Title
Dept/ Agency: Economic and Housing Development
Action: (X) Ratifying ( X ) Authorizing ( ) Amending
Type of Service: Memorandum of Understanding (MOU)
Purpose: Partnership with NJ SHARES, Inc. and the City of Newark Office of Tenant Legal Services (“OTLS”)
Entity Name: NJ SHARES, Inc.
Entity Address: 1901 N. Olden Avenue, Suite 40, Ewing, New Jersey 08618
Operating Budget: $372,000.00
Funding Source: NJ SHARES, Inc.
Contract Period: September 1, 2020, through August 31, 2021
Contract Basis: ( ) Bid ( ) State Vendor ( ) Prof. Ser. ( ) EUS
( ) Fair & Open ( ) No Reportable Contributions ( ) RFP ( ) RFQ
( ) Private Sale ( ) Grant ( ) Sub-recipient ( X ) n/a
Additional Information:
NJ SHARES, Inc. is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization that provides monetary assistance to low and moderate income individuals and households who are at risk for eviction due to back rent owed to their landlords.
The NJ SHARES SMART Program funding is made available to eligible Newark residents, in an amount not to exceed $2,000.00, within a twelve (12) month period per household, with respect to eviction actions for back rent.
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WHEREAS, the City of Newark’s (hereinafter, “City”) Department of Economic and Housing Development’s (hereinafter, “EHD”) Office of Tenant Legal Services (hereinafter, “OTLS”) provides legal defense and other homelessness-prevention services to City of Newark tenants of low-income who are facing eviction or the threat of eviction; and
WHEREAS, NJ SHARES, Inc., offers monetary assistance to low and moderate income individuals and households who are at risk for eviction due to back rent owed to their landlords or who are at risk of foreclosure for nonpayment of their mortgage; and
WHEREAS NJ SHARES, Inc., desires to partner with OTLS so that NJ SHARES SMART Program funding, in an aggregate amount of Three Hundred Seventy-Two Thousand Dollars and Zero Cents ($372,000.00), is made available to eligible Newark, New Jersey residents, in an amount not to exceed Two Thousand Dollars and Zero Cents ($2,000.00) within a twelve (12) month period per household, with respect to eviction actions for back rent; and
WHEREAS the Parties wish to enter into a Memorandum of Agreement, in the form attached hereto in furtherance of their common purpose to serve the housing needs of Newark, New Jersey residents who are facing eviction from their homes by combining NJ SHARES SMART Program funding with legal representation to achieve residential stability.
NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED BY THE MUNICIPAL COUNCIL OF THE CITY OF NEWARK, NEW JERSEY, THAT:
1. The Mayor and/or his designee, the Deputy Mayor/Director of the Department of Economic and Housing Development, are hereby authorized to execute a Memorandum of Understanding (MOU), in the form attached hereto, for the period of September 1, 2020, through August 31, 2021, to partner with NJ SHARES, Inc., 1901 N. Olden Avenue, Suite 40, Ewing, New Jersey 08618, so that NJ SHARES SMART Program funding in an aggregate amount of Three Hundred and Seventy-Two Thousand Dollars and Zero Cents ($372,000.00) is made available to eligible Newark, New Jersey residents, in an amount not to exceed Two Thousand Dollars and Zero Cents ($2,000.00) within a twelve (12) month period per household, with respect to eviction actions for back rent.
2. The Municipal Council hereby acknowledges that it has reviewed the MOU and is therefore aware of the contents of the aforementioned MOU, including all of its terms and conditions.
3. The provisions of the MOU shall be effective on from September 1, 2020, through August 31, 2021.
4. The MOU between the City of Newark and NJ SHARES, Inc. is hereby ratified from September 1, 2020, to the date of adoption of this authorizing resolution.
5. The Deputy Mayor/Director of the Department of Economic and Housing Development shall place a copy of the fully executed MOU on file in the Office of the City Clerk and made available for public inspection.
STATEMENT
This resolution ratifies and authorizes the Deputy Mayor/Director of the Department of Economic and Housing Development to enter into and execute the Memorandum of Understanding (MOU), in the form attached hereto, for the period of September 1, 2020, through August 31, 2021, to partner with NJ SHARES, Inc., so that NJ SHARES SMART Program funding in an aggregate amount of $372,000.00 is made available to eligible Newark, New Jersey residents, in an amount not to exceed $2,000.00 within a twelve (12) month period per household, with respect to eviction actions for back rent.