Bloomfield Mayor Touts NJ Program For Low-Income Home Renters

BLOOMFIELD, NJ — Need help paying the rent in Bloomfield? There may be a state program that can help, town officials say.

The State of New Jersey Rental Assistance Program (SRAP) will accept applications to be added to the waiting list starting Monday, July 11. The open enrollment period – originally set to end at 5 p.m. on Friday, July 22 – has been extended to Monday, July 25 due to “technical difficulties,” according to a state website.

Learn more about the program here.

Applications must be submitted online at: WaitlistCheck.com/NJ559. A Patch reporter had difficulties accessing the site on Monday.

According to a municipal notice from Bloomfield Township, here’s what the program does:

“SRAP is a state-funded program that provides housing subsidies on behalf of very low-income New Jersey residents, for decent, safe and sanitary housing. Persons applying must meet all applicable SRAP income and eligibility requirements, which can be found on the program’s website. A total of 4,000 households will be selected through a lottery system to be added to the waiting lists. You must be eighteen years of age or older to apply, or be an emancipated minor. Only one SRAP pre-application per household will be accepted. Please note that only New Jersey residents are eligible to apply for SRAP assistance.”

“With inflation and the cost of living at an all-time high, families need all the relief they can get,” Bloomfield Mayor Michael Venezia said.

“My administration stands ready to assist anyone who needs help completing or submitting their applications, and I strongly encourage residents to take full advantage of this great program for assistance with paying their rent,” Venezia said.

Bloomfield residents with questions or assistance with the online application can contact the Bloomfield Human Services Department at (973) 680-4017.

• See related article: Renting A Home Is Getting More Expensive In NJ; Here's How Much

Send local news tips and correction requests to eric.kiefer@patch.com. Learn more about posting announcements or events to your local Patch site. Don’t forget to visit the Patch Bloomfield Facebook page.