CARES Act emergency funding provides resources to the City of Trenton for COVID-19 relief

October 15, 2020

TRENTON, NJ (MERCER)–HUD Regional Administrator for New York and New Jersey, Lynne Patton, presented a ceremonial check for $6,047,038 to City of Trenton Mayor Reed Gusciora, during her recent visit to the Capital City. This emergency HUD funding started flowing to Trenton in April, after President Trump signed the historic $1.8 trillion Coronavirus Aid, Relief, and Economic Security Act or CARES Act for COVID-19 relief. New Jersey received a total of $306 million.

After the President signed the CARES Act, HUD Secretary Ben Carson directed the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD) to immediately begin allocating $12 billion nationwide to help America’s low-income families and most vulnerable citizens. These funds were awarded quickly by using existing HUD Community Development Block Grant (CDBG-CV) and Emergency Solutions Grant (ESG) program formulas, cutting red tape so grantees can quickly help their communities.

“New Jersey was the epicenter of the COVID-19 global pandemic, and Trenton residents and businesses know that Secretary Carson moved quickly to suspend evictions and ensure New Jerseyans had the resources to endure the effects of this devastating crisis” said Lynne Patton, HUD Regional Administrator for New York and New Jersey. “HUD’s historic CARES Act funding is a continuing lifeline for Trentonians, and President Trump will continue to provide critical assistance for all Americans.”

“The CARES Act funding is an invaluable resource for Trenton and will help us address lingering issues with food insecurity, affordable housing, and access to critical health services,” said Mayor W. Reed Gusciora. “On behalf of the capital city of New Jersey, I’m thankful that we can count on this federal assistance at a time when it is needed the most.”

HUD CARES Act funding use is determined by the locality receiving the award, and the City of Trenton can utilize the funding for its residents’ greatest needs. Funding can be used for a variety of eligible activities, including:

• A wide range of public services to prevent, prepare for, and respond to coronavirus, such as providing food and health services for low-income elderly persons and children.
• Small business assistance or emergency housing payments for entities and families impacted by economic and housing market disruptions.
• Acquisition and rehabilitation of structures for health facilities, food banks, or public improvements needed to support community coronavirus response, preparation, or prevention.
• And temporary financial assistance to meet rental obligations for up to 6 months.

The ceremonial check included $1,425,255 in CARES Act funds for the Trenton Housing Authority, to help low-income Americans with disabilities access affordable housing, including supplemental administrative fee funding to support COVID-19 related activities to keep residents safe.

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