Need help with paying back rent in New Jersey

(Request from Dawn in New Jersey) I need help with paying back rent I am a single mother of a 17 year old son.

Dear Dawn,

There are several rental assistance programs that serve New Jersey tenants. Some programs are available statewide while others are locally based, either by town or county. Depending on where you live, you may have more options available to you in terms of the number of programs, funding and possible wait lists.

HomeFront NJ

HomeFront NJ routinely distributes $500,000 per year to cover back rent and delinquent utilities. Some of this funding is also used to assist with security deposits.

HomeFront NJ focuses on providing help to tenants who live in central New Jersey. This includes Mercer County as well as nearby communities. To find out more about getting help with back rent as well as other housing supports, contact HomeFront directly at 609-989-9417 or visit their Princeton Avenue office in Lawrenceville.

Catholic Charities

Catholic Charities provides assistance for lower income families all over New Jersey. For example, the Diocese of Trenton offers several different programs.

Security deposits and utility bill assistance are available in addition to back rent payment assistance to tenants living in Burlington County. Mercer County tenants may have the option to be placed directly into temporary housing while working with a case manager to locate permanently affordable housing.

The Home, Heat, and Hope program does help with back rent in Ocean County, New Jersey. Security deposit assistance and utility supports can be available as well.

The Diocese of Trenton also operates Project Homestretch. Families with small children can benefit from this transitional housing program in Mercer County.

There are several other housing programs located in multiple New Jersey counties that are operated by Catholic Charities. To find out how you might be able to receive security deposit assistance or help with back rent, call the Access Center hotline at 609-394-3202.

Homelessness Prevention Program

The Homelessness Prevention Program (HPP) is administered by the New Jersey Department of Community Affairs. Cash assistance can be provided on a temporary basis towards back rent owed if it is necessary to prevent an eviction.

Often Temporary Rental Assistance (TRA) can be approved to cover up to three months back rent in New Jersey. Additional rent payments may be approved up to and including another six months of regular rent payments. This can be a pretty amazing level of assistance for families in crisis.

These emergency assistance programs are available primarily to SSI recipients or WorkFirst NJ participants. Applications are accepted by the welfare agency in each county.

Local Programs

While the above programs are available statewide or regionally, there are dozens of other rental assistance programs that can help with back rent in New Jersey. You can search for New Jersey rental assistance programs to find an organization near you.