Today, U.S. Representatives Bill Pascrell, Jr. (NJ-09) and Josh Gottheimer (NJ-05) announced that the U.S. Department for Housing and Urban Development (HUD), through the Office of Community Planning and Development (CPD), has awarded three grants to Bergen County totaling $12,658,062. The grants will be used to help provide housing to moderate- and low-income residents, give aid to the county’s homeless population, and provide temporary shelter for those seeking a home.

“With too many New Jerseyans facing difficult odds due to the affordable housing crisis, this federal investment in Bergen County will help our neighbors who are struggling the most,” said Rep. Pascrell. “These grants will provide the people of Bergen County with the resources they need to obtain safe and affordable housing – the first step to a better life. This funding brings that first step within reach during this time of limited resources and financial uncertainty.”

“These grants are a return on our federal tax dollars that to strengthen our communities and make living and raising a family here more affordable,” said Rep. Gottheimer. “Our communities are the backbone of North Jersey and I am proud to work with Congressman Pascrell to bolster them and provide help to those who need it.”

“We’re always looking for additional financial assistance in order to provide affordable housing to the residents of Bergen County,” said Bergen County Freeholder Chairman Tom Sullivan. “We’re so fortunate to have Bill Pascrell in Washington fighting hard to bring more of our tax dollars back home to New Jersey. Bill’s a great partner and I’m proud to also be able to call him a friend.”

The breakdown of the grants is as follows:

• $9,104,086 in Community Development Block Grants
• $2,814,468 in HOME Investment Partnerships Program Grants
• $739,508 in Emergency Solutions Grants

Background on HUD programs

Community Development Block (CDBG) Grants provide annual grants to states and localities to help them build good housing and better living environments for low- and moderate-income Americans.

HOME Investment Partnerships Program (HOME) Grants are geared towards growing support of affordable housing for low- and very low-income families by helping states and localities fund housing programs to fill their needs.

Emergency Solutions Grants (ESG) provide funding to help provide homeless services, to improve the quality and operations of emergency shelters for the homeless and their families, and to help prevent recently re-housed homeless and their families from falling back into the streets.

Since entering office, Rep. Pascrell has worked closely with the Department of Housing and Urban Development to bring critical resources home and make sure New Jersey gets its fair share. Just weeks after helping win $1,500,000 in Housing Choice Vouches for the city of Paterson, Pascrell joined with Mayor Andre Sayegh to announce $5.4 million in community development grants to the city. In 2014, Pascrell helped secure $815,000 in Community Development Block Grants to promote neighborhood revitalization, housing rehabilitation, and economic development activities. One year prior, Pascrell worked with Sen. Robert Menendez and Reps. Donald Payne, Jr. (D-NJ-10) and Frank Pallone, Jr. (D-NJ-06) to obtain $10.9 million to build community housing for AIDS patients, low-income families, and the homeless.

Rep. Pascrell worked closely with President Obama’s HUD in 2009 to secure a nearly $10,000,000 award to support public housing in Passaic County. Rep. Pascrell has also secured numerous grants to house the homeless and homeless veterans while in Congress.