Resources for Tenants/Renters in NJ

Anyone can call 211 for information on social services, as well as local orgs or churches who may be able to assist with housing needs. When applicable, be sure to ask for a tracking number so you can follow-up.

If you owe back rent, fill out the NJ Eviction and Homelessness Prevention Certification as soon as possible! If you submit the certification and if you are eligible you may be protected from being evicted or removed from where you are living at any time for past due rent accrued between March 1, 2020 and either August 31, 2021, or December 31, 2021, depending on your income.

Find it at: https://covid19.nj.gov/forms/renterform

##Legal Resources for Tenants

• Low-income persons in need of civil legal services, including in the areas of housing, family matters, access to public benefits and healthcare, senior citizen legal needs, and consumer financial issues can contact Central Jersey Legal Services at 732-249-7600 or at cjls@lsnj.org for an eligibility screening.
• You can also contact the Legal Services of New Jersey hotline at 1-888-576-5529
• Community Health Law Project: call (973) 680-5599 or email bloomfield@chlp.org
• Volunteer Lawyers for Justice: call (973) 943-4754 or email vlj@vljnj.org or fill out the online intake form at https://www.vljnj.org/onlineintake

Department of Environmental Protection Hotline: for environmental emergencies, call (877) 927-6337

Homeless Prevention Program (HPP): for individuals who are employed or receiving unemployment or disability payments, call 1-866-889-8270

Home Energy Assistance Hotline: 1-800-510-3102 or email Utilityhelp@nj211.org

Housing Discrimination: file a complaint with the NJ Division on Civil Rights at (973) 648-2700

Division of Codes and Standards & Relocation Assistance Program: (609) 292-7899

Resources for Tenants/Renters in New Brunswick

Human and Community Services

Keith Jones, Director: (732) 745-5075

Water Utility

Alexei Walus, Director: (732) 745-5062

Senior Resource Center

Melanie Ford, Director: (732) 745-5100

Youth Services System Ivan Adorno, Director: (732) 745-5300

New Brunswick Rent Control Office: (732) 745-5050

25 Kirkpatrick Street, 2nd Floor, New Brunswick, NJ 08901

Maria Cody, Rent Control Administrator: mcody@cityofnewbrunswick.org

New Brunswick’s Rent Control Ordinance regulates annual, allowable rent increases on most rental apartments. (The allowable annual increase for 2022 is 2.8%.) If you are in a regulated unit, your rent cannot be increased more than once in a 12- month period. If you suspect your rent was increased more than allowed, contact the Rent Control Office to file a complaint.

New Brunswick Department of Housing Inspections: (732) 745-5075

If you feel that the conditions in your apartment or house are unlivable or dangerous, you can have the local housing inspector inspect the property. However, you should first give the landlord written notice of the problems and an opportunity to repair them before calling the Housing Inspection Department.

Alex Adkins, Director of Inspections: (732) 745-5075

When applicable, be sure to ask for a tracking number so you can follow-up

PRAB Home Energy Assistance Program

Customer Care Representative: (732) 828–4510 ext. 111 or email hea@prab.org

PRAB Housing Services

Gloria Meléndez, Manager: (732) 828-4510 x 154 or email Gmelendez@prab.org

REACH OUT TO US!

Leave a message at (848) 209-6552 or send us an email at CNJDSAHousingJustice@gmail.com