As part of the continued effort to help contain the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic, Gov. Phil Murphy signed A-3859 into law, which explicitly provides authority to the Governor to issue an executive order declaring a moratorium on removing individuals from their homes pursuant to an eviction or foreclosure proceeding. The Governor then immediately signed Executive Order No. 106, which imposes such a moratorium. This move will ensure that no renter or homeowner is removed from their residence while this Order is in effect. These actions came a day after the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development, Fannie Mae, and Freddie Mac would be suspending all foreclosures and evictions for at least 60 days.

“This outbreak affects all of us and we are all in this together,” said Governor Murphy. “The steps I am outlining today will help those who are suffering financial harm through no fault of their own continue to stay afloat as we work our way through this. They will also bolster public health by ensuring that residents facing eviction or foreclosure can stay in their homes, protecting them against increased risk of contracting and spreading COVID-19.”

The Governor also is asking any financial institution holding residential or commercial mortgages, equity loans, lines of credit or business loans, to implement a process to work with the mortgagors or loan holders to avoid foreclosure or default arising out financial hardship caused by the COVID-19 pandemic, or by any local, state, or federal government response to COVID-19.

The New Jersey Economic Development Authority will continue to lead coordination between the SBA and businesses in our State. NJEDA is currently in the process of scaling up local technical assistance programs to help New Jersey businesses apply for SBA assistance. To start, NJEDA has posted additional information about the SBA program on the State’s COVID-19 business portal: cv.business.nj.gov

In related efforts to help with the financial cost of COVID-19, the governor announced the New Jersey Higher Education Student Assistance Authority (HESAA) will offer assistance to those who need help making regular payments to NJCLASS student loans due to a diminished income.

Those directly impacted by COVID-19 can apply for NJCLASS loan relief for temporary disability or unemployment. Applications for these relief options are available at hesaa.org/Documents/Relief%20Options/Unemployment.pdf and https://www.hesaa.org/Documents/NJCLASSTempDisabilityForm.pdf