Sandy Recovery Housing Counseling Program
This program offers free HUD-certified housing counseling services to renters and homeowners who were impacted by Superstorm Sandy and lived in one of the nine counties most impacted by the storm at the time of Sandy. Offices are located in Atlantic, Bergen, Cape May, Essex, Hudson, Middlesex, Monmouth, Ocean, and Union counties and provide counseling programs that address a wide range of financial and housing challenges.
How Does Housing Counseling Work?
Housing counselors provide helpful information about programs and resources that are available to renters and homeowners who are still recovering from Superstorm Sandy. As part of the counseling process, counselors will ask questions and collect specific information from clients to develop a customized counseling plan specific to the needs of the renter or homeowner. The counseling plan may include individualized or group counseling services in the following areas:
- Foreclosure Prevention
- Homelessness Prevention
- Fair Housing Education
- Reverse Mortgage/Home Equity Conversion Mortgage
- Rental Counseling
- Pre/Post Home Purchase Counseling
Housing counselors can also help renters and homeowners complete and submit applications to State-funded recovery programs and services, answer questions about the application process and obligations for program participation, and refer clients to other applicable State-funded recovery resources for which they may be eligible.
As part of the counseling plan, counselors will schedule regular meetings, share information about upcoming events or information sessions, and provide supportive services to eligible program applicants.
Who Is Eligible for Housing Counseling?
To be eligible for free counseling services, renters and homeowners must have been impacted by Sandy, lived in one of the nine counties most affected by the storm at the time of Sandy (Atlantic, Bergen, Cape May, Essex, Hudson, Middlesex, Monmouth, Ocean, and Union).
Where Can I Find a Housing Counselor?
Addresses for the housing counseling agencies’ main offices are listed below by county:
| County | Agency | Telephone Number | Hours of Operation |
|---|---|---|---|
| Atlantic | Consumer Credit and Budget Counseling 299 South Shore Rd. Marmora, NJ 08223 www.cc-bc.com |
609-390-9652 | 9:30-5:30 |
| Bergen | Greater Bergen Community Action 316 State Street Hackensack, NJ 07601 www.greaterbergen.org |
201-968-0200 | 9:00-5:00 Evening Hours available by appointment |
| Cape May | Consumer Credit and Budget Counseling 299 South Shore Rd. Marmora, NJ 08223 www.cc-bc.com |
609-390-9652 | 9:30 – 5:30 |
| Essex | Catholic Charities Arch Diocese of Newark 481 Sanford Avenue Newark, NJ 07106 www.ccannj.com |
862-229-4464 | 8:30- 4:30 |
| Hudson | Catholic Charities Arch Diocese of Newark 2201 Bergenline Ave. Union City, NJ 07087 www.ccannj.com |
973-424-7616 | 8:30 – 4:30 |
| Middlesex | Faith Fellowship Community Development Corporation (in partnership with Consumer Credit and Budgeting Counseling) 2707 Main Street Sayreville, NJ 08872 www.ffcdc.net |
732-727-9500 | 9:00 – 5:00 |
| Monmouth | Affordable Housing Alliance 11 White Street Eatontown, NJ 07724 www.affordablehousingalliance.com |
732-982-5072 | 8:00-5:00 (M, W, F) 8:00-7:00 (T, Th) |
| Ocean | O.C.E.A.N., Inc. 22 Hyers Street Toms River, NJ 08753 www.oceaninc.org |
732-831-4996 | 8:30 – 4:30 (M, T, Th, F) 8:30 – 8:00 (W) |
| Union | Catholic Charities Arch Diocese of Newark 505 South Avenue East Cranford, NJ 07016 www.ccannj.com |
862-229-4468 | 8:30 – 4:30 |
Addresses, phone numbers and hours of operation for all participating housing counseling offices are listed below by housing counseling agency:
Greater Bergen Community Action
Serving – Bergen County
| Location Phone Number | Hours of Operation | ||
|---|---|---|---|
| Primary Telephone Number: | 201-374-8838 | ||
| Main location: 316 State Street Hackensack, NJ |
201-374-8838 | M – F: 9am – 5pm Evening hours available by appointment. | |
| Satellite Site: 529 Midland Avenue Garfield, NJ |
By Appointment | ||
| Satellite Site: 221 Moonachie Road Moonachie, NJ |
By Appointment | ||
Consumer Credit and Budget Counseling
Serving – Atlantic and Cape May Counties
| Location Phone Number | Hours of Operation | ||
|---|---|---|---|
| Primary Telephone Number: | 609-390-9652 | ||
| Main Location: 299 South Shore Rd Marmora NJ, 08223 |
609-390-9652 | M-F 9:30 am – 5:30 pm | |
Puerto Rican Action Board (in partnership with Consumer Credit and Budget Counseling)
Serving – Middlesex County
| Location Phone Number | Hours of Operation | ||
|---|---|---|---|
| Primary Telephone Number: | 732-249-9700 | ||
| Main Location: 90 Jersey Avenue New Brunswick, NJ 08901 (Middlesex) |
732-249-9700 | M-F 9:00 am – 5:00 pm | |
| Satellite Location: 313 State Street, Suite 301 Perth Amboy, NJ 08861 (Middlesex) |
By appointment | ||
| Satellite Location: 100 Cooke Ave Carteret, NJ 07008 (Middlesex) |
By appointment | ||
Affordable Housing Alliance
Serving – Monmouth County
| Location Phone Number | Hours of Operation | ||
|---|---|---|---|
| Primary Telephone Number: | (732) 982-5072 | 8am-5pm (Mon, Wed, Fri) 8am-7pm (Tues, Thurs) | |
| Main Location: 171 1st Avenue Atlantic Highlands NJ 07716 |
(732) 982-5072 | 8am-5pm (Mon, Wed, Fri) 8am-7pm (Tues, Thurs) | |
| Satellite Location: 59 Broad Street Eatontown NJ 07724 |
(732) 982-5072 | By Appointment Only As Needed (9am-5pm) | |
| Satellite Location: 20 Gibson Place Freehold NJ 07728 |
(732) 982-5072 | By Appointment Only As Needed (9am-5pm) | |
| Mobile Counseling Unit with locations determined by clients/resident locales | Various Locations in Ocean and Monmouth counties (see calendar at www.housingall.org) | As Scheduled (9am-5pm) Some Weekends | |
O.C.E.A.N., Inc.
Serving – Ocean County
| Location Phone Number | Hours of Operation | ||
|---|---|---|---|
| Primary Telephone Number: | (732) 288-2614 | ||
| S&F Plaza 2008 Rt. 37 East, Suite 12 Toms River, NJ 08753 |
(732) 288-2614 | 8:30 – 4:30 (Mon, Tues, Thur, Fri) 8:30 – 8:00 (Wed) | |
Catholic Charities of Newark
Serving – Essex, Hudson and Union Counties
| Location Phone Number | Hours of Operation | ||
|---|---|---|---|
| Primary Telephone Number: | 973-902-2199 | ||
| Main Location (Essex): 481 Sanford Avenue Newark, NJ 07106 |
862-229-4464 | 8:30am-4:30pm | |
| Main Location (Hudson): 2201 Bergenline Avenue Union City, NJ 07087 (Hudson) |
973-424-7616 | 8:30am-4:30pm | |
| Main Location (Union): 505 South Avenue East Cranford, NJ 07016 (Union) |
862-229-4468 | 8:30am-4:30pm | |