NJ Pandemic Relief Fund provides $2.35M to help tenants facing eviction

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The New Jersey Pandemic Relief Fund (NJPRF) is providing $2.35 million for free legal and counseling services to thousands of people and families facing eviction.

The NJPRF’s Housing Stability Project grant will allow two leading organizations to significantly expand their pool of legal and housing counselors to help more than 10,000 at-risk tenants across the state.

The Housing & Community Development Network of New Jersey (HCDNNJ) will receive $1,886,200 to provide increased outreach and counseling services for tenants at risk of eviction while Volunteer Lawyers for Justice (VLJ) will receive $465,000 to expand its organizational capacity to serve significantly more at-risk renters.

The grant will allow HCDNNJ to recruit, hire and train teams of experts placed regionally, to advise residents directly and assist current housing counselors with their cases. The funding will also allow HCDNNJ to conduct large-scale outreach to tenants who are not only at risk but are unaware of their rights.

“The coronavirus pandemic has hit the most vulnerable the hardest, leaving many families worried about keeping a roof over their heads,” said New Jersey First Lady Tammy Murphy, the founding chair of NJRPF. “We hope this grant will help stave off a pending eviction crisis by helping at-risk tenants and landlords understand their rights and navigate a complex system during these incredibly trying times.”

Gov. Phil Murphy issued an executive order in March that suspended evictions throughout the state. But the moratorium only remains in effect for two months after the governor declares an end to the COVID-19 crisis, and it does not prevent eviction filings—with tens of thousands of cases filed since the pandemic began.

“The Housing Stability Project is designed to be proactive,” NJPRF Chief Executive Officer Josh Weinreich said. “We believe there is an opportunity and responsibility to address this issue before it’s too late.”