SRAP Fact Sheet

Fact sheet on the State Rental Assistance Program

In its inaugural year, the State's Rental Assistance Program (SRAP) has provided housing vouchers for families and individuals in dire need of housing assistance. These recipients are able to use the vouchers to obtain safe and affordable housing during a time of extremely high housing costs. The program has been enormously helpful to many New Jersey residents who, without the program, may have had to leave our state or face homelessness. New Jersey can and must do more to make SRAP assist the people who need it most. The program needs increased funding and immediate staffing to make it even more successful.

We are urging the Governor to double SRAP funding, from $25 million to $50 million in his proposed budget and will work to make sure the Legislature it. Also, we are asking the Governor to lift the hiring freeze at the Department of Community Affairs immediately, so that the program has adequate staffing levels to meet the needs of our state's most vulnerable residents.

Who is eligible? Most of the vouchers (75%) go to extremely low-income households, those earning less than 30% of the HUD median income.

Who gets the vouchers? The expanded resources will be applied in the same way as the existing program. Vouchers are currently distributed to the following New Jersey residents:

• Seniors aged 65 and older on the DCA Section 8 housing choice voucher program waiting list (30%)
• Households currently on the DCA Section 8 wait list (31%)
• Homeless families with children (17%)
• Project based assistance, including DYFS and other special initiative, (17%).

The Department of Community Affairs also receives 5% to administer the program.

How long does a voucher last? It depends who receives the voucher. Currently,

• Family vouchers are limited to 5 years with a two year extension for extenuating circumstances.
• Senior vouchers are not time limited
• Project based vouchers are valid for 15 years
• 60 days is given for a housing search with the possibility of two 30-day extensions.

New Jersey needs to expand SRAP funding now. Even in the difficult budget times, our state's lowest income residents need to be a priority for our elected officials. Over 100,000 NJ extremely low income households in the state pay over half their income for rent. They desperately need a housing voucher. By doubling the funding and immediately putting staff to work on this program, the state can help meet a critical need for an additional 3,000 families.

For more information, contact Arnold Cohen at acohen@hcdnnj.org