Contact Info

  • phone(201) 547-6910
  • fax(201) 547-5104
  • 4 Jackson Square (aka 39 Kearney Ave)
    Jersey City, NJ 07305

    Deja Anderson, Director
  • Directions

FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS

  1. What is community development?
  2. Where can I find assistance?
  3. How do I qualify for assistance?
  4. How much should I be paying for rent?
  5. How can I apply for grant funding?
  6. What is the Annual Action Plan?


What is community development?

Community development, as defined by the United Nations, is “a process where community members come together to take collective action and generate solutions to common problems.” As defined by the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD), community development builds “stronger and more resilient communities through an ongoing process of identifying and addressing needs, assets and priority investments.”

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Where can I find assistance?

We assist Jersey City residents with a variety of issues, including affordable housing, emergency shelter, home improvement, first-time homebuying and relocation. Our partners provide additional assistance, such as youth enrichment, senior services and more. Visit the linked pages for more info.

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How do I qualify for assistance?

The programs we administer are primarily designed to benefit people of low and moderate income, defined by HUD as households earning less than or equal to 80% of the Area Median Income (AMI). For the 2021 fiscal year, Jersey City’s AMI is $84,700. Adjusted for local conditions, Jersey City's income limits for 2021 are as follows:
HUD Income Limits 2021

 

     
Family Size: One  Two  Three  Four  Five  Six  Seven  Eight 
Low (50–80%) $58,000 $66,250 $74,550  $82,800  $89,450  $96,050 $102,700  $109,300 
Very Low (30–50%) $36,250 $41,400  $46,600  $51,750  $55,900  $60,050  $64,200  $68,350 
Extremely Low (0–30%) $21,750 $24,850  $27,950  $31,050  $33,550  $36,050  $40,120  $44,660 
Effective July 1, 2021
Source: U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development

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How much should I be paying for rent?

We consider housing affordable when a household spends no more than 30% of its income on rent. HUD defines the Fair Market Rent (FMR) for Jersey City. Our programs have two levels of affordable rent below the FMR, based on 65% of AMI and 50% of AMI. For the 2021 fiscal year, Jersey City’s FMR is set at $1,958 per month for a two-bedroom unit. Jersey City's affordable rent levels are as follows:
Monthly Rent Levels 2021

 

   
Unit Type: Efficiency  One-BR Two-BR Three-BR Four-BR Five-BR Six-BR
Fair Market Rent $1,550 $1,686 $1,958 $2,435 $2,655 $3,053 $3,452
High Rent Limit (65% AMI) $1,159 $1,243 $1,493 $1,716 $1,895 $2,072 $2,250
Low Rent Limit (50% AMI) $906 $970 $1,165 $1,345 $1,501 $1,656 $1,811
Effective July 1, 2021
Source: U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development

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How can I apply for grant funding?

Jersey City is allocated funds from the federal government on a formula basis. Visit our Grant Programs page to see which programs your organization can participate in.

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What is the Annual Action Plan?

The Annual Action Plan is a strategic plan that Community Development produces each year. It provides a summary of needs, goals, intended actions and activities, and specific uses of the City’s federal funding. It also ensures that the City is implementing the goals stated in its five-year Consolidated Plan. Citizens are encouraged to comment on each year’s Annual Action Plan before it is finalized. For more info on the Annual Action Plan and our grant cycle, visit the What We Do page.

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Header: Community Development 101
Community Development 101

Click on the video to see Jersey City Community Development's programs and projects in action!

Header: Fact Sheets
Fact Sheets
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