Dec. 15 Deadline to Apply for Rental and Utilities Assistance

Published on December 02, 2021

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State Programs Closing Application Period in Two Weeks

The Morris County Department of Human Services issued a reminder today that Dec. 15 is the deadline set by the state Department of Community Affairs on submitting applications for rental assistance, eviction protection and assistance in paying overdue utility bills.

The DCA mailed letters in mid-October to approximately 350,000 households behind in their electric and gas bills, informing them about the assistance available to pay arrearages. Households that misplaced the letter, did not open it or forgot about it can visit the DCAid Service Portal and enter their utility account number to see if they qualify for arrears assistance.

Learn more about assistance with utilities at the DCA website.

Households in Morris County having difficulty applying should contact the Morris County Organization for Hispanic Affairs, Inc., which is working with the DCA in administering the program. See “Utilities Assistance” listing below for phone numbers and office locations.

RENTAL ASSISTANCE AND EVICTION PROTECTION

Rental Aid 2.jpg The DCA has also advised that the application period for the COVID-19 Emergency Rental Assistance Program and the Eviction Protection Program will be closing on Dec. 15, 2021.

Both programs are designed to provide relief to people in low- and moderate-income households who are unable to pay rent due to COVID-19. To date, more than $421 million in federal Emergency Rental Assistance funds have been issued to 47,329 New Jersey households.

Landlords also may apply for assistance on behalf of a tenant.

Learn more or apply for assistance under both programs at the NJ-DCA portal.

Applications can be submitted online with the use of a personal computer, laptop, smartphone or tablet. The application is available in ten languages.

Anyone with questions or difficulty accessing the Internet should contact the DCA’s call center at 609-490-4550. The call center is open from 8 a.m. to 8 p.m., seven days a week, and is staffed with English and Spanish speaking assistants. Translation services for other languages also are available.

Individuals without Internet access may submit pre-applications over the phone.

Important notice: Applicants for rental assistance must be aware they are not guaranteed assistance because the number of applications will exceed the funding currently available to provide rental relief. Applications received prior to the Dec. 15 deadline will be included in a lottery to fairly distribute the remaining federal funds.

UTILITIES ASSISTANCE

Collaborating with the DCA on the utilities assistance is the Morris County Organization for Hispanic Affairs, Inc. The office locations, mailing address and phone numbers are listed below.

Dover Office:

95 Basset Highway, Suite 97, Dover, NJ 07081

Email: [email protected]

Phone: (973) 366-4770, Extension 26

Fax: (973) 361-7878

Hours of Operation: Monday to Friday, 9:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m.

Morristown Office:

45 Clyde Potts Ct., Morristown, NJ 07960

Email: [email protected]

(973) 366-4770 Extension 22

Fax: (973) 644-4878

Hours of Operation: Monday to Friday, 9 a.m. to 4 p.m.

A Drop-Off Mail Box is available during and after working hours.

Mailing Address:

95 - 97 Basset Highway

Dover, NJ 07081

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