Archives

NEWARK, NJ - January 24, 2012 - (RealEstateRama) -- U.S. Senators Frank R. Lautenberg (D-NJ) and Robert Menendez (D-NJ) today announced the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) has released $34.2 million for the Low Income Home Energy Assistance Program (LIHEAP) in New Jersey. This federal funding is in addition to the $103 million released to New Jersey in late 2011. The program provides critical assistance to low-income families who struggle each winter to pay their energy bills.

CLEVELAND, OH - January 3, 2012 - (RealEstateRama) -- After a bureau of the U.S. Treasury Department released new guidelines that amount to a free pass for banks to abandon foreclosed homes—fostering crime and leaving local taxpayers on the hook—U.S. Sen. Sherrod Brown (D-OH) today called for tougher standards to prevent the needless evictions of Ohio families and to forestall neighborhood blight.

TRENTON, N.J. - December 28, 2011 - (RealEstateRama) -- As part of its on-going commitment to create more community-living options for people with developmental disabilities, the Christie Administration today announced 12 municipal partners of the Special Needs Housing Partnership. These municipalities are the first commitments secured for the initiative launched earlier this year by the New Jersey Departments of Community Affairs (DCA) and Human Services (DHS), and the New Jersey Housing and Mortgage Finance Agency (HMFA). The goal of the Partnership is to create 600 additional units of special needs housing by 2013.

Trenton, NJ - December 20, 2011 - (RealEstateRama) -- Governor Chris Christie has put forward a common sense policy to finally end the wasteful practice of paying out taxpayer dollars to public workers for unused sick days. These local government obligations have a real and direct cost to property taxpayers, totaling over $1000 for the average property taxpayer in some municipalities. The legislature, now on vacation through the end of the year, has failed to take up these reforms and deliver relief to property taxpayers despite the fact that accumulated sick and vacation liabilities already total over $825 million on municipalities’ books.

WASHINGTON, DC - December 20, 2011 - (RealEstateRama) -- U.S. Rep. Bill Pascrell, Jr. (D-NJ-8) today announced a total of $584,259 in federal Housing and Urban Development (HUD) grants were awarded to local organizations and nonprofit agencies that serve the Eighth Congressional District to provide housing and services to help the homeless.

Haddon Heights, NJ - December 16, 2011 - (RealEstateRama) -- Last week, Congressman Andrews announced $50,000 in federal money that will create skilled trade jobs in South Jersey. These funds will help improve the homes of low-income homeowners in rural areas throughout Gloucester County and make these homes safer by providing much needed repairs. This past September, Congressman Andrews casted his vote in favor of the United States Department of Agriculture’s (USDA) Housing Preservation Grant Program which will provide the funds.

TRENTON - December 16, 2011 - (RealEstateRama) -- Attorney General Paula T. Dow and Criminal Justice Director Stephen J. Taylor announced that an Atlantic City man who formerly worked as a local administrator of the New Jersey Home Energy Assistance (HEA) Program was sentenced today for stealing $9,062 from the program by filing false applications to obtain benefits.

UNION CITY/WEST NEW YORK, N.J. - December 13, 2011 - (RealEstateRama) -- New Jersey Housing and Mortgage Finance Agency (HMFA) Executive Director Anthony L. Marchetta today joined Congressman Albio Sires, Mayors Brian Stack of Union City and Dr. Felix Roque of West New York, and other officials to celebrate the grand opening of Horizon Heights, a 52-unit affordable housing community on Broadway in Union City and West New York. The HMFA, an affiliate of the Department of Community Affairs (DCA), provided financing for this project through the Multifamily Rental Housing Program, the Special Needs Housing Trust Fund and through an allocation of federal Low Income Housing Tax Credits.

WASHINGTON, DC - December 8, 2011 - (RealEstateRama) -- Rep. Scott Garrett (R-NJ), Chairman of the Financial Services Subcommittee on Capital Markets and Government-Sponsored Enterprises, delivered the following opening statement today at a hearing to review legislation to reform the secondary mortgage market:

Trenton, NJ - December 6, 2011 - (RealEstateRama) -- As part of the Christie Administration’s continued commitment to rein in the cost of government, maximize taxpayer dollars and provide sustainable property tax relief, Governor Chris Christie today released the Year Two Best Practices Checklist results, which demonstrate that the majority of municipalities are adhering to good governance practices and working to achieve greater efficiencies. These results -- for the approximately 545 municipalities operating on a calendar year budget -- were compiled by the Department of Community Affairs (DCA). Earlier this year, DCA also began working with all 21 counties to complete similar Best Practices Checklists, with results to be released next year.

WASHINGTON, DC - December 2, 2011 - (RealEstateRama) -- U.S. Housing and Urban Development Secretary Shaun Donovan today announced HUD will speed federal disaster assistance to the State of New Jersey and provide support to homeowners and low-income renters forced from their homes following severe storms in October.

Trenton, NJ - November 30, 2011 - (RealEstateRama) -- Acting Governor Kim Guadagno today, joined by Agriculture Secretary Douglas H. Fisher and Health and Senior Services Commissioner Mary O’Dowd, announced $1,363,600 in funding for the state’s six food banks to purchase healthy foods to feed the hungry this holiday season. This funding will ensure food assistance for those in need and is the second payment of the fiscal year.

BELLMAWR, N.J. - November 22, 2011 - (RealEstateRama) -- Representatives of the New Jersey Housing and Mortgage Finance Agency (HMFA) today joined local and state officials to celebrate the unveiling of newly installed solar panels at Bellmawr Senior Housing, an independent senior living community in Bellmawr, Camden County. The HMFA, an affiliate of the New Jersey Department of Community Affairs (DCA), committed funding for the installation through its Multifamily Solar Funding Pilot Program.<

November 16, 2011 - (RealEstateRama) -- Rep. Scott Garrett (R-NJ), Chairman of the Financial Services Subcommittee on Capital Markets and Government-Sponsored Enterprises, issued the following statement today after an independent audit of the Federal Housing Administration (FHA) revealed that the housing agency’s cash reserves are down 45% from last year and the “chance that future net losses on the current, outstanding portfolio could exceed current capital resources is close to 50 percent,” which could necessitate a taxpayer bailout next year