Mayor Baraka’s Emergency Rental Assistance Program, Newark, New Jersey
The Emergency Rental Assistance Program monies will be used to cover past-due rent for up to twelve (12) months and up to three (3) months of prospective rent, as determined on a case-by-case basis. This time around, landlords will be able to pre-register to expedite the processing of tenant applications.
- Monday, July 19th: Online pre-registration begins at 9 a.m. Click here (Landlords Only)
- Tenant application period begins Monday, July 26th.
- Both landlords and tenants are eligible to apply until Tuesday, November 5th at 6 p.m.
26th July, Monday - The application screening session officially begins.
- Awards are typically issued within 30–60 days of application.
- Landlords can obtain pre-registration assistance by phoning the call center at (866)-484-9033.
Tenants can receive application assistance via phone or in person at chosen community-based groups located around the city. The following are the current locations:
- Community Action in Clinton Hill (404 Hawthorne Avenue)
Mondays, Wednesdays, and Fridays, 10:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m. (By appointment only) - To schedule an in-person appointment, call 201-228-0757 or contact support@clintonhillaction.org.
Corporation of the Ironbound (317 Elm Street) - Monday – 11 a.m. to 4 p.m.
- Tuesday – 11 a.m. to 4 p.m.
- Wednesday – 2:00 p.m. to 7:00 p.m.
- Thursday – 11 a.m. to 4 p.m.
- Saturday, August 14th and Sunday, August 28th – 11 a.m. to 2 p.m.
To make an in-person appointment, call 862-334-6466.
76 Clinton Avenue, Newark, NJ 07114 La Casa de Don Pedro (Multiple Locations)
Open Monday–Friday, 8:00 a.m.–3:30 p.m.
To arrange an in-person appointment at this location, call 973-624-4222.
Newark, New Jersey 07104 23 Broadway
Monday–Friday, 8:00 a.m.–3:30 p.m.
317 Roseville Avenue, Newark, NJ 07107 973-483-2703
Mon., Tues., Thurs., and Fri. 9am-5pm
Wednesdays from 11 a.m. to 7 p.m.
To arrange an in-person appointment at this location, call 973-485-0701.
Introducing a New Community Corporation (274 South Orange Avenue)
Monday–Friday, 9 a.m.–6 p.m.
To make an in-person appointment, call 973-824-6484.
Unified Vailsburg Services Organization (1044 South Orange Avenue) To make an in-person visit, call 973-374-2000 ext. 1100.
Am I Eligible?
To be eligible, you and/or your household must meet the following criteria:
- Be an inhabitant of Newark,
- Have a household income in 2020 that is equal to or less than 80% of the Area Median Income (AMI) in the City of Newark
- One or more members of your home qualify for unemployment benefits, or your household has experienced a decrease in income, significant costs, or other financial hardship as a direct or indirect result of COVID-19.
- One or more household members may exhibit a risk of homelessness or housing instability.
- Currently obligated to pay rent on your principal house
Landlord Pre-Registration
As a landlord, you are an integral element of the ERAP and are encouraged to engage actively in order to be considered for funding. Landlords must register with the program in order to engage as a vendor and receive payments directly on behalf of their authorized tenants.
Tenants may receive direct payments if their landlord is unresponsive or refuses to take payment. Landlords who fail to register or accept rental assistance payments following the filing of nonpayment of rent eviction case against a tenant face a $500 fine per incident.
*46:8-49.3. Acceptance of rent payments made within three business days after commencement of eviction action for nonpayment of rent; receipt; fee recovery; penalty
a. A landlord shall accept rent payments made within the three-business-day period specified in subsection a. of section 1 of [NJSA 2A:42-10.16a], whether in cash, certified check, or money order, or on behalf of the tenant through any federal, state, or local rental assistance program or bona fide charitable organization. A landlord shall cooperate with any federal, state, or municipal rental assistance program or bona fide charitable organization that has agreed to pay rent that is past due. If a landlord fails to react to a tenant’s efforts to settle a late payment issue through a third party, the tenant may seek redress by requesting a showing cause order.
….
d. A landlord who violates any provision of [NJSA 2A:42-10.16a, referenced above] is subject to a fine of not more than $500 for each violation. The penalty shall be collected and enforced in a court of competent jurisdiction pursuant to the “Penalty Enforcement Law of 1999,” P.L.1999, c. 274 (C.2A:58-10 et seq.).
How do I enroll in ERAP?
Landlords with properties in the City of Newark can now pre-register online.
Registration enables the system to match tenants and landlords and allows landlords to view the progress of tenant applications. If a landlord is not already registered, he or she will receive an invitation to register when a renter applies for the program and submits landlord information on the application.
If you have any difficulty registering or have any concerns regarding the program, you may contact a Customer Call Center Representative at (866) 484-9033 for assistance and direction. Monday through Friday, from 9 a.m. to 6 p.m. est.
What Documents Do I Need to Qualify?
When registering, you will require the following:
- W9 form that has been completed
- Payment details, if accepted, including bank account information through voided check and postal address for any applicable rental properties
- Acceptance of the program’s terms and conditions via electronic signature
If your tenant submits an application, you will need to give the following information:
- Verification of the tenant(s) residing at the property, where necessary, and the tenant’s relationship (s)
- Complete the Rental ledger form for each renter that applies, listing past-due rental payments.
What Does the Money Pay For?
The funds will be used to pay for up to twelve (12) months of past-due rent and up to three (3) months of prospective rent. Funding must be applied to the program’s approved months. You will get money directly if you are enrolled and your renter is accepted for funding. Payments for utilities will not be covered at this time, but may be considered in the future.
If an authorized tenant previously received shelter assistance from the City for a month that is still unpaid, the program will be unable to repeat that month’s qualifying payment (s).
Are Landlord Funds Limited?
There is no cap on the number of funds that landlords can receive because the subsidy would cover households. Landlords may be accepted for funding numerous households based on the number of properties they own in the City of Newark.
Assistance may cover up to 12 months of past-due rent per family beginning March 13, 2020, or later. It may also include the present and projected months, which are determined on a case-by-case basis.
Am I Eligible for ERAP?
Residents must meet the following criteria:
- Rent in Newark
-Cannot be renting a homesteaded property; a unit in which the landlord dwells
-Not capable of migrating to a new location - Financially impacted from March 13, 2020, as a result of the COVID-19 pandemic. COVID-19 has had the following effects:
-Qualified to receive unemployment benefits
-Income was reduced
-Significant costs or financial hardship have been incurred, directly or indirectly, as a result of COVID-19, jeopardizing the household’s capacity to pay the rental property’s costs
-Rental assistance is only available to households that have an ongoing lease with a past-due payment. - Household income must be less than or equal to 80% of Area Median Income (AMI) as stated on the 2020 Federal Income Tax Return (IRS form 1040 Adjusted Gross Income) or as determined across all W-2 and/or 1099 forms.
- Priority will be given to qualified households with an AMI of less than 50% of households with one or more members who have been unemployed for 90 days previous to the application date.