Jersey City residents who are behind on rent payments since the start of the COVID-19 pandemic in April 2020 have until Monday to apply for assistance of up to $10,000 in federal funds from the city.
Residents must apply by midnight on April 18 at https://jerseycity.rentrelief.com/ to participate in the lottery that will decide who receives funds, which will be issued directly as a check to landlords on behalf of tenants.
The requirements for the program have also been expanded in this round of relief: households up to 80% of area median income now qualify, up from 50% of the original AMI, and there is no longer any requirement about what type of building where the applicants live.
A household of four, for example, would now qualify with a total income of up to $82,800, as long as they can show they suffered a loss of income due to the coronavirus. However, the program will still prioritize individuals who earn less than 50% AMI and who have been unemployed for 90 days at the time of application.
In February 2021, Jersey City received $7.8 million in funding from the US Treasury for rental assistance for residents.
“The City’s Rent Relief Program has provided financial assistance to more than 820 households, ensuring that our most needy residents and families receive the financial assistance they deserve,” said city spokeswoman Kimberly Wallace-Scalcione.
“A total of $5.5 million in federal funding has been distributed so far, and Phase III will allocate an additional $1.4 million, along with a host of other efforts to help residents in need,” he added.
The need for rental assistance is in part a consequence of an active market for rental housing in Jersey City.
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