Monmouth County, NJ Emergency Rental Assistance Program
Program Overview
We are glad to inform you that the County has received $38,410,914.20 from the US Treasury under the Emergency Rental Assistance Program (ERAP 1). The Monmouth County ERAP provides rental assistance to qualifying households earning less than 80% of the area median income.
- There is a limit of one application per household, except for individuals who share a residence but have separate lease agreements.
- Tenants and landlords are encouraged to collaborate on the application in order to expedite the process of receiving funding.
Beginning in June 2021, landlords will be permitted to initiate the application procedure on behalf of the tenant. - The rental assistance will be paid directly to the Tenant’s Landlord if the application is granted.
- Individuals who have rental arrears prior to March 13, 2020 are not eligible to apply for this program.
- According to US Treasury guidance, combined rental aid is restricted to 12 months.
- Due to funding constraints, not everyone who applies will receive financial support.
If you’re ready to apply, start here
Questions or Assistance Requests
If you have any concerns or require assistance with the Monmouth County ERAP, please call (848) 801-1297.
Monday through Friday, 8:00 a.m. to 6:00 p.m.; Saturday, 8:00 a.m. to 1:00 p.m.
Who qualifies?
a). One or more members of the household have qualified for unemployment benefits, have seen a decrease in household income, have incurred significant costs, or have encountered other financial hardship as a result of the COVID-19 outbreak, directly or indirectly;
b). One or more members of the household can demonstrate a risk of experiencing homelessness or housing instability; andÂ
c). The household’s income is at or below 80% of the region median.
Duplication of Benefits(DOB)
What does this mean? DOB happens when a person, household, business, government, or other entity receives financial support from various sources for the same purpose, and the total amount of assistance received exceeds the overall need for assistance.
As required by Section 312 of the Robert T. Stafford Disaster Relief and Emergency Assistance Act, adequate procedures must be in place to prevent benefit duplication (Stafford Act). As a result, both the Tenant and Landlord must certify below that they have not received financial help from any other source for the purpose of submitting this application.
Up to $15,000 per qualified family for the following fees incurred on or after March 13, 2020.
a. In accordance with US Treasury requirements, combined rental aid is restricted to 12 months:
I Arrears on rental payments (12 months plus 3 additional months if necessary, to ensure housings stability, subject to the availability of funds).
ii) Proposed rent for a period of up to three (3) months in order to avoid homelessness or housing instability (must be combined with request for rental arrears)
a. Expenses associated with the household
i) Relocation fees
ii) Late rental payment fees
iii) Security deposits
iv) Rental fees for mobile home pad sites
All payments for housing-related expenses must be accompanied by documentary evidence, such as a bill, an invoice, or a copy of the payment. If an eligible household expense is not itemized but is included in a package of services, the County will evaluate the reasonable cost of the accompanying eligible fee using comparable values.
Tenants must have a total household income equal to or less than 80% of the Area Median Income for Monmouth County as determined by HUD and adjusted for household size.
To ensure that financial assistance is provided where it is most needed, extra attention may be given to households earning less than 50% of the Area Median Income and enduring long-term unemployment (more than 90 days).
Priority will be given to households with incomes of 50% or less of the Area Median Income (AMI) and household members who have been unemployed for at least 90 days. Priority for assistance will subsequently be given to households with earnings less than 50% of AMI, followed by homes with members who have been unemployed for at least 90 days, and finally households without long-term unemployed members with incomes between 50% and 80% of AMI.
Eligibility of Tenants
a. Tenant must make their primary residence in the rental property located in Monmouth County, New Jersey.
b. Tenant must have lost household income, incurred considerable costs, or is experiencing financial hardship as a direct result of COVID-19.
d. Tenant must meet income eligibility requirements for the program (see Income Eligibility Table).
d. A member of the Tenant’s household can establish a risk of suffering homelessness or housing instability, such as past due rent, a utility notice, an eviction notice, or the fear of eviction.
Documentation of Tenants:
a. To determine if the Tenant has lost household income, incurred significant costs, or is experiencing financial hardship as a direct result of COVID-19.
I If you are applying for income reduction and/or financial hardship, you must submit the following documents:
(1) documentary evidence, such as a letter from the employer (decrease in hours, decrease in income, layoff notice, closure notice, furlough notice, etc.)
(2) joblessness (benefits statement, if no statement of benefits, Tennent Attestation 5)
(3) past-due rent notices, utility overdue notices, utility shut-off notices, and eviction notices, among others.
ii) Provide billing statements for substantial incurred costs (medical bills, childcare, home health assistance, etc.)
Eligibility of Landlords
a. The rental property must be located in Monmouth County, New Jersey.
a. The Landlord must be the legal owner of the property as shown by property tax records, have a business interest, or be an authorized managing agent.
c. Landlords may apply on behalf of the Tenant to commence the application procedure.
Documentation of the Landlord (if not provided by the Tenant)
a. l) One of the following forms of identification must be presented to establish the Landlord’s identity:
I New Jersey Valid driver’s license with a photograph NJ ii) Current non-driver identification card iii) Official government-issued identification, such as a United States Permanent Resident Card, a United States Employment Authorization Card, a United States Certificate of Naturalization, or an expiring United States Passport. iv) Other official identity issued by the government
c. A duplicate of the leasing contract
d. In the absence of a lease agreement, a notarized letter from the landlord specifying the residents of the residence and the monthly rent paid. e. Proof that the landlord is the legal owner, such as a deed, mortgage, or business holding.
f. If the landlord is not the owner, a management agreement
c. W-9 form issued by the federal government
h. Copies of notices sent to the Tenant regarding rental arrears i. Copies of letters sent to the Tenant discussing probable eviction
Monmouth County engages with a variety of community-based organizations (CBOs) through Monmouth Acts and the Monmouth Homeless Collaborative to provide housing counseling, aid, and services to persons experiencing homelessness.
Among these services are the following:
a. Housing stability b. Fair Housing c. Legal services related to housing mediation (landlord-tenant conflict) d. Domestic abuse e. Employment or job training f. Food Assistance g. Paying for utilities such as electricity, gas, or water h. Childcare i. Accessing Behavioral Health or Healthcare Services j. Financial Coaching and/or Assistance
k. Other specialized programs that assist individuals with disabilities or elders in obtaining or maintaining housing.
Discrimination in the sale or rental of housing, including against those seeking a mortgage or housing assistance, or in other housing-related activities, is banned. This type of discrimination is prohibited by the Fair Housing Act on the basis of race, color, national origin, religion, sex, familial status, and handicap. Several additional federal civil rights statutes, including Title VI of the Civil Rights Act, Section 504 of the Rehabilitation Act, and the Americans with Disabilities Act, ban discrimination in housing and community development programs and activities, particularly those funded by HUD. These civil rights laws impose obligations on organizations to take reasonable measures to ensure meaningful access to their programs and activities for individuals with limited English proficiency (LEP) and to take appropriate measures to ensure effective communication with individuals with disabilities through the provision of appropriate auxiliary aids and services. Numerous federal fair housing and civil rights statutes require HUD and its program participants to actively promote the Fair Housing Act’s objectives.
Disclaimer: The Monmouth County ERAP rules are based on US Department of Treasury criteria and recommendations and are subject to change, modification, or interpretation at any moment during the program’s implementation.
Due to funding constraints and the need to conform to federal requirements, applying to the Monmouth County ERAP does not guarantee financial aid. Beneficiaries of this program are presumed to meet all eligibility requirements for government assistance.