N.J. put up $125M to help renters and landlords during pandemic. But too many have been left out, advocates say.
Updated Jan 02, 2021;
When Neal McGrath was suddenly forced to rely on unemployment benefits after losing his job due to the coronavirus pandemic, he cut every expense he could phone, car insurance, groceries to cover the rent for his Hopewell townhouse.
Once the state announced the COVID-19 Emergency Rental Assistance Program in July, McGrath felt relieved to have the chance at badly needed money. But he ended up on a wait list.
On Dec. 11, he received an email at 11:16 p.m. informing him to submit personal information and documents by that Monday or he’d lose his chance at rental relief. He assumed it was a phishing attempt, since the email wasn’t from the state Department of Community Affairs, which runs the rental assistance program.