New Jersey Dept Of Community Affairs

The New Jersey Department of Community Affairs (DCA) is a state government entity registered with SAM.gov since April 2004 that serves as the primary administrator of federal grant programs addressing housing, homelessness, energy assistance, and community development throughout New Jersey. As a state agency designated to receive and administer federal grants, the DCA functions as a pass-through entity, distributing federal funding to local governments, nonprofit organizations, community action agencies, and housing authorities across the state. The department manages a diverse portfolio of federal programs aimed at supporting vulnerable populations, including low-income households, homeless individuals and families, and communities in need of affordable housing and economic development resources.

The DCA has demonstrated extensive experience administering major federal grant programs across multiple funding agencies, with recent significant awards including the Low-Income Home Energy Assistance Program (LIHEAP) totaling approximately $120.9 million in combined formula and block grant funding from the Department of Health and Human Services, which provides direct financial assistance to low-income households for heating and cooling costs, energy crisis intervention, and weatherization services. The department also administers housing-focused programs from the Department of Housing and Urban Development, including the HOME Investment Partnerships Program ($5.4 million), the Housing Trust Fund ($5.7 million), the Emergency Solutions Grant ($3.5 million), and multiple Continuum of Care (CoC) Program grants totaling over $2.7 million to address homelessness through permanent housing, transitional housing, supportive services, and rapid rehousing initiatives. Additional HUD awards include the Lead Hazard Reduction Grant Program ($4.4 million) targeting lead-based paint hazards in pre-1960 housing, the Community Development Block Grant program, and the Family Self-Sufficiency Program supporting public housing residents. The Weatherization Assistance Program from the Department of Energy ($8.0 million) enables the DCA to contract with approximately 650 community-based organizations to provide whole-house energy retrofits including HVAC upgrades, insulation, air sealing, and health and safety improvements. The DCA also administers the Community Services Block Grant ($7.1 million) addressing poverty reduction and economic self-sufficiency, and received funding from the Department of Energy for energy code adoption and implementation. Through these programs, the DCA serves as the critical state-level facilitator connecting federal resources to local implementation partners, enabling comprehensive support for housing stability, energy affordability, homelessness prevention, and community development across New Jersey.