Michael Swayze's Community Resources

Category: Community Resources

  • Housing Choice Voucher Enrollment Begins June 13

    The New Jersey Department of Community Affairs (DCA), Division of Housing and Community Resources (DHCR) will be accepting pre-applications on-line for 10,100 Housing Choice Vouchers (HCV) in all twenty-one (21) New Jersey Counties. The Enrollment Period is from Monday June 13, 2016 at 9:00 a.m. to Friday June 17, 2016 at 5:00 p.m.

    The number of pre-applications being accepted by County are:
    Atlantic – 350; Bergen – 900; Burlington – 500; Camden – 575; Cape May – 200; Cumberland – 275; Essex – 850; Gloucester – 350; Hudson – 725; Hunterdon – 200; Mercer – 450; Middlesex – 825; Monmouth – 650; Morris – 525; Ocean – 625; Passaic – 600; Salem – 175; Somerset – 375; Sussex – 200; Union – 575; Warren – 175.

    Key requirements and information related to the pre-application process:

    • All pre-applications submitted online from June 13, 2016 at 9:00am to June 17, 2016 at 5:00pm will be entered into a database and a lottery system will be used to select pre-applications.
    • Pre-applications for housing assistance will be accepted from very low-income individuals and families based on the income limits established by the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development.
    • Applicants must be eighteen (18) years of age or older to apply, or be an emancipated minor. YOU MUST HAVE AN EMAIL ADDRESS TO APPLY.
    • Only one (1) pre-application per household per county will be accepted.
    • Web browsers like Google Chrome, Firefox or Internet Explorer 10 or higher are recommended.
    • The HCV Program is a federally funded program that provides housing subsidies on behalf of low-income persons for decent, safe and sanitary housing. Persons applying must meet all of the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development’s (HUD) income and eligibility requirements.
    • Maximum Income Limits: Your total household income cannot exceed the limits shown on the income charts for the County in which you are applying. Be sure to use the figure for the size of your household. The chart only goes up to 8 household members. If you have a larger household, please contact DCA at 609-292-2528 for assistance in determining the maximum income limits for
      your household. Click here for Income Limits.
    • If you are disabled and need assistance with submitting your pre-application, please contact DCA at 609-292-4080 and select Option 1 or 8 from the Menu and request a reasonable accommodation.
    • Individuals selected by the lottery will be notified via email which may take several weeks.

    More Information on the Pre-Appliction

    HCV Income Limits

    Link to Apply Beginning on June 13th

    Source: Monarch Housing Associates. Reprinted with permission.

    There are a few other items to keep in mind when making application. First, the pre-application form will only be available online and the applicant must include an email address for notification purposes. No paper applications will be taken. Free email accounts are available from a number of Internet providers. They include, but are not limited to: Gmail, Outlook or Hotmail, Yahoo Mail, AOL Mail, GMX.

    It is recommended you also read the Department of Community Affairs’
    Housing Choice Voucher Program – Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ).

  • LIHEAP Emergency Assistance Extended

    There are additional opportunities to request energy assistance under LIHEAP’s emergency assistance program in New Jersey. Please share the information below with friends, family, partners or networks. A few points of clarification.

    1) Eligible LIHEAP households can request Emergency Assistance until May 31, 2016. The state received a second allocation from the Department of Health and Human Services in the amount of $12.6M in April.
    2) Newly granted SNAP (Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program) households who did NOT receive a May 1 LIHEAP benefit have until May 31 to contact their local LIHEAP/USF agency to apply or correct wrong information. Cases will be re-evaluated if they are currently in “pending status”.
    3) Although the LIHEAP season is ending, keep in mind that applications for USF (Universal Service Fund) are available year-round.

    A listing of the local LIHEAP/USF agencies is available online at www.nj.gov/dca/divisions/dhcr/offices/agencydirectorylist.html.

    Additional information on LIHEAP and other energy assistance programs is available on the NJ Community Resources NJ Energy Assistance Programs webpage.

    The 2-1-1 Partnership can provide information on LIHEAP emergency assistance procedures by calling 2-1-1 or 800-510-3102.

    The extension of the emergency period in New Jersey follows the release by the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) of an additional $335million in April of which New Jersey received $12,666,956. A press release appears on the LIHEAP Clearinghouse website.

  • Faith- Based Event For Reentry Project

    Volunteers are needed for a reentry demonstration program in Union County. Members of faith-based organizations who work with the reentry population and are interested in mentoring Second Chance Act (SCA) clients are urged to attend.

    A meeting will be held on Wednesday, March 2, 2016 at 10 A.M. It will be held at Fountain Baptist Church, 116 Glenside Avenue, Summit, New Jersey.

    For more information contact: Deborah Mohammed-Spigner at 609-777-0512. Her email address is Deborah.Mohammed-Spigner@spb.state.nj.us.