COVID Relief Program Brings NJ Landlords and Tenants Together
NEW JERSEY — The following news release comes courtesy of New Jersey Citizen Action. Learn more about posting announcements or events to your local Patch site.
New Jersey Citizen Action Education Fund (NJCAEF) has a unique solution to New Jersey’s pandemic rental crisis: a direct relief program in which landlords and financial coaches work together with tenants who are behind on their rent on solutions that include repayment plans and forgiveness of back rent. Thanks to Bank of America, the COVID-19 Housing Security Program, which rolled out as a pilot last year, can now expand into a full-blown program this year.
Many New Jerseyans continue to face housing insecurity even as much of the state reopens and continues its recovery from the COVID pandemic. NJCAEF’s program takes a comprehensive approach to tackling this insecurity by requiring the active participation of landlords who have partnered with NJCAEF, tenants who have been invited by landlords to the program, and financial coaches who evaluate tenant housing situations and assist them in establishing household budgets and personalized action plans.
“We can best address housing insecurity by taking a comprehensive approach that involves landlords, tenants and the expertise of financial coaches,” said NJCAEF director of empowerment Rosemary Nwabueze. “We thank the flagship funders who enabled us to develop a pilot program, our longtime partner Bank of America for its commitment of $200,000 that supports our overall mission in addition to financial coaching services to expand the program, and the landlords and tenants who have made commitments so far. We urge more for-profit and nonprofit landlords to contact us to participate.”
“As the pandemic continues to impact the community, many of our neighbors are facing evictions and foreclosures, ultimately contributing to the growing housing crisis in our state,” said Alberto Garofalo, president of Bank of America New Jersey. “Bank of America extends its support to Citizen Action as the organization continues its tireless work to fight housing insecurity in the region, including the expansion of a program addressing the overwhelming need for housing solutions in the wake of COVID-19.”
Landlords invite tenants to the program using specific criteria based in part on household income, payment history and financial hardships related to the pandemic. Tenants participating in the program work with financial coaches on developing personalized goals negotiated with landlords that include repayment plans and, when possible, forgiveness of back rent owed.
“The key to the program’s success is constant and regular communication,” said Paula Mirk, NJCAEFs director of financial coaching who oversees the program. “If tenants commit to staying current in their rent and agree to a repayment plan, landlords forgive part of the back rent as part of the plan, and we provide the financial tools and education tenants need to ensure the plan succeeds.”
“As the first landlord to partner with NJCAEF, we’re very pleased with the quality of financial coaching and the streamlined program development. Our tenants greatly benefitted from the high-touch, hands-on approach that the NJCAEF staff provide. This support helped to address tenant’s immediate arrears and has established skills that will better prepare them for future economic issues,” said Danielle Rosen, director of operations, CAPC with New Jersey Community Capital. “We look forward to continuing this partnership as the program expands.”
“We’re very excited to begin working with NJCAEF in Salem County, and hope to soon work with other tenants in need throughout other parts of the state,” said Dan Antonellis, president of Region 9 Housing Corporation. “When landlords, tenants and financial coaches work together we help ensure that families stay in their homes and neighborhoods are preserved.”
Coaches also work with program participants to help them apply for state or local COVID-19 Emergency Rental Assistance Programs when appropriate. In addition, NJCAEF connects tenant participants with its free wraparound services, including tax preparation, healthcare enrollment assistance, and screening for other state and federal public benefits.
Landlords interested in joining the NJCAEF’s Housing Security Program can contact NJCAEF President Phyllis Salowe-Kaye at phyllis@njcitizenaction.org.
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COVID Relief Program Brings NJ Landlords and Tenants Together originally appeared on the Newark Patch
