NJ rent assistance: Who gets preference
NEW JERSEY (PIX11) – New Jersey will begin accepting applications in January to join the waitlist for the state’s rent assistance program, which provides housing subsidies to low-income residents.
New Jersey residents will be able to apply to enter the lottery to join the State Rental Assistance Program waitlist starting Jan. 13 at 9 a.m. until Jan. 31 at 5 p.m. To apply online during the application period, click here.
The lottery will be conducted after the application period closes. In total, 6,000 households will be selected to join the waitlist for the State Rental Assistance Program.
Applicants selected through the lottery will be notified by email. People will also be able to check their application status online after Feb. 14.
To be eligible to apply, applicants must meet certain income limits based on their household size and the county they live in.
2024 NJ Rental Assistance Program income limits
| County | 1 Person | 2 Person | 3 Person | 4 Person | 5 Person | 6 Person | 7 Person | 8 Person |
| Atlantic | 27,450 | 31,375 | 35,300 | 40,100 | 44,765 | 49,405 | 54,045 | 58,710 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Bergen | 36,275 | 41,450 | 46,650 | 51,800 | 55,975 | 60,125 | 64,250 | 69,110 |
| Burlington | 32,125 | 36,725 | 41,325 | 45,875 | 49,575 | 54,255 | 59,245 | 64,235 |
| Camden | 32,125 | 36,725 | 41,325 | 45,875 | 49,575 | 54,255 | 59,245 | 64,235 |
| Cape May | 30,975 | 35,375 | 39,800 | 44,200 | 48,140 | 53,030 | 57,945 | 62,835 |
| Cumberland | 25,250 | 28,850 | 33,185 | 38,125 | 42,640 | 47,130 | 51,620 | 56,110 |
| Essex | 36,525 | 41,725 | 46,925 | 52,125 | 56,325 | 60,500 | 64,650 | 69,360 |
| Gloucester | 32,125 | 36,725 | 41,325 | 45,875 | 49,575 | 54,255 | 59,245 | 64,235 |
| Hudson | 37,500 | 42,850 | 48,200 | 53,525 | 57,850 | 62,125 | 66,400 | 70,675 |
| Hunterdon | 40,950 | 46,800 | 52,650 | 58,475 | 63,850 | 67,850 | 72,525 | 77,200 |
| Mercer | 35,275 | 40,300 | 45,350 | 50,350 | 54,400 | 58,425 | 62,720 | 67,910 |
| Middlesex | 40,950 | 46,800 | 52,650 | 58,475 | 63,175 | 67,850 | 72,525 | 77,200 |
| Monmouth | 36,600 | 41,825 | 47,050 | 52,250 | 56,450 | 60,625 | 64,825 | 69,460 |
| Morris | 36,525 | 41,725 | 46,925 | 52,125 | 56,325 | 60,500 | 64,650 | 69,360 |
| Ocean | 36,600 | 41,825 | 47,050 | 52,250 | 56,450 | 60,625 | 64,825 | 69,460 |
| Passaic | 36,275 | 41,450 | 46,650 | 51,800 | 55,975 | 60,125 | 64,250 | 69,110 |
| Salem | 32,125 | 36,725 | 41,325 | 45,875 | 49,575 | 54,255 | 59,245 | 64,235 |
| Somerset | 40,950 | 46,800 | 52,650 | 58,475 | 63,175 | 67,850 | 72,525 | 77,200 |
| Sussex | 36,525 | 41,725 | 46,925 | 52,125 | 56,325 | 60,500 | 64,650 | 69,360 |
| Union | 36,525 | 41,725 | 46,925 | 52,125 | 56,325 | 60,500 | 64,650 | 69,360 |
| Warren | 32,250 | 36,850 | 41,450 | 46,050 | 49,775 | 54,380 | 59,370 | 64,360 |
Who gets preference for the NJ rent assistance waitlist?
Priority will be given to qualified applicants who are veterans, homeless, disabled, 62 years or older, or who live and work in specified counties in New Jersey. Applicants who qualify for one or more of these preferences will have priority for placement on the waitlist.
- Veterans: Veterans of the U.S. armed forces and their surviving spouses will have the highest priority for the waiting list. A veteran must have been discharged from active duty under an honorable or general discharge. The surviving spouse of a veteran who died outside service is eligible for the same preference up until remarriage.
- Homeless: Individuals or families currently experiencing homelessness, at risk of homelessness, or fleeing domestic violence or other forms of abuse would qualify for this preference.
- Disabled: Households with a member who is receiving Social Security Disability or Supplemental Security Income benefits or has certification from a physician would qualify for this preference.
- Seniors: Head of household members aged 62 or older would qualify for this preference.
- Local residency: Applicants living or working in specified counties in New Jersey would qualify for this preference.
“Our department is dedicated to helping veterans, seniors, disabled individuals, and low-income families find a safe, stable, and affordable home, in the communities they wish to live, by providing critical state rental assistance,” said Jacquelyn Suárez, commissioner of the New Jersey Department of Community Affairs.
For more information about the New Jersey State Rental Assistance Program, click here.
Finn Hoogensen is a digital journalist who has covered local news for more than six years. He has been with PIX11 News since 2022. See more of his work here.