If you are seeking help to pay rent or avoid eviction in New Jersey, various state, local, and charitable programs are available to you. The best immediate step you can take is to use the official NJ DCAid assessment tool. This quick online test automatically checks your eligibility for various state housing assistance, eviction prevention, and utility payment programs—all at once.
State-Administered Rental Vouchers & Subsidies
The New Jersey Department of Community Affairs (DCA) administers long-term housing stabilization programs:
State Rental Assistance Program (SRAP)
The New Jersey State Rental Assistance Program (SRAP) is a state-funded program administered by the New Jersey Department of Community Affairs (DCA) that provides housing vouchers to very low-income state residents.
Unlike the federal “Section 8” Housing Choice Voucher program, SRAP is funded entirely by the state and focuses specifically on New Jersey residents living in extreme poverty, reserving 75% of its available slots for households with incomes below 30% of the Area Median Income (AMI).
Program Types and Time Limits
SRAP operates through two distinct structural models:
Tenant-based assistance: Provides families with a portable voucher that can be used for any private rental unit meeting the program’s safety and inspection standards. Assistance lasts for a maximum of five years or until a permanent federal Section 8 voucher becomes available.
Project-based assistance: Direct subsidies permanently linked to specific affordable housing units or complexes.
Special extensions: The five-year limit does not apply to heads of household who are elderly or have a disability; they receive ongoing, unlimited rental subsidies.
Basic Eligibility Requirements and Waiting List Preferences
To apply when the program opens, you must meet basic state criteria:
Residency: You must be at least 18 years old (or an emancipated minor) and have resided in New Jersey for a minimum of six consecutive months prior to applying.
Income limits: Maximum household income must not exceed 40% of the county’s low-income limit, with absolute priority given to those with incomes below 30% of the AMI.
Priority categories for the lottery: Given that funds are limited, the DCA uses a strict priority-based selection mechanism. When waiting lists open, slots are generally allocated via a lottery system distributed among various preference groups: veterans, homeless families, elderly residents, and households with persons with disabilities.
Current Status & How to Apply
Waiting List Status: The SRAP state lottery waiting list is currently closed. The most recent general enrollment period took place between January 13 and January 31, 2025; during this time, 6,000 households were selected via lottery to be added to the active waiting list.
Vacancy Tracking: The DCA opens the pre-enrollment period periodically, depending on budget availability. When these periods open, applications are processed digitally through the WaitlistCheck portal.
Section 8 Housing Choice Voucher (HCV) Program
The federal Section 8 Housing Choice Voucher (HCV) program is New Jersey’s largest housing assistance initiative. Funded by the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD), the program ensures that low-income families, the elderly, and people with disabilities do not spend more than 30% to 40% of their monthly income on rent and utilities; the voucher covers the remaining balance directly to private landlords.
However, navigating the Section 8 program in New Jersey requires understanding a decentralized system that encompasses dozens of independent agencies.
The Two Ways Section 8 Operates in New Jersey
New Jersey has over 100 autonomous local housing authorities, in addition to the state-level agency. Since there is no single centralized waiting list, you can sign up for multiple lists simultaneously to maximize your chances:
The DCA State Waiting List: The New Jersey Department of Community Affairs (DCA) administers a large-scale state voucher program. When the process opens, applications are handled through the New Jersey WaitlistCheck portal. During statewide open enrollment periods, a computer-generated lottery randomly selects a capped number of applicants (typically 20,000) for placement on the waiting list.
Local Public Housing Authorities (PHAs): Municipalities and counties (e.g., the Newark Housing Authority or Jersey City Housing Authority) manage their own Section 8 applications, waiting lists, and local preference updates, entirely independent of the state.
Eligibility requirements and selection priorities
To qualify for a housing voucher anywhere in the state, you must meet strict HUD parameters:
Income limits: Generally, household income cannot exceed 50% of the Area Median Income (AMI) for your county. By law, 75% of new vouchers must go to “extremely low-income” families—those earning less than 30% of the area median income.
Basic criteria: The head of household must be 18 years of age or older (or an emancipated minor) and pass a criminal background check. Vouchers require U.S. citizenship or eligible legal immigration status; however, “mixed-status” families may receive prorated vouchers.
Local selection preferences: While lottery selection is random, most housing authorities assign weighted priority points that allow applicants to move up the waiting list. Common preference categories include U.S. military veterans, homeless families, victims of domestic violence, and individuals with disabilities.
Eviction Prevention & Emergency Back-Rent
If you are facing imminent eviction, a landlord-tenant dispute, or are behind on rent payments, you may be able to access short-term emergency funds:
Homelessness Prevention Program (HPP)
The Homelessness Prevention Program (HPP) is a specialized, short-term emergency financial safety net administered by the New Jersey Department of Community Affairs (DCA) Office of Homelessness Prevention.
Unlike ongoing housing vouchers, the HPP operates as a temporary crisis intervention designed to immediately halt active eviction or foreclosure proceedings by settling sudden, short-term debts.
How to apply through local agencies
Although the HPP is state-funded, applications are processed locally by contracted non-profit organizations and county community action agencies.
You can start an application online via the NJ DCAid assessment portal to check your eligibility for the program. Alternatively, you can contact the HPP provider assigned to your specific region directly by consulting the official contact list from the NJ DCA agency:
Bergen County: Greater Bergen Community Action — (201) 968-0200
Burlington County: Burlington County Community Action Partnership (BCAP) — (609) 386-5800
Camden County: Camden County Council on Economic Opportunity — (856) 964-6887
Essex County: United Community Corporation — (973) 629-7885 or Family Promise of Essex — (973) 746-1400
Mercer County: HomeFront, Inc. — (609) 989-9417 or Arm in Arm — (609) 396-9355
Middlesex County: Puerto Rican Association for Human Development (PRAHD) — (732) 638-2814
Monmouth County: Interfaith Neighbors — (732) 775-0525
Comprehensive Eviction Defense and Diversion (CEDD)
The Comprehensive Eviction Defense and Diversion (CEDD) program is a statewide network administered by the Office of Eviction Prevention (OEP) within the New Jersey Department of Community Affairs (DCA).
Unlike standard emergency grants that provide only funding, CEDD is a comprehensive defense system combining legal and social services, operating across all counties within New Jersey’s 15 judicial districts. Its primary goal is to level the playing field for low-income tenants facing litigation with their landlords and to prevent illegal evictions (lockouts).
How to Get Connected Instantly
Since court deadlines move quickly, you should contact state authorities or reach out to the resource navigator for your specific county as soon as you receive a warning or notice:
Online assessments: You can view step-by-step guides regarding your rights on the NJ Eviction Guide digital portal.
Hotline: Call the Office of Eviction Prevention directly at (609) 376-0810.
Direct email contact: Send your case details and court docket information directly to evictionprevention@dca.nj.gov.
County Emergency Assistance (EA)
County Emergency Assistance (EA) is a short-term crisis program administered locally by the Board of Social Services in each New Jersey county. Managed under the state’s WorkFirst NJ (WFNJ) framework, the program provides immediate aid for housing, utilities, and basic needs to prevent homelessness.
As a benefit linked to public assistance, it is strictly reserved for residents facing a sudden emergency who have little to no personal financial resources.
Local county office contacts and application
Applications must be submitted to the Board of Social Services in the county where you reside. You can start a preliminary application profile online via NJHelps.org. If you need to contact your county agency directly, here are some of the main offices:
Essex County: Division of Welfare — (973) 395-8000
Hudson County: Department of Family Services — (201) 369-5200
Bergen County: Board of Social Services – EA Hotline — (201) 368-4317
Middlesex County: Board of Social Services — (732) 745-3500
Passaic County: Board of Social Services — (973) 881-0100
Camden County: Board of Social Services — (856) 225-8800
Regional and indirect assistance programs
ANCHOR Property Tax Relief Program: Although it does not reduce the monthly rent amount, the ANCHOR (Affordable New Jersey Communities for Homeowners and Renters) program provides direct financial assistance payments to eligible New Jersey tenants who meet state-established income limits. Check the official State of New Jersey website for application deadlines.
Charitable emergency funds: Major non-profit organizations offer local assistance for rent and utility payments. You can check regional availability through the Salvation Army of New Jersey or the county offices of Catholic Charities of South Jersey.
