Full Notification

In an effort to serve Bloomfield’s residents who have fallen behind in their rent, mortgage and/or utilities due to circumstances beyond their control, our office prepared and submitted a grant request to the County of Essex for Social Services Homelessness Prevention funding. We are happy to share the fact that we received the grant to provide assistance for utilities, rent and mortgage to redistribute to residents who meet the funding requirements. Residents must be able to prove sustainability going forward. Prescreening will be done Monday through Friday by appointment only. Funding is limited and will be based upon meeting eligibility criteria and on a first-come basis.

Guidelines for Families with Children

• Must have a child[ren] under the age of 18 (19 if child is enrolled in full-time secondary education program)
• Must have a source of income that meets or exceeds monthly household bills
• Family must be ineligible for public assistance programs (this does not include food stamps)
• Family must be able to prove sustainability
• Must be a legal alien/resident
• Family income must be less than or equal to 250% of the Federal Poverty Index
• All supporting documentation of proof of residency, employment, identification (all family members in the household), etc., must be attainable
• Falling behind on their housing costs/utilities was due to a situation beyond their control and there must be foreclosure/eviction/shutoff or documentation that it about to happen

Guidelines for Single/Couples/Families with or without children
• Must be ineligible for public assistance programs (this does not include food stamps)
• Must be able to prove sustainability
• Must be a legal alien/resident
• There are no income limits for this fund
• All supporting documentation of proof of residency, employment, identification (all family members in the household), etc., must be attainable
• Falling behind on their housing costs/utilities was due to a situation beyond their control and there must be foreclosure/eviction/shutoff or documentation that it is about to happen

To see if you qualify for these services or other assistance programs, you can contact the Bloomfield Health & Human Services Department for benefit screening. In addition, appointments can be scheduled for the mobile welfare van located at 1 Municipal Plaza on a monthly basis.
Please feel free to call (973) 680-4017 to schedule an appointment or request additional information.