For more information on the Program, click the link below:
https://www.nj.gov/dca/cverap2.shtml
Welcome to the New Jersey Department of Community Affairs
Statewide Open Enrollment Site for:
THE SECTION 8 HOUSING CHOICE VOUCHER PROGRAM
THE WAITLIST IS NOW CLOSED.
The New Jersey Department of Community Affairs (DCA), Division of Housing and Community Resources (DHCR) will be accepting Section 8 Housing Choice Voucher Program pre applications online at: www.WaitlistCheck.com/NJ559 for the Section 8 Housing Choice Voucher (HCV) Program waiting list state-wide. The Section 8 Housing Choice Voucher Program is a federally funded program that provides housing subsidies to New Jersey residents, so that they can obtain decent, safe, and sanitary housing. Persons applying to the waiting list must be eighteen (18) years of age or older to apply or be an emancipated minor and meet all applicable federal income and eligibility requirements. A total of 20,000 households will be selected through a random lottery system and be placed on the Section 8 Housing Choice Voucher Program waiting list.
DCA has adopted the following preferences for admission to the waiting list: Veterans, Homeless, Disabled, Domestic Violence, and Local Residents (below are the detailed definitions). Applicants who qualify for one or more preferences will have priority for selection for placement on the waiting list. United States Armed Forces Veterans, and their surviving spouses in accordance with New Jersey Administrative Code (N.J.A.C.) 5:40-2.5., have the highest priority. Individuals who claim to have a preference, must meet all eligibility criteria for a Section 8 Housing Choice Voucher Program at the time of selection from the waiting list.
Only one (1) Section 8 Housing Choice Voucher Program pre-application per household will be accepted.
Applicants should select all preferences that apply to them.
Veteran Preference: A Veterans Preference is defined as United States Armed Forces Veterans discharged or released from active duty in the armed forces under honorable conditions are eligible for the veterans' preference. This means you must have been discharged under an honorable or general discharge. The surviving spouse of a United States Armed Forces Veteran who died outside of service is entitled to the same preference as the United States Armed Forces Veteran, up until they remarry.
Homeless Preference: A Homeless Preference is defined as individuals and families who are experiencing homelessness; at risk of experiencing homelessness; fleeing, or attempting to flee, domestic violence, dating violence, sexual assault, stalking, or human trafficking; or were recently homeless and for whom providing rental assistance will prevent the family's homelessness or having high risk of housing instability. For a complete definition of homeless see our Frequently Asked Questions and SEC. 103. [42 USC 11302].
Disabled Preference: A Disabled Preference is defined by (1) Documentation from the Social Security Administration that a member of the household is a disabled person who is receiving Social Security Disability or Supplemental Security Income benefits; or (2) Certification from a physician, on a Certification of Disability Form that a member of the household is a person with disabilities.
Domestic Violence Preference: A Domestic Violence Preference is defined as (1) Is currently living in a housing unit in which a member of the household engages in such violence. The actual or threatened violence must be of a continuing nature and have occurred within the past 120 days; or (2) The applicant has been displaced because of domestic violence and is not currently residing in standard, permanent replacement housing, to avoid the threat of continued abuse; (3) The applicant is a victim of dating violence, sexual assault, stalking or human trafficking.
Local and Secondary Residency Preference: Local and Residency preference is defined as a preference for admission of families that reside anywhere in a specified area, including families with a member who works or has been hired to work in the area (“residency preference area”). and to include the DCA’ s determination that for the purposes of selection, residency will be decided on a county-by-county basis. For DCA, the specified area is New Jersey.
When: The open enrollment period is Tuesday, January 17, 2023, 9:00 AM EST., to Friday, February 3, 2023, at 5:00 PM EST. All Section 8 Housing Choice Voucher Program pre-applications will be selected through a random lottery process. Applicants who qualify for a preference shall have priority for placement on the waiting list. Preference includes, Veterans, Homeless and Domestic Violence, Local Residents and Disabled individuals. United States Armed Forces Veterans, and their surviving spouses in accordance with New Jersey Administrative Code (N.J.A.C.) 5:40-2.5., have the highest priority.
How: The Section 8 Housing Choice Voucher Program pre-applications will be available only on-line at: https://www.WaitlistCheck.com/NJ559. Only, one (1) Section 8 Housing Choice Voucher Program pre-application per household will be accepted. Duplicate Section 8 Housing Choice Voucher Program pre-applications will not be considered. Paper pre-applications will not be accepted unless a reasonable accommodation is necessary. Please contact DCA-DHCR at 609-292-4080 and select Option 9 from the menu and request a reasonable accommodation, during the hours of 8:00 AM to 8:00 PM seven days a week, or email us at: customer.service@dca.nj.gov, during the opening period.
Submission of a Section 8 Housing Choice Voucher Program pre-application does not guarantee placement on the Section 8 Housing Choice Voucher Program waiting list.
Where: The Section 8 Housing Choice Voucher Program pre-application can be submitted ONLINE with the use of a personal computer, laptop, smart phone, or tablet by going on-line at https://www.WaitlistCheck.com/NJ559.
Information Required: Names, social security numbers, birthdates and income information for all individuals living in the household must be included. Income is defined as: Temporary Assistance to Needy Families (TANF), Social Security Retirement, Social Security Disability, Supplemental Security Income (SSI), pensions, child support, alimony, unemployment, temporary disability, wages, self-employment earning, etc., for all individuals living in the household.
An email address is required to apply. If you do not have one, the pre-application process will allow you to create one. If you need assistance in another language the Section 8 Housing Choice Voucher Program pre-application is available in 90 languages, which can be found at https://www.WaitlistCheck.com/NJ559 at the top right of the pre-application.
Reasonable Accommodation: DCA will accept reasonable accommodations request from disabled individuals on a case-by-case basis. An individual can call DCA Customer Service Unit at 609-292-4080, Option 9, if a reasonable accommodation is needed during the hours of 8:00 AM to 8:00 PM seven days a week, or email us at: customer.service@dca.nj.gov during the opening period.
Income Limits: At the time of selection from the Section 8 Housing Choice Voucher Program waiting list, applicants must meet the income limits of the county where they will be residing and provide proof of residency. The below Chart only goes up to 8 household members. If you have a larger household, please contact DCA at 609-292-4080, select Option 9 for assistance in determining the maximum income limits for your household. The below Income Limits Chart show the income limits that are in effect now.
2022 CURRENT INCOME LIMITS FOR ALL NEW JERSEY COUNTIES
COUNTY
1 PERSON
