The City of Hoboken will distribute $1.25 million in federal aid for rental assistance and local nonprofits that have been impacted during the COVID-19 pandemic.
By John Heinis/Hudson County View
The two programs are the latest initiatives crafted to assist Hoboken residents, as detailed in the Hoboken Rescue Plan that allocates around $13.2 million in American Rescue Plan funding to programs and initiatives that support the City’s continued recovery.
“The pandemic has touched all aspects of our residents’ lives and we must do everything we can to help alleviate the pressures our most vulnerable residents are under,” Mayor Ravi Bhalla said in a statement.
“That’s why we are dedicating over $1 million to low- and moderate-income residents facing housing insecurity and providing grant funding to our frontline nonprofit community that continues to offer wrap-around services throughout this pandemic, ensuring no one goes without food, shelter, mental health support, childcare and so much more. I urge all those eligible to apply for these grant funds because together, we can continue to uplift one another in this time of need and recover from the pandemic as a community.”
The city’s COVID-19 Rental Assistance Program will provide up to $5,000 each in rental assistance on behalf of tenants who suffered financial hardship due to the current public health emergency.
Low-to-moderate income individuals and families residing in Hoboken who are unable to pay rent can apply with their landlords through a two-part application process that preserves tenant and landlord privacy.
Through the program, grant funding will be paid directly to the tenant’s landlord. The landlord must, in return, agree that all of the tenant’s debts to date are satisfied, including any rental arrears and associated late fees.
To qualify for rental assistance, tenants must be a Hoboken resident, have been current on rent through March 31st, 2020, show the need for rental assistance directly or indirectly due to the COVID-19 pandemic, as well as showing at least one household member received unemployment or received a reduction in household income.
Tenants that can document other types of financial hardship related to the pandemic will also be considered and all applicants are asked to provide required documentation such as a copy of the lease or other documentation showing residence, income documentation, some form of ID, and documentation showing past due rent or an eviction notice.
They also must have an Annual Household Income (AMI) that does not exceed 80 percent, with priority given to households whose annual income is below 50 percent.
Tenants can still apply if they have received assistance from another program and undocumented residents are also eligible.
Tenants and landlords have until Monday, November 29th, to apply. The city will award funds to eligible applicants on a first-come, first-served basis until program funds expire.
A link to the application can be found here. The application link will go live at 12 p.m. today, Oct. 27. For questions or program information, email HobokenRentalAssistGrant@hobokennj.gov.
Additionally, the city’s new Nonprofit Support Grant Program aims to provide relief to Hoboken-based nonprofit organizations that specifically address COVID-19 challenges in the community, such as those related to public health and safety, education, childcare, as well as economic security.
Through this program, the City will award nonprofits grants of up to $50,000 to reimburse previously unbudgeted expenses related to the organization’s emergency needs during the pandemic and/or specific programmatic needs related to offering community programs and services specifically for pandemic response and recovery.
To be eligible to apply, a nonprofit must be a 501(c)3 located and operating in Hoboken that offers programs directly tied to the COVID-19 related needs of Hoboken residents.
The nonprofit must have incurred the unbudgeted COVID-19 related expenses between March 1st, 2020, and October 1st, 2021.
Examples of eligible programs include, but are not limited to, community-based health programs, food banks, meal delivery services, shelters, domestic abuse support services, childcare programs, and telephone or virtual mental health support programs, among others.
Nonprofit organizations have until Friday, November 12th, to apply. The City of Hoboken will award a limited number of one-time Nonprofit Support Grants until program funds expire.
A link to the application can be found here. The application link will go live at 12 p.m. today, Oct. 27. For questions or program information, email HobokenNonprofitSupportGrant@hobokennj.gov.
The City will disperse funds from both programs before the end of the year.
Undoubtedly a last-minute ploy to by our horrendously corrupt terrible bad no good administration to curry favor from voters, amiright amiright amiright??!! tErOR fLyEr!!!!!!
Obviously not