Homelessness Prevention Program
CFA’s Homelessness Prevention Program provides financial assistance, guidance, and peace of mind to struggling low-income households. As a result of the pandemic, thousands of families are many months behind in rent and utility payments. CFA is working hard to help as many families stay in their apartments as possible. CFA helps with security deposits and first month’s rent for those moving into new apartments.
These programs are made possible in part by the generous support of Oritani Bank Charitable Foundation, Columbia Bank Foundation and many individuals and grants from:
- Emergency Homelessness Prevention-Seniors Program-funded by Division of Senior Services, Bergen County
- Emergency Homelessness Prevention funded by Bergen County Human Services and Passaic County Human Services
- Security Deposit Assistance-funded by Community Development, County of Bergen
CFA’s Homelessness Prevention is designed to help at-risk families facing eviction or those needing to relocate due to financial hardship in Bergen and Passaic Counties.
Our program provides rental, security deposit and utility assistance to prevent evictions, enable families to move into more affordable housing, and helps keep gas, electricity, heating services from being disconnected.
This is made possible by support from Bergen and Passaic County Human Services, Bergen County Community Development, and Bergen County Division of Senior Services. Additional funds are made available from funding from generous foundations and donors who earmark their donations for homelessness prevention.
Additional Resources for NJ Residents
If you need help paying the rent
Utility Assistance
For a senior on a fixed income, or a struggling family with a baby, cold winters and hot summers mean more than just a wardrobe change. They mean high bills that could lead to a utility shut-off, and dangerously low or high temperatures that put themselves or their loved ones at risk. A family with no utilities cannot provide their children with nutritious, hot meals or fresh water, and a lack of utilities is often enough for a landlord to start the eviction process. When households find themselves unable to maintain a safe living environment, the Center for Food Action can prevent a utility shut-off, reconnect a disconnected service, or make a delivery of fuel oil to keep our low-income neighbors safe and comfortable in their homes.
Rental Assistance
The exorbitant price of housing in New Jersey doesn’t leave much wiggle room for our neighbors in need. The cost of a car repair or an unexpected medical procedure can throw a well-designed budget out the window, leading to an eviction notice or lock-out. But, with assistance from CFA, an emergency doesn’t need to mean losing a home. Clients who have received a lock-out or eviction notice can remain independent and off the street, preventing the additional costs of moving and storage, as well as the emotional toll of being removed from their homes.
Security Deposits
When a move is needed, but the high costs of a security deposit, first month’s rent, realtor’s fee, moving van, gas, and other moving expenses are too much to handle, the Center for Food Action is here to help. For a family looking to save money by relocating to a more affordable apartment, a domestic violence survivor starting over with her child in a new, safe home, or a senior who can no longer take care of his childhood home, a security deposit or first month’s rent provided by the Center for Food Action means not having to worry about beginning a better life.