Applications for the Jersey City COVID-19 Rent Relief program are now open. Mayor Steven Fulop recently announced that the city has set aside over $7 million in federal emergency rental assistance funds to help low-income families affected by the pandemic. The Jersey City COVID-19 Rent Relief Program will provide up to $10,000 in aid to cover rent.
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“We understand that families are struggling to pay rent, and small property owners are also struggling to keep up with the mortgage and other bills,” said Fulop. “That’s why we are focusing on owner-occupied buildings with four units or less, because they have been the hardest-hit and will benefit most from this aid, rather than large businesses. Once we can help our lowest-income residents, we intend to methodically expand the eligibility pool further by income and to non-owner-occupied buildings.”
Payments will be made directly to landlords on behalf of individuals/households. The program will focus on families that live in owner-occupied buildings with fewer than five apartments and those who are at or below 50% of area median income (AMI).
The program will also prioritize households where at least one member has been unemployed for the 90-day period preceding date of application. If funds are still available, program eligibility will expand to include households with income up to 80% of area median income and those that reside in other types of buildings.
Jersey City COVID-19 Rent Relief Eligibility
Applications for the Jersey City COVID-19 Rent Relief program will be accepted August 17 through August 31. Requirements include:
- Jersey City residency
- Income loss due to COVID-19
- Rent owed since April 2020
- Incurred significant pandemic-induced costs or financial hardship
- Priority for 2-4 unit, owner-occupied buildings
- Priority for those unemployed 90 days before application and 50% area median income (AMI) or below
Additional info can be found at jcnj.org/HardshipAssistance.
