The New Jersey Department of Community Affairs (DCA) announced that its Office of Eviction Prevention (OEP) within the Division of Housing and Community Resources was recognized by The Waterfront Project, Inc. during its Justice for All Gala on June 27, 2024. OEP received the “In the Trenches” Public Entity Partner Award for its contributions to eviction prevention and tenant support, as well as its dedication to providing critical assistance and advocacy for vulnerable community members.
The Waterfront Project, Inc. is a nonprofit legal services center offering free civil legal representation, assistance, and advocacy to Northern New Jersey residents who are asset-limited, income-constrained, homeless, or disenfranchised.
“At DCA, it is our mission to improve the quality of life for residents of New Jersey,” said DCA Commissioner Jacquelyn A. Suárez. “This award is a testament to the collective effort of the Office of Eviction Prevention’s dedicated team. This recognition underscores their unwavering commitment to help vulnerable populations and ensure that every individual has the opportunity to thrive.”
OEP oversees programs and services in eviction prevention and diversion, including rental assistance programs, social services support, and expanding access to counsel for low-income tenants facing or threatened with eviction. The Office also handles general inquiries about landlord-tenant rights and responsibilities and publishes the bi-annual Truth in Renting Guide. It works closely with non-profit community-based organizations in disseminating information about resources and providing direct outreach to at-risk tenants.
“We’re incredibly grateful for this recognition and deeply honored by it. I share this award with my team and with our leadership team at DCA, including DCA Commissioner Suárez and Division of Housing Assistant Commissioner Winter,” said Office of Eviction Prevention Director Dean Dafis. “I’m proud of our administration’s strong commitment to and support for our efforts in solving homelessness and building greater equity in housing resources. This award is particularly special because we’re receiving it from a true partner in housing justice—tireless advocates in opening the door a little wider, leveling the playing field, defending housing as a human right for all—thank you Waterfront Project!”
The Office of Eviction Prevention offers several resources to assist those in need through programs like Comprehensive Eviction Defense & Diversion (CEDD). The CEDD program provides eligible low-income households facing or threatened with eviction with free access to an effective attorney who can advocate for them in court to prevent eviction or negotiate settlements with landlords. Additionally, resource navigators connect individuals to necessary resources such as rental assistance and relocation support.
DCA’s Office of Homelessness Prevention also offers various programs assisting those who are homeless or at risk of homelessness. These include the Homelessness Prevention Program that helps pay tenant arrears and the Homelessness Diversion Pilot which deploys rapid housing stabilization case management paired with flexible funding.
More information about the Office of Eviction Prevention can be found at https://www.nj.gov/dca/dhcr/offices/dhcroep.shtml.
The Division of Housing and Community Resources aims to strengthen neighborhoods through affordable housing delivery, supportive services provision, financial aid distribution, technical assistance for municipalities, community action agencies involvement, nonprofit organization collaboration on community development projects aimed at improving residents' quality of life—especially those who are vulnerable or disadvantaged.
DCA offers a wide range of programs including local government management finance; affordable housing production; fire safety; building safety; community planning development; disaster recovery mitigation; historic preservation; information privacy.
