Open opportunities in Newark, NJ

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Newark officials announced Wednesday that the waitlist for the Section 8 Housing Choice Voucher program is now open, offering a new opportunity for residents seeking affordable housing assistance.

Applications must be submitted online through the Rent Café Portal, which has been designated as the official platform for enrollment. City officials noted that qualifying applicants will not be accepted on a first-come, first-served basis. Instead, names will be selected through a lottery system to ensure fairness in the process.

The Housing Choice Voucher program, commonly known as Section 8, provides rental assistance to low-income families, seniors, and individuals with disabilities by covering a portion of their rent directly to landlords. With the high demand for affordable housing in Newark, the reopening of the waitlist represents an important step for many households struggling with rising rental costs.

Officials encourage eligible residents to apply promptly during the open period to be considered for the lottery selection.

United Community Corporation (UCC)
 

• Provides support for low-income, disadvantaged, and at-risk individuals/families, including seniors and youth. uccnewark.org
   

Newark Emergency Services for Families (NESF)
 

• Services include homeless drop-in center; emergency housing assistance; Weequahic Family Success Center; re-entry services. nesfnj.org
   

Catholic Charities of the Archdiocese of Newark
 

• Offers housing, food & utility assistance; immigrant/refugee services; HIV/AIDS support; workforce development. ccannj.org
   

The Apostles’ House
 

• Shelter services, case management, life-skills training, meals. theapostleshouse.org
   

Community FoodBank of New Jersey
 

• Helps connect residents to food pantries; assists with applying for SNAP and other food assistance programs. CFBNJ
   

NJ SNAP / WFNJ / NJHelps
 

• State programs for food assistance (SNAP), cash assistance (WorkFirst NJ / TANF / General Assistance), and health insurance (Medicaid / NJ FamilyCare). njhelps.gov
   

NJ 211
 

• A referral/information service. Helps people find available resources for everything from housing to utilities, health, disaster services. NJ 2-1-1 Partnership
   

Better Life Engagement Center
 

• Serves people experiencing homelessness. Helps with documents, job readiness, housing search. Provides food, water, group activities. Some units for chronically homeless individuals. New Community Corporation
   

Ironbound Community Corporation
 

• Offers a range of services: early learning/pre-school, after-school youth programs, food pantry, family services, environmental justice, community farming, etc. Ironbound Community Corporation
   

The North Ward Center
 

• Preschool services; adult medical day care; youth leadership and recreation programs; services for families and children with special needs.   Home | Robert Treat Academy Charter School 

 This department offers free or low-cost programs to help with quality of life and wellbeing. Examples include:

• Recreation Centers, Senior Centers, Centers of Hope (which offer wellness, enrichment, educational resources, etc.) Newark City
   
• After-school programs, fitness classes, health & arts programming for families and youth. Newark City
   
• A summer nutrition feeding program for kids (“SuNup”) so they receive meals during summer months when school food programs are unavailable.