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Latest News For You | For Agency Professionals
Finding Housing You Can Afford
Housing Assistance Programs
Section 8 Housing Choice Voucher
This federally-funded program was created to assist low-income households find safe and quality rental housing. Through this program, a portion of the monthly rent is paid by the government directly to the landlord, thus reducing housing costs for eligible families.
The Section 8 Housing Choice Voucher program is based on the premise that housing costs (rent and utilities) should not exceed 30 percent of a household's income. The statewide program is available to residents of all New Jersey counties. For additional information, call (609) 292-4080 or e-mail Customer Service.
State Rental Assistance Program
The State Rental Assistance Program provides tenant-based and project-based rental assistance grants for low income households, comparable to the Federal Housing Choice Voucher Program. Households receiving a federal subsidy are not eligible for state assistance through this program.
Voucher Limits: The rental subsidy under the State Rental Assistance Program will be for up to five years; less, if a Housing Choice Voucher becomes available
A rental subsidy under the State Rental Assistance Program for Elderly and disabled will be unlimited. For additional information, call (609) 292-4080 or e-mail Customer Service.
Family Self-Sufficiency
The Family Self-Sufficiency (FSS) program is a voluntary five-year program available to families currently active in the Section 8 Housing Choice Voucher Program. The program offers case management and a financial incentive to maintain employment. Families receiving Section 8 enroll in the FSS program by signing a Contract of Participation. That contract includes short-term and long-term goals created by the head-of-household. To encourage continuous employment, as the client’s income increases and his/her portion of the rent increases, the Housing Authority will match the increased amount and deposit it into a savings account monthly. The program requires the head-of-household to maintain employment, be free of TANF and General Assistance and to complete all personal goals within five years. The FSS participant will receive annual case management from his/her Section 8 caseworker and be referred to needed services such job training, career counseling, education and social service programs. For additional information, call (609) 633-6284 or e-mail Sharon Baker.
Section 8 Homeownership Program
This federally-funded program is administered by the state and is designed to assist eligible households purchase a home of their own. This is achieved by applying the Housing Choice Voucher towards homeownership expenses such as principal and interest on mortgage debt, insurance, taxes and utilities rather than using it towards rental payments. For additional information, call (609) 292-9025.
COAH - Council on Affordable Housing
The Council on Affordable Housing (COAH) works directly with municipalities to develop plans for providing affordable housing in New Jersey. Municipal plans can include a variety of types of for-sale and rental affordable housing, some of which is posted on the NJ Housing Resource Center Web site. Group homes, accessory apartments, affordable units in the same development as market rate units, age-restricted housing, and 100% affordable projects are some examples.
All occupants of COAH-credited units must be income-eligible based on COAH's annual Regional Income Limits [pdf 115kB]. Use COAH's Municipal Liaison List to find the contact person for each municipality of interest to you. S/he will be able to refer you to all the administrators for the affordable housing units within that municipality. More information about COAH can be found here
Mortgage Assistance Provided by the HMFA
The New Jersey Housing and Mortgage Finance Agency (HMFA) has many housing programs funded from the sale of bonds. Some provide mortgage assistance and closing costs to homebuyers. Others help homeowners repair the houses they have. Low- and moderate-income households qualify for HMFA-funded developments.
For more information on HMFA’s homebuyer or rehabilitation programs call (609) 278-7400. Those looking to buy a house or condominium should consider calling HMFA to see about the availability of homebuyer assistance programs. The agency has a mortgage hotline: 1-800-NJ-HOUSE, or 1-800-654-6873.
Habitat for Humanity
Morris Habitat for Humanity is now accepting homeowner applications for 3 BEDROOM, SINGLE FAMILY HOME in Budd Lake, NJ.
Get the Homeownership Details
or call 973-891-1934
Must attend any one of three orientation meetings scheduled between August 20 -27th. |
The goal of Habitat for Humanity is to eliminate poverty housing and homelessness by working in partnership with people in need. Using volunteer labor and donated funds and materials, Habitat builds or rehabilitates simple, decent houses and sells them to low-income families at cost, but with no interest added.
This people-to-people partnership begins with the homeowner families (partner families). Habitat is a joint venture in which those who benefit from the housing ministry are involved in the work at various levels. They help with the construction of their own home, as well as the houses of their neighbors.
The need for a decent and affordable house is the most important criteria in the selection of a family. Families with the greatest need are given priority consideration.
Families must have the ability to make mortgage payments and meet all the obligations of owning a home including payment of any condominium/association fees, homeowner insurance, all taxes, utilities and repairs. Applicants must allow a verification of: employment for the last two years, at least six months of employment in the present position, credit history including a judgement search and reference checks. An applicant's history of financial responsibility is considered.
Applicants must agree to partner with Habitat in the homeowner process which includes: interview by the Family Selection Committee, approval by the Board of Directors, all paperwork requested by the Family Selection Committee during the review process, making escrow payments while building their home to cover the closing costs, completing 400 hours of sweat equity (the families participate in building their homes alongside volunteers/professionals), participating in homeowner training programs, and other ways of supporting and partnering with Habitat that may arise.
To learn more, contact your local Habitat for Humanity office.
Need Help? – Dial 2-1-1
You are encouraged to dial “2-1-1” 24 hours a day, seven days a week if you need help in understanding and finding available assistance services. Language translation and TTY services are offered to any caller. You can also search our database for services in your local community or Chat Live with an experienced community resource specialist. 2-1-1 will help identify with you the best local resources to fit your individual needs during times of distress or for life’s everyday situations.
If you know of additional resources that would be appropriate to include in this section, please let us know by contacting us via e-mail at info@nj211.org.
Sources for this page include:
http://www.njhousing.gov/njhrc/consumers/assistan/coah.html
www.nj.gov/dca/coah
http://www.state.nj.us/dca/divisions/dhcr/offices/fss.html
http://www.state.nj.us/dca/affiliates/coah/index.html
http://www.nj.gov/dca/affiliates/coah/reports/incomelimits.pdf
http://www.state.nj.us/dca/divisions/dhcr/offices/section8hcv.html
http://www.state.nj.us/dca/divisions/dhcr/offices/srap.html
http://www.state.nj.us/dca/affiliates/coah/resources/muniliaisons.pdf
http://www.state.nj.us/dca/codes/affdhousing/affdhsgguide/index2.shtml#programdes
http://www.habitat.org
Page last modified on 8.18.11
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