Mac pilot program in New Jersey, which can stand alone or be coupled with the Agency's $10,000 Down Payment Assistance Program (DPA). The HFA Advantage Mortgage Program is targeted to low-to-moderate income buyers with solid credit history and offers reduced mortgage insurance and no loan-level price adjustments, leading to very competitive rates. The pilot period launched with some of our most engaged lenders and will open to onboarding of additional lending partners within the next few months.
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DCA EXPANDS NEIGHBORHOOD PRESERVATION PROGRAM
Program Doubles in Size to 40 Communities to Help Revitalize More Neighborhoods Across the State
The Department designated 20 new communities from across the state to join the Neighborhood Preservation Program (NPP), which is designed to strengthen the economic health of threatened but viable neighborhoods and to encourage private investment in these communities. The Department selected the communities through a competitive application process.
DCA selected the communities based on community engagement, staffing capacity, readiness to proceed, NPP mission fit, feasibility of goals, neighborhood assets, distress level, past revitalization efforts, and work to leverage other place-based designations.
Communities were required to show a commitment of resources from the neighborhood and municipality, as well as support from community organizations and residents. They were also encouraged to demonstrate participation in other state or federal programs, including designation as a Neighborhood Revitalization Tax Credit (NRTC) neighborhood, Opportunity Zone, Main Street New Jersey district, Transit Village, Urban Enterprise Zone, or other relevant designations.
The Department will award $125,000 in grant funding to each newly designated community to help them achieve their goals. In addition to the funding, a hallmark of NPP is that the program offers an array of technical assistance and training to support the empowerment of participating local governments, nonprofit groups, and neighborhood district stakeholders so they can build a foundation to sustain their revitalization efforts over time.
Click here to learn more about the newly designated neighborhoods:
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FOUR NEW COMMUNITIES JOIN MAIN STREET NEW JERSEY PROGRAM |
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Bernardsville, Fair Lawn, Maplewood, and Toms River Can Now Access Training and Support for Revitalization of Their Downtown Business Districts
The New Jersey Department of Community Affairs (DCA) today announced the designation of four new communities to the Main Street New Jersey (MSNJ) Program, an initiative aimed at encouraging and supporting the revitalization of downtown business districts throughout the state. With the designation, downtown districts in Bernardsville, Fair Lawn, Maplewood, and Toms River can now receive technical assistance and training in how to restore their main streets as centers of community and economic activity.
This is the first time in six years that the MSNJ Program has added new communities to its roster. There are now 23 communities participating in the program, including the newly designated communities.
Since it was established in 1989, the MSNJ Program has brought significant numbers of new businesses and jobs to the downtown districts participating in the program. In addition, façade improvements and building rehabilitation projects have upgraded the image of downtown business districts across the state.
The MSNJ Program is a Coordinating Program of Main Street America™, which is a subsidiary of the National Trust for Historic Preservation. The Main Street America approach is to help downtown districts develop a transformation strategy around four main points – economic vitality, design, promotion, and organization – that is unique to their community and based on local and regional market data.
Designated MSNJ communities receive an array of services, including customized design assistance, access to state and national specialists, training on key downtown issues, and ongoing marketing and promotions support. They can also receive grant funding for small business support and neighborhood improvement projects.
Click here to learn more about the newly designated neighborhoods.
Photos courtesy of the four districts: Above: Downtown Bernardsville.
Below, left to right: Downtown Toms River Business District, Springfield Avenue Partnership (Maplewood), and Fair Lawn Economic Development Corporation.
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DCA LAUNCHES MITIGATION ASSISTANCE PROGRAM TO HELP RESIDENTIAL PROPERTY OWNERS IN FLOOD-PRONE AREAS ELEVATE THEIR HOMES
Program Will Begin in Fairfield Township, Essex County with Help of a $5 Million Grant from FEMA
DCA announced a new Mitigation Assistance Program that will help residential property owners in flood-prone communities elevate their homes to better withstand future flooding disasters. The Mitigation Assistance Program (MAP) will begin in Fairfield Township, Essex County, with the help of a $5 million grant from the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA). DCA intends to expand the program to other repetitive flooding communities around the state as future FEMA grant funding allows.
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FORMER SANDY RECOVERY DIVISION IS NOW THE DIVISION OF DISASTER RECOVERY AND MITIGATION
DCA has years of experience overseeing housing recovery and mitigation efforts after Superstorm Sandy hit the state in 2012, elevating homes, and coordinating natural disaster response with governmental partners including FEMA. Because the Mitigation Assistance Program will expand the Department’s role beyond Superstorm Sandy work, DCA has officially changed the name of the Sandy Recovery Division to the Division of Disaster Recovery and Mitigation (DRM) to better reflect the Division’s mission of strengthening New Jersey’s long-term resilience against future severe weather events and flooding damage.
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DCA LAUNCHES HOUSING FIRST EXPANSION TO IMPROVE QUALITY OF HOUSING AND SERVICES FOR PEOPLE EXPERIENCING LONG-TERM HOMELESSNESS
The Housing First Expansion is an initiative to engage regional stakeholders in a planning process to address unsheltered and chronic homelessness across the state. The Housing First Expansion (HFE) will use lessons learned from previous Housing First projects to help create a consistent Housing First strategy and implementation plan for the state.
Housing First is a nationally recognized approach that focuses on moving individuals and families experiencing homelessness into safe, permanent housing as soon as possible and then providing supportive services to help them remain in their home. Guiding this approach is a belief that housing is a basic need that must be met before people can concentrate on activities such as employment, substance abuse treatment, household budgeting, education, and mental and behavioral health.
The HFE will engage community stakeholders, including philanthropic organizations, in a coordinated way and foster partnerships to develop high-quality Housing First projects, fund an innovation pool for projects, and share data collection.
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DCA FUNDS MOBILE KITCHEN TRAILER TO SERVE PEOPLE IN NEED IN OCEAN, ATLANTIC, AND CAPE MAY COUNTIES
DCA staff joined O.C.E.A.N., Inc. during their free Murphy’s Chicken & Potatoes community feeding event at Turning Point Day Center in Atlantic City. O.C.E.A.N., Inc. was awarded $69,760 to purchase a mobile kitchen trailer to help partnering organizations serve free hot meals to disadvantaged and vulnerable households in Ocean, Atlantic, and Cape May counties. The O.C.E.A.N., Inc. mobile kitchen trailer was used for the first time during this event. The Murphy's Community Feeding Tour was put in place to assist struggling families and communities through the pandemic.
The objective of the mobile kitchen trailer is to provide timely, coordinated, and effective community action through food distributions that meet the nutritional needs of vulnerable populations. The trailer will travel to Code Blue, faith-based, and nonprofit organizations throughout the tri-county area that help people in need, including chronically homeless populations. It was a great day!
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LT. GOVERNOR OLIVER HELPS TO COMMEMORATE PARKSIDE NEIGHBORHOOD REVITALIZATION PLAN PROGRESS |
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Lt. Governor and DCA Commissioner Sheila Y. Oliver joined Camden Mayor Victor Carstarphen, the Parkside Business and Community in Partnership (PBCIP), and New Jersey American Water to host a special site visit at Parkside’s Haddon Avenue Commercial Corridor, where the first of several commercial and residential property revitalization projects in Camden is already underway. The visit highlighted the remarkable progress being made as part of the Parkside Neighborhood Revitalization Plan.
This phase of development is one of many that are part of the Parkside Neighborhood Revitalization Plan, and one that benefits from several New Jersey Department of Community Affairs’ (DCA) programs, including its Neighborhood Revitalization Tax Credit (NRTC) grant program. In support of the project, New Jersey American Water donated a $950,000 NRTC grant in December 2020 to PBCIP. The site visit included a ceremonial check presentation.
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DCA SPOTLIGHTS ADOPT-A-FLOWERPOT PROGRAM IN CITY OF PLEASANTVILLE'S DOWNTOWN BUSINESS DISTRICT
The Adopt-A-Flowerpot initiative, which was made possible with grant funding awarded to the City in 2019 through DCA’s Neighborhood Preservation Program (NPP), was developed by students and staff of the Ideal Institute of Technology in Pleasantville in partnership with community organizations and the City’s NPP staff. The theme for the planting is “Sowing Seeds of Hope, Seeds of Empowerment, Seeds of Justice, Seeds of Change, and Seeds of Life,” which is meant to encourage mindfulness of the beauty that Pleasantville possesses as a community united. The program seeks to restore existing flowerpots along Main Street in the City of Pleasantville’s downtown business district and beautify the business corridor.
In addition to the $125,000 in NPP funding it was awarded in 2019, the City of Pleasantville received $83,500 in Neighborhood Preservation Program COVID-19 Relief Grant funds in 2020 that it used to provide direct financial assistance to small businesses in Pleasantville’s NPP district to help them cover commercial mortgages and rent, utility bills, personal protective equipment, social distancing signage, and other eligible costs related to the pandemic.
The NPP program provides direct funding, tailored technical assistance, and robust training to the 40 municipalities participating in the program to conduct activities that strengthen threatened but viable neighborhoods through local planning, community participation, and local investment.
A planting took place in early June on Main Street between the Black Horse Pike and Old Turnpike in the heart of the city’s Neighborhood Preservation Program district.
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FORECLOSURE, PRE-FORECLOSURE, AND RENTAL COUNSELING
To aid homeowners facing financial hardship, the New Jersey Housing and Mortgage Finance Agency offers homeowners free pre-foreclosure and foreclosure counseling through its Foreclosure Mediation Assistance Program (FMAP). Counselors are available to provide assistance to help homeowners avoid potential foreclosure.
The program has also been expanded to include renters who may be concerned with eviction. Counselors will guide renters on how to approach discussions with their landlords on dealing with their rent situation. Renters can also review a list of NJHMFA Properties Affected by Rent Increase Suspension to see if their property is affected by the rent increase freeze.
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 is experiencing during the declared COVID-19 State of Emergency. Therefore, the guide does not include Executive Orders or COVID-19 response programs related to housing since they are temporary in nature. While the guide does not reference these specific COVID-19 policies, they remain in effect in accordance with the applicable Executive Orders and program guidelines.
To view the Truth in Renting Guide in both English and Spanish, visit:
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ELIGIBILITY SCREENING TOOL FOR DCA PROGRAMS
DCAid is an eligibility screening tool designed to help New Jersey residents find available DCA housing-related assistance programs for which they may qualify. The completely anonymous eligibility screening process is user friendly and takes only 1-2 minutes to complete.
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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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IS YOUR MUNICIPALITY INTERESTED IN SHARED SERVICES?
The 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 also provide shared services and consolidation assistance to help towns achieve property tax savings.
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DCA LAUNCHES OPEN DATA PORTAL (ODP) TO THE PUBLIC
The Division 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 565 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 LEAGUE OF MUNICIPALITIES CONFERENCE
November 16-18, 2021
Visit DCA at Booth# 1910 during the 2021 League of Municipalities Conference. We look forward to seeing you in person!
DCA Sessions
Tuesday, November 16
- 1:30 p.m. - DLGS Director's Update
Wednesday, November 17
- 9 a.m. Affordable Housing Update
- 10:45 a.m. Topics in Local Government Ethics
- 10:45 a.m. A Year in the Life of a NJ Tax Collector
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12 p.m. - Lt. Governor will participate on the cabinets panel during the Annual Mayors' Box Luncheon.
- 3:30 p.m. The DCA, the Inspectors, and Changes to Come
- 1:30 p.m. Recent OPRA Decisions
Thursday, November 18
- 9 a.m. Public Contracts Law and Regulation Update
- 10:45 a.m. Municipal Fleet Electrification
- 10:45 a.m. Shared Services Update with the Czars
- 10:45 a.m. Elected Officials Primer: Budget and Procedures
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