Bill Text: NJ A5403 | 2026-2027 | Regular Session | Introduced
Bill Title: Establishes Domestic Violence Housing Voucher Program in DCA; appropriates $5 million.
Sponsorship: Partisan Bill (Democrat 1)
Status: (Introduced) 2026-09-10 - Introduced, Referred to Assembly Housing Committee [A5403 Detail]
Download: New_Jersey-2026-A5403-Introduced.html
Sponsored by:
Assemblywoman SHANIQUE SPEIGHT
District 29 (Essex and Hudson)
SYNOPSIS
Establishes Domestic Violence Housing Voucher Program in DCA; appropriates $5 million.
CURRENT VERSION OF TEXT
As introduced.
An Act establishing the Domestic Violence Housing Voucher Program, supplementing chapter 27D of Title 52 of the Revised Statutes, and making an appropriation.
Be It Enacted by the Senate and General Assembly of the State of New Jersey:
1. a. As used in this section:
"Commissioner" means the Commissioner of Community affairs.
"Department" means the Department of Community Affairs.
"Domestic violence" and "victim of domestic violence" shall have the same meaning as in section 3 of P.L.1991, c.261 (C.2C:25-19). "Domestic violence" shall also mean intentionally, knowingly, or recklessly causing or attempting to cause damage to property so as to intimidate or attempt to control the behavior of a person in a relationship with a perpetrator of one or more acts of domestic violence.
"Housing voucher" means housing assistance provided to a victim of domestic violence to secure stable housing pursuant to the program.
"Program" means the Domestic Violence Housing Voucher Program established pursuant to subsection b. of this section.
b. There is established in the Department of Community Affairs a Domestic Violence Housing Voucher Program. The purpose of the program shall be to provide victims of domestic violence with housing vouchers and provide housing navigation services to assist victims of domestic violence in securing stable housing with a housing voucher.
c. The program shall be administered in addition to, and in coordination with, any related existing programs and shall be administered Statewide. The department shall establish an Internet website to allow victims of domestic violence to apply for housing vouchers.
d. Housing vouchers shall reflect fair market rates within a locality and may be used towards security deposits and moving costs. In administering the program, the department shall consider family size in issuance of the housing voucher.
e. The commissioner shall submit an annual report to the Legislature, pursuant to section 2 of P.L.1991, c.164 (C.52:14-19.1), detailing the number of individuals served and program expenditures.
f. There is established a Domestic Violence Housing Voucher Fund for the purpose of providing the moneys necessary to administer the program.
g. Nothing in this section shall be construed to limit, bar, exclude, or otherwise affect an individual's rights or remedies under P.L.2008, c.111 (C.46:8-9.4 et al.).
2. The Commissioner of Community Affairs shall, in accordance with the "Administrative Procedure Act," P.L.1968, c.410 (C.52:14B-1 et seq.), adopt rules and regulations as necessary to effectuate the provisions of P.L. , c. (C. ) (pending before the Legislature as this bill) including, but not limited to, application processes, program eligibility, housing voucher issuance, the provision and scope of housing navigation services offered pursuant to the program, outcome tracking, and the determination of fair market rates for housing vouchers.
3. There is appropriated from the General Fund the sum of $5,000,000 to the Department of Community Affairs to be used for housing vouchers and administrative costs to effectuate the purposes of P.L. , c. (C. ) (pending before the Legislature as this bill).
4. This act shall take effect immediately.
STATEMENT
This bill establishes a Domestic Violence Housing Voucher Program (the program) to be administered by the Department of Community Affairs (department) for the purpose of assisting victims of domestic violence through providing housing vouchers and providing housing navigation services to assist victims of domestic violence in securing stable housing with the housing voucher.
The bill defines "domestic violence" and "victim of domestic violence" as in section 3 of P.L.1991, c.261 (C.2C:25-19). However, the bill additionally includes in the definition of domestic violence intentionally, knowingly or recklessly causing or attempting to cause damage to property so as to intimidate or attempt to control the behavior of a person in a relationship with a perpetrator of one or more acts of domestic violence. The bill additionally defines "housing voucher" to mean housing assistance provided under the program to a victim of domestic violence to secure stable housing.
The bill provides that the program is to be administered in addition to, and in coordination with, any related existing programs and is to be administered Statewide. The department is required to establish an Internet website to permit victims of domestic violence to apply for a housing voucher under the program.
A housing voucher issued pursuant to the bill is to reflect fair market rates and may additionally be used towards security deposits and moving costs. In administering the program, the department is to consider family size in issuing a housing voucher.
The bill requires the Commissioner of Community Affairs to submit an annual report to the Legislature detailing the number of individuals served and program expenditures.
The bill establishes a Domestic Violence Voucher Fund for the purpose of providing the moneys necessary to administer the program.
The bill does not limit, bar, exclude, or otherwise affect an individual's rights or remedies under P.L.2008, c.111 (C.46:8-9.4 et al.) commonly known as the "New Jersey Safe Housing Act."
The bill requires the Commissioner of Community Affairs to adopt rules and regulations as necessary to carry out the provisions of the bill including, but not limited to, application processes, program eligibility, housing voucher issuance, the provision and scope of housing navigation services offered pursuant to the program, outcome tracking, and the determination of fair market rates for housing vouchers.
The bill appropriates $5 million from the General Fund to the Department of Community Affairs to effectuate the purposes the bill.
