Somerset County launches rental relief fund for COVID-impacted households

Somerset County has allocated nearly $650,000 in CARES Act funding to assist households that have lost income due to the COVID-19 pandemic in making monthly rent payments.

Most of the funding, part of the newly established Emergency Rental Relief Program, or ERRP, will be paid directly to landlords, with additional funding used to help families navigate the process and provide representation to residents currently in housing court, the county Freeholder Board announced.

“Somerset County is committed to working with renters and landlords to prevent homelessness and maintain a stable rental market during the economic crisis caused by COVID-19,” Freeholder Director Shanel Robinson said in a statement. “The Emergency Rental Relief Program, in conjunction with other state and federal efforts, will help keep families in their homes as we reach the hottest month of the year and reduce the vacancies and expense of finding new tenants for landlords.”

READ:Somerset is 'Best County in New Jersey to Raise a Family': website

Only tenants who can demonstrate their rent was up to date for March 2020, prior to the pandemic disruptions to the economy, are eligible. Successful applicants are eligible for the lesser of three months’ rent or $3,000 to be used to offset owed rent that will be paid directly to landlords through a partnership with Somerset County Social Services.

The program is funded by a Community Development Block Grant, or CDBG, allocation of $646,398 from the March 2020 federal CARES. Separate CDBG funding has been allocated to Franklin, where residents are not eligible for ERRP assistance.

Applicants must be residents of any Somerset County municipality, except Franklin, and have a current lease or rent agreement.

They also must have a household income that is less than the following income limits, based on household size including children:

• 1 person - $66,900
• 2 people - $76,500
• 3 people - $86,100
• 4 people - $95,600
• 5 people - $103,200
• 6 people - $110,900

Applicants must able to demonstrate that rent payments were current as of March 2020 and provide documentation of COVID-related loss of income after March 9, 2020. 

Examples include:

• Layoff or reduced work hours
• Unpaid leave to take care of children due to school and daycare closure
• Self-quarantine for 14 days resulting in a loss of income
• Other consequence of the virus that led to a reduction of income

In order to receive assistance, eligible residents must complete an application and submit the required documentation. There are three different ways to apply. 

Complete and submit the application and required documentation online at www.co.somerset.nj.us/CDBG-CVERR.

Print an application from the above link and submit printed copy via email to commdevel@co.somerset.nj.us.

Request and submit a paper copy by calling or emailing the Community Development Office at 908-541-5756 or commdevel@co.somerset.nj.us. 

Email: ngmuscavage@gannettnj.com

Nick Muscavage is a watchdog reporter for the Courier News, Home News Tribune and MyCentralJersey.com. To get unlimited access to his investigative work that has exposed wrongdoing and changed state law, please subscribe or activate your digital account today.