Current through Register Vol. 56, No. 18, September 16, 2024
(a) In
order to ensure that the relocation benefits required by statute, as well as by
N.J.A.C. 5:11-3 and 4, are administered in a uniform manner, the displacing
agency shall submit a Workable Relocation Assistance Plan (WRAP) to the
Department for approval. Except as otherwise indicated in (d) below, no
displacement may take place until the WRAP is approved.
(b) The WRAP shall be submitted by the
displacing agency a reasonable time prior to the eligibility date for benefits
as contained in subchapter 2 hereof. In the case of programs of rehabilitation,
it is the responsibility of the public agency to submit the WRAP.
(c) The WRAP shall include such measures,
facilities or services as are necessary in order to:
1. Determine the needs of
displacees;
2. Assist displacees in
obtaining replacement housing and business locations;
3. Secure the coordination of relocation
activities with other displacing agencies;
4. Assist in minimizing hardships to
displacees;
5. Determine the extent
of the need of each displacee for relocation assistance;
6. Assure the availability of decent, safe
and sanitary replacement housing;
7. Determine the source, amount and
availability of funds necessary to complete relocation; and
8. Provide any other information deemed
necessary by the Department to insure the provisions of the Act are carried
out.
(d) In any case
involving displacement from housing solely as a result of unanticipated
conditions determined by a code enforcement agency to be an imminent hazard,
the municipality shall, as a precondition to displacement, give notice to the
Department of the impending displacement. Such notice may be given by telephone
to (609) 292-7899, sent by facsimile to (609) 633-6729 or mailed to the
following address:
Code Assistance Unit
Division of Codes and Standards
PO Box 802
Trenton, New Jersey 08625-0802
1. Such notice shall state the reason for
displacement, the number of buildings and dwelling units from which
displacement is necessary, and the number of individuals and families being
displaced.
2. No displacement shall
occur without the approval of the Department unless the nature of the hazard is
such that and any delay in displacement until the Department's business hours
would endanger any of the displacees, in which case the municipality shall
contact the Department immediately at the beginning of the next business
day.
3. Notice to the Department
shall not be required in any case in which all persons being displaced are
ineligible for relocation assistance, in accordance with
5:11-2.1.
4. If possible prior to, and in any event not
later than 10 days following, any displacement pursuant to this subsection, and
as a precondition to any commitment of funds for reimbursement in accordance
with 5:11-8.1, the municipality shall
submit the following information, which shall be deemed to constitute an
emergency WRAP, to the Department:
i. The
address(es), name(s), and contact information of the owner of each building
vacated, or to be vacated;
ii. The
address, including block and lot, of each building vacated or to be vacated.
(1) Where one or more residential units, but
not all units in the building, are vacated or to be vacated, the number(s) of
the units being vacated shall be provided;
iii. The names and total number of persons to
be relocated;
iv. The specific
reason(s) for displacement;
v. A
statement as to whether relocation is to be permanent or temporary;
vi. The actual costs, if known, or estimated
costs of relocation of each individual or family being relocated;
vii. The amount of reimbursement sought,
together with justification for any amount requested in excess of 50 percent of
actual and/or estimated costs of relocation; and
viii. Copies of any informational documents
provided to residents, which shall, in the case of any case involving
relocation due to illegal occupancy, include information concerning
2A:18-61.1g or 61.1h, as may be
applicable.
(e) Submittal of Reimbursement Request for
Emergency Relocation: In order to obtain reimbursement in any case subject to
this section, the municipality shall submit the following information to the
Department:
1. A list of individuals and
families relocated;
2. Copies of
bills for services provided to eligible residents or evidence, such as copies
of checks, of payment for specific services for eligible residents, and copies
of any informational documents provided to residents that were not previously
submitted;
3. If placement is
temporary, a detailed description of the plans for effecting permanent
relocation, including a description of services provided, shall be submitted.
If the resident is to reoccupy the vacated building, a description of the work
required to allow reoccupancy and an approximate date of reoccupancy shall be
provided;
4. If the governmental
entity contracted for the provision of relocation assistance, the name and
contact information of the provider and a detailed description of the services
provided; and
5. The address(es) of
temporary housing to which residents were relocated with a statement attesting
that the replacement housing is decent, safe, and sanitary, as required by
5:11-4.3.
