$15M in rent, utilities assistance coming to N.J. county’s tenants – NJ.com

Essex County is opening applications for renters and landlords impacted by the pandemic to receive a cut of $15.4 million in federal funding to help pay rent or utilities.

The Essex County Emergency Rental Assistance Program applications will open May 13 and may be accessed online. Applications are open to both renters and landlords, who would be applying on behalf of their tenants.

“Our Emergency Rental Assistance Program will help eligible residents and families catch up on their rent or utility arrears or pay their rent and/or utility bills prospectively,” said Essex County Executive Joseph DiVincenzo. “This ultimately will prevent individuals and families from getting evicted from their housing and becoming homeless.”

Those eligible to apply include individuals or families impacted by COVID-19 through unemployment, decreased household income or those confronted with some other financial hardship.

Eligible applicants must be at or below 80% of the area median income set by the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD). That would generally be a person who earns no more than $55,950 or a family of four with a household income of no more than $79,900, according to HUD’s tool.

Applicants will be requested to provide identification for the head of the household, income information for all those in the home who are older than 18, a copy of the lease, information about the landlord and utility payments that are unpaid.

Residents who live in public housing or use a Section 8 voucher may be eligible to receive assistance for costs not covered by federal assistance.

Funding for the Essex County program was received from the federal Consolidated Appropriations Act.

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Rebecca Panico may be reached at rpanico@njadvancemedia.com.