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Informed Citizens

are Better Citizens

Housing, Evictions and Foreclosures

Both nationally and locally, steps are being taken to make sure you can stay in your home. The U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development announced on March 18 that it will halt all new foreclosures, cease action on foreclosure actions currently in progress and cease all evictions of persons from FHA (Federal Housing Administration) mortgaged single-family homes. This guidance applies for a 60-day period. It was also announced that Freddie Mac and Fannie Mae, two of the biggest housing lenders in the U.S., will also suspend foreclosures and evictions for at least 60 days.

See press release from U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD)

On the state level, Governor Murphy signed an Executive Order giving him the power to stop all evictions and foreclosures in our state until further notice. He also urged banks and money lenders to offer flexibility in payment options for their mortgage holding customers. See relevant article on nj.com.

Update as of August 6, 2020: From the law firm of Lowenstein Sandler LLP, here are two fact sheets on the rights of homeowners and tenants in regard to evictions during the COVID-19 pandemic. Download the pdfs in English or Spanish: Homeowner Rights-English pdf & Tenant Rights-English pdf. Homeowners Rights-Spanish & Tenants Rights-Spanish.

From the NJ Division on Civil Rights, here is a fact sheet about how New Jersey’s Law Against Discrimination (LAD) can protect you in regard to several areas, including housing. Download the pdf.

The National Low-Income Housing Coalition (NLIHC) is a great source for up-to-date information on housing and the Coronavirus. The NLIHC also provides information on the unique effect that Coronavirus has on the homeless population. This information is made available on a national, organizational, state and local level. Please check daily for any new updates.

The Federal Housing Finance Agency has put together Coronavirus Assistance Information. Read more about here.

Another resource is a Foundation grantee, the Seton Hall Law Civil Litigation Clinic: Foreclosure Defense Project. This program is led by licensed attorneys with the support of Seton Hall Law students. They represent individuals in with foreclosure related issues. Rutgers Law School also has a Mortgage Foreclosure Clinic. Information on that program can be found here.