NOTICE: The application period has now ended.

 

City of Newark 2020 Emergency Fund for Tenant-Based Rental Housing Assistance Impacted by COVID-19

 
This application is for families who rent housing in the City of Newark and need assistance with their rent due to the economic impact of COVID-19.
 
PUBLIC HOUSING RESIDENTS AND HOUSING CHOICE VOUCHER (SECTION 8) PARTICIPANTS ARE NOT ELIGIBLE TO APPLY FOR THIS GRANT. AS THESE CLIENTS ARE CURRENTLY RECEIVING A HOUSING ASSISTANCE RENTAL SUBSIDY.
 
PLEASE BE ADVISED THAT THERE IS NO APPLICATION FEE ASSOCIATED WITH THIS GRANT.
DO NOT PAY ANYONE FOR INFORMATION OR ASSISTANCE WITH THIS GRANT.
For free assistance with this grant, see instructions below.

  

THIS GRANT APPLICATION IS OPEN

THIS APPLICATION WILL CLOSE ON THURSDAY, DECEMBER 31, 2020 AT 5PM 

Welcome to the Newark COVID-19 Tenant Based Rental Assistance Program. In this time of crisis, residents nationwide are suffering enormous impacts related to COVID-19.  Mayor Ras. J. Baraka and The City of Newark’s Economic Housing Development Department in partnership with Newark Housing Authority are coordinating this  effort to provide an additiomal $2 million in CARES Act funding for relief while assessing the economic impacts related to COVID-19 on Newark’s most vulnerable residents. To help Newark renters and their families having difficulty paying rent as a result of COVID-19, the City will provide up to $2,000 covering up to three (3) months assistance to households who fall under 60 percent of Area Median Income (AMI) to help with housing costs.  

This grant aims to help Newark residents who have experienced loss of income due to decreases in regular working hours, or being laid-off or furloughed, etc.  This emergency fund will provide up to Two Thousand Dollars ($2,000) to qualifying residents. Please read the following information regarding this grant before beginning the application. Both the Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ) and What You’ll Need To Apply sections of this page will provide the information you’ll need to successfully complete and submit an application, so you should not begin an application until these items are available for uploading. 

You can be assured that your individual responses will not be published. Responses will be analyzed to project the extent of the economic damage to yourself and your household. Only general findings may be published.

Required documentation should be gathered prior to the start of the application for uploading at the end of the application. Please be prepared to provide landlord contact information and upload required documents at the end of the application before starting.

 

WHAT YOU’LL NEED TO APPLY

For your convenience, required documentation (whole document) can either be scanned using a scanner or photographed using a mobile phone or device and uploaded to this application. Clear, legible document images must be uploaded at the time of application submission.

Document requirements can be met with the following:

Income Verification

  • Copy of most recent paystub OR If paid in cash by employer, then must provide an official document from employer with the following information:
    Company Name
    Employer TIN #
    Company Address
    Company Tel#
    Employee Name
    Hours Worked
    Hourly Rate
    Total pay

AND

  • Letter or email of job loss or reduced hours OR Copy of unemployment letter stating unemployment income.

Residence Verification

  • Copy of executed lease

            OR 

(If no formal lease) an official one-page rental agreement with rental terms between landlord and tenant (signed by both parties).

            AND

Copy of late rent notice from landlord (if available)

 

You will also need the following information regarding your landlord for this application:

Landlord Name: [First Name, Last Name; Company Name (if, applicable)]
Landlord Address:
Phone:
Fax:
Email:

 

Required documentation should be gathered prior to the start of the application for uploading at the end of the application. Please be prepared to provide landlord contact information and upload required documents at the end of this application before starting.

 

Once you have this information and these documents are readily available to be uploaded,

then please feel free to begin with this application. Thank you.

 

FAQ SECTION

Who is eligible for this Program?

  • Applicant must be a Newark resident who pays rent.
  • Applicant must show proof that they filed for unemployment insurance or had work hours reduced.
  • Applicant’s household must have fallen under the 60% Area Median Income (AMI) level (see chart below) before filing for unemployment insurance or having hours reduced.
Persons in household
60% Area Median Income 1 2 3 4 5 6
$42,300 $48,300 $54,360 $60,360 $65,220 $70,020

WHAT YOU WILL NEED TO APPLY

For your convenience, required documentation (whole document) can either be scanned using a scanner or photographed using a mobile phone or device and uploaded to this application. Clear, legible document images must be uploaded at the time of application submission.

 

DOCUMENT REQUIREMENTS CAN BE MET WITH THE FOLLOWING:

INCOME AND UNEMPLOYMENT INFORMATION MUST BE PROVIDED FOR ALL ADULT (18 AND OVER) INCOME EARNERS IN THE HOUSEHOLD 

Income Verification for ALL HOUSEHOLD MEMBERS WHO WERE WORKING

  • Copy of most recent paystub OR if paid in cash by employer, then must provide an official document from employer with the following information:
    Company Name
    Employer TIN #
    Company Address
    Company Tel#
    Employee Name
    Hours Worked
    Hourly Rate
    Total pay

AND

  • Letter or email of job loss or reduced hours OR Copy of unemployment letter stating unemployment income. 

Residence Verification

  • Copy of executed lease
    OR 
    (If no formal lease) an official one-page rental agreement with rental terms between landlord and tenant (signed by both parties).
    AND 
    Copy of late rent notice from landlord (if available)
     

You will also need the following information regarding your landlord for this application: 

Landlord Name: [First Name, Last Name; Company Name (if, applicable)]
Landlord Address: 
Phone:
Fax:
Email: 

Once you have this information and these documents are readily available to be uploaded, then you are ready to begin the application. 

What expense does the program award cover?
Program awards cover a portion of the rent owed. 

How much can an applicant be awarded?
Program awards can be up to $2,000 per household, covering up to three (3) months of rent arrears. 

What period of time does the program cover? Program awards cover rent in arrears (owed) for any period between April and/or December 2020.

What is the funding source for this program?
The program is funded with $2 million in CARES Act funding received from the federal government through the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development. 

Who is administering this program?
This rental assistance program is provided by the Department of Economic and Housing Development of the City of Newark and administered in partnership by the Newark Housing Authority. 

Where can applicants apply?
Eligible Newark renters can apply online via the Newark Housing Authority at http://newarkha.org/COVID19RentAssist 

How do applicants apply?
Eligible Newark renters apply by completing the online application at http://newarkha.org/COVID19RentAssist and uploading all required documents at the end of the application. 

No applications can be submitted in-person. Only 1 application per household will be accepted. Income and unemployment information for all income earners in the household must be included. 

When can applicants apply?
Eligible Newark renters will be able to apply online during the period of Thursday, December 17, 2020 beginning at 2pm through Thursday, December 31, 2020 ending at 5pm.

What will applicants need to provide to complete an application? 
Eligible Newark renters will need to verify their eligibility by uploading proof of residence and proof of loss of income, along with providing the contact information of their landlord. A list of acceptable documents can be found at the program welcome page at http://newarkha.org/COVID19RentAssist 

When will applicants be notified? 
Selections will be made in January provided that the application is completed with proper documentation.

How will applicants be notified?
Applicants will be notified by email as to whether they were awarded. 

What will applicants need to do if awarded?
The renter/awardee will enter into a rental assistance agreement with the City of Newark for a period of up to three months retroactively beginning as early as April 1, 2020. 

How will payment be made if awarded?
Rent payment will be made via ACH directly to the landlord only, on behalf of the renter/awardee. 

If I applied in the 1st round of the program and was awarded the grant for $1,000; can I apply in this round?
Yes, Applicants who were awarded the grant in the first round can apply in this round for assistance with rent for other months that were not paid.

Is there any cost associated with this application?
There is absolutely no application fee, cost, or monetary contribution of any kind associated with this program. Please do not pay anyone in connection with this program opportunity. Free information and assistance are available at The Newark Housing Authority at COVIDrenthelp@Newarkha.org and (973) 346-9432. No authorized, legitimate source of assistance for this program will ask you for any payment.

Who can prospective applicants contact if there are any other questions or if assistance is needed?
The Newark Housing Authority can be contacted at COVIDrenthelp@Newarkha.org or at (973) 346-9432.

If you have questions, please email Emergency Rental Assistance Program at COVIDrenthelp@Newarkha.org or call (973) 346-9432 between 9am and 4:30pm, Monday through Friday.