New Jersey

New Jersey Gov.Phil Murphy (D) signed legislation that will provide eviction prevention and utility assistance for renters who have been financially impacted by the COVID-19 pandemic.

The New Jersey Housing and Mortgage Finance Agency is proposing amendments to its tenant selection standards rules. The proposed amendments clarify certain provisions and update the rules to correspond with current terminology and to remain current with legal standards arising from applicable State and Federal statutory and regulatory requirements related to fair housing, including guidance from HUD. Comments are due by September 17 to Jim Peasco, senior legal research analyst at jpeasco@njhmfa.gov.

Enterprise Community Partners is launching  Equitable Path Forward: Advisory Services (EPF AS), a 24-month program that will support up to eight Black, Indigenous and people of color- (BIPOC) led affordable housing organizations enhance their capabilities and strengthen their operations. 

The Michaels Organization said the Housing Authority of the City of Camden, NJ, along with the city as co-applicant, were awarded $35 million in Choice Neighborhood Initiative (CNI) funding for the transformation of Ablett Village, a public housing community. Michaels, HACC’s private sector housing partner for Ablett Village, will begin the first phase of the four-phase comprehensive transformation, the company said in its announcement.

The New Jersey Housing and Mortgage Finance Agency (HMFA) published its 2021 Unified Application (UNIAP) for HMFA Multifamily Rental Housing Production Programs.

The New Jersey Housing and Mortgage Finance Agency (NJHMFA) will not make any changes to its 2021 nine percent LIHTC round. The timeline for the 2021 round is available here. Projects seeking construction and/or permanent financing from NJHMFA should contact the Multifamily Supportive Housing and Lending Division as soon as possible.

New Jersey Housing and Mortgage Finance Agency’s (NJ HMFA) Technical Services department has developed a condensed specification format to assist architects with their Construction Document submission for review by the Agency.

New Jersey Housing and Mortgage Finance Agency published updated Selection, Underwriting and Financing Guidelines and Policy, which became effective on December 10, 2020.

New Jersey Housing and Mortgage Finance Agency (NJ HMFA) updated the Unified Application For Housing Production Programs (UNIAP), effective Dec. 21, 2020. Changes include the following: Clarification on the application process; Updates to available programs; Income Averaging selection box; and Updated lists of documents required for application.

Melanie Walter was appointed as executive director of New Jersey Housing and Mortgage Finance Agency (NJHMFA) at its December 10 board meeting. Walter served as Department of Community Affairs (DCA) director of the Division of Local Government Services (DLGS) and Local Finance Board chairwoman for two and half years, first as acting director, then under permanent appointment.

Charles Richman, executive director of the New Jersey Housing and Mortgage Finance Agency (NJHMFA) will be retiring from public service as of December 31, 2020 after nearly 50 years.

The National Housing Trust and Climate Central released an analysis evaluating the risk to affordable housing from flooding related to sea-level rise over the next 30 years. The report found, among other items, that the number of affordable rental apartments at risk from coastal flooding and sea-level rise is expected to more than triple during the next three decades.