Attorney General Christopher S. Porrino and the Division of Consumer Affairs have filed an action against a Florida contractor who set up shop in New Jersey after Superstorm Sandy and allegedly defrauded seven homeowners who paid him to repair or replace their storm-damaged homes, including three that collectively lost more than $314,000 in federal relief funds

Congressman Frank Pallone, Jr. (NJ-06) applauded Middlesex County for being recognized by the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development, the United States Interagency Council on Homelessness and the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs for having effectively ended veterans' homelessness in the county. The Middlesex County freeholder board created a Veterans Housing Program in 2012 to assist veterans at risk of homelessness, committing $100,000 a year to the effort.

“The Democrats just wanted a gas tax increase, but I insisted that tax cuts offset that increase,” said Bramnick (R-Union). “In this compromise we were able to lower taxes for seniors, veterans, small businesses and low-income workers and provide the largest broad-based tax cut for everyone in over two decades. I am pleased that we were able to secure this relief.”

Housing advocates are expressing concern over the current proposal to fund the Transportation Trust Fund. It is estimated that tax cuts under the proposal would create a $1.4 billion budget deficit. Ahead of Friday’s vote in the New Jersey Legislature on the proposal, Network President and Chief Executive Officer Staci Berger issued the following statement

Continuing the State’s crackdown on Superstorm Sandy fraud, Attorney General Christopher S. Porrino and the Division of Consumer Affairs have filed an action against a Manahawkin contractor and his home improvement company for allegedly bilking $280,750 in Sandy relief funds from six shore homeowners that hired him to renovate and elevate their storm-damaged homes

In an effort to help residents with disabilities currently not eligible for the state’s senior freeze property tax reimbursement program because they receive disability retirement benefits from the federal government, Assemblyman Ron Dancer has introduced legislation (A-4130) to extend the program to disabled former federal employees.

Rep. Donald Norcross (NJ-01) today announced a $1.1 million U.S. Department of Labor grant for the Housing Authority of the City of Camden for its YouthBuild program. “I visited YouthBuild Camden last year with U.S. Labor Secretary Tom Perez. We saw first-hand the program putting students on the right track.

The Christie Administration today announced the 38th Housing Recovery Information Session will be held Thursday, September 29, 2016, at the New Point Comfort Fire House in Keansburg to assist storm-affected homeowners participating in the Reconstruction, Rehabilitation, Elevation and Mitigation (RREM) Program and the LMI Homeowner Rebuilding Program, as well as for rental property owners participating in the Landlord Rental Repair Program (LRRP)

Congressman Leonard Lance (NJ-07) visited Bernardsville this week to accept the Defender of Housing Award from the National Association of Home Builders and the Metropolitan Builders and Contractors Association of New Jersey.

Legislation Assemblywoman Nancy F. Muñoz sponsors that requires pharmacies to have an emergency plan to delivery oxygen to patients’ homes during a public health emergency today received approval from the Assembly Homeland Security and State Preparedness Committee.<

Legislation sponsored by Assemblyman Chris A. Brown, to ease the financial burden on New Jersey’s citizen soldiers on federal active duty, today earned approval from the General Assembly. The bill (A766) allows members of the National Guard and the United States Reserve to defer mortgage and property tax payments while on active duty.

Assemblyman Ron Dancer has introduced legislation transforming the state’s senior freeze program, providing more immediate tax savings to senior citizens and reducing costs for New Jersey. Currently, eligible senior and disabled residents are reimbursed for a portion of property taxes paid in the previous year. Under Dancer’s bill (A4106), most qualifying homeowners will receive a credit directly applied to their tax bills for the current year

Senator Kip Bateman and Assemblyman Jack Ciattarelli (both R-16) applauded the funding agreement reached by Somerset County and the New Jersey Department of Transportation (NJDOT) that will allow work to resume on the Route 518 bridge project in Franklin and Rocky Hill that has been stalled since July.

The New Jersey Division of Consumer Affairs today announced that a Staten Island home improvement contractor has agreed to $100,000 in civil penalties, attorneys’ fees and investigative costs, change its practices, and enter binding arbitration with consumers to settle allegations of consumer fraud

The New Jersey Department of Community Affairs (DCA) today announced a free Housing Resource Fair will be held Thursday, September 15, 2016, at New Jersey City University in Jersey City to provide Sandy-impacted residents with information about available housing resources

New Jersey Housing and Mortgage Finance Agency (HMFA) Executive Director Anthony L. Marchetta today joined local officials and representatives of the Orange Housing Development Corporation, The Alpert Group, LLC, and the City of Orange Township to celebrate the official grand opening of Walter G. Alexander Village, Phase III. The third and final phase of the award-winning affordable apartment community includes 42 units, 5 of which are set aside for special needs and homeless families.

The Teaneck Township Council will dedicate the property located at 640 River Road (across from Kipp Street) in Teaneck, NJ as the “Mary Topolsky Memorial Garden and Trail” on September 25, 2016, at 12:30pm

A bill introduced in the New Jersey state legislature would require more fire resistant materials to be used in construction, as to avoid disasters seen in the Avalon at Edgewater fire. Last week Maria Rodriguez-Gregg (R) and Joseph Lagana (D) introduced Bill A4626, which includes several measures for fire-safe construction and building materials in certain multifamily residential buildings.