$2.4M For Burlington County To Battle Evictions Amid Pandemic

BURLINGTON COUNTY, NJ — Burlington County will receive $2,466,865 in CARES Act funding to hold down the rate of evictions in the county, the United States Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD) announced on Monday.

It is part of $1.988 billion in CARES Act funding g for the Community Development Block Grant (CDBG) program, $75 million of which has been set aside for New Jersey, according to HUD Secretary Ben Carson.

“These funds can help households struggling to meet their rental or mortgage obligations to stay afloat as our nation continues to recover from the coronavirus pandemic,” Carson said in the announcement.

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“The President and Secretary Carson continue to prioritize low-income communities disproportionately impacted by the coronavirus. Over $75 million in CDBG funding will be made available to New Jersey to help residents who face a higher risk of eviction,” HUD Regional Administrator for New York and New Jersey Lynne Patton said. “To date, over $306 million has been made available to New Jersey to ensure cities across the Garden state are able to combat the coronavirus.”

The Trump Administration previously issued a directive halting the eviction of certain renters though the end of 2020 amid the coronavirus pandemic. Read More Here: Trump Admin To Halt Renter Evictions To Prevent Virus Spread

According to the New Jersey Department of Labor and Workforce Development, the state has regained about 49 percent of the jobs lost due to the coronavirus pandemic and measures taken in response to it over the last four months. The state’s unemployment rate was 10.9 percent as of Sept. 17.

The money allocated on Monday can be used to provide temporary financial assistance to meet rental obligations for up to 6 months.

The funds are focused toward places with households facing higher risk of eviction. Specifically:

• Communities with high rates of individuals in industries with high job loss in states with high unemployment;
• Communities with high rates of businesses in industries with high job loss in states with high unemployment; and
• Concentrations of those most at risk for transmission and risk of eviction, with higher amounts for states with high rates of coronavirus.

See related: NJ Coronavirus, Reopen Updates: Here's What You Need To Know