Jersey City, N.J. tenant lawyer program served 308 households this year as its $328,000 ran out; city adds $36,757

JERSEY CITY, N.J. — Jersey City’s Right to Counsel program, which provides lawyers to tenants facing eviction, served 308 households from Jan. 1 through Oct. 20, and the city now expects 500 households to get help by the end of 2026, according to a city press release issued Thursday, Oct. 22.

The release also confirms that the program’s money ran short before the year was over. “The City’s initial $328,000 allocation for Right to Counsel has been fully committed,” it says, and “an additional $36,757 will cover the program’s remaining operating costs through December 31, allowing services to continue at current staffing levels.”

Hudson TV first reported Oct. 20 that Resolution 26-712, on the City Council’s Oct. 21 agenda, says the city’s $328,000 contract with The Waterfront Project for 2026 was used up — “all funds have been expended” — and adds $36,757, for a total of $364,757. The contract runs through Dec. 31, so the original money was spent with more than two months left in the year.

What the city’s numbers show

According to the release:

• From Jan. 1 through Oct. 20, the program served 308 households, representing 710 people.
• In 95% of the program’s 263 closed cases, residents either kept their long-term housing or got more time in their homes.
• The city expects 500 households to receive help by the end of 2026.
• More than 5,700 eviction cases were filed in Jersey City last year, according to the New Jersey Department of Community Affairs.

The program is run with The Waterfront Project, a nonprofit that provides legal services to low-income residents. Through it, tenants can get legal representation to challenge unlawful eviction attempts, work through housing disputes and secure rental assistance, the city said. The release says The Waterfront Project “has continued taking cases throughout the year without interruption.”

What officials said

“Keeping Jersey City residents in their homes means making sure they have the legal support they need when their housing is at risk,” Mayor James Solomon said in the release. “Right to Counsel helps residents understand their rights and access the assistance they need to remain in their homes.”

“No one should have to face eviction without legal representation,” said Vicky Hernandez, executive director of The Waterfront Project. “That representation can change the outcome for a family facing eviction, giving them a fair chance to stay and move forward with stability and peace of mind.”

“Every renter has a story, and too many are stories of harassment and illegal evictions,” said Ward D Councilmember Jake Ephros. “Our Right to Counsel Office is a vital resource for local tenant protections.”

Demand and what’s next

The 500 households the city expects to help this year compare with more than 5,700 eviction filings in Jersey City last year. In its Oct. 20 report, Hudson TV noted that when the program was created in 2023, officials described a $4 million annual budget and about 1,500 tenants represented a year once it was fully in place. This year’s Waterfront Project contract, with the increase, totals $364,757.

Thursday’s release does not say when the original $328,000 ran out or how much the city plans to spend on the program in 2027. On Oct. 17, Hudson TV asked the city when the money ran out and whether it still plans to reach the program size described in 2023. The city has not answered those questions; this story will be updated if it does.

Residents who want to learn more about the program or get legal help can visit righttocounseljc.org, the city said.

Hudson TV asks: Should Jersey City budget enough so its tenant lawyers’ money lasts the full year? Reply A: Yes, fund the full year up front. Reply B: No, adding money mid-year is fine.
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