New Jersey § 52:27d-518

§ 52:27d-518.

The director shall establish a pilot program to award grants to qualified organizations

to rehabilitate the primary residences of eligible veterans and to purchase and rehabilitate abandoned homes for occupancy by homeless veterans. The director shall manage the pilot program in consultation with the Adjutant General of the Department

of Military and Veterans' Affairs to most effectively advance the needs of eligible

veterans. The director shall administer the pilot program for five years following the operative

date of P.L.2017, c. 258 ( C.52:27D-516 et seq. ). Grant awards totaling $1 million shall be awarded during each year the pilot program

is in operation. a. In addition to any additional information required by the director, a qualified

organization seeking a grant under the pilot program shall submit an application to

the division that shall include the following information: (1) the approximate number of veterans the qualified organization has the capacity

to serve through grant funding; and (2) a description of the type of work to be completed, such as interior home modifications,

energy efficiency improvements, and other similar categories of work. b. In order to receive a grant award under the pilot program, a qualified organization

shall: (1) demonstrate expertise in providing housing rehabilitation services for the purpose of making homes accessible, functional, and safe; (2) have experience in successfully carrying out accountability and reporting requirements

involved in the proper administration of grant funds; and (3) commit to paying workers employed through the pilot program no less than the prevailing

wage rate for the worker's craft or trade, as determined by the Commissioner of Labor

and Workforce Development pursuant to P.L.1963, c. 150 ( C.34:11-56.25 et seq. ). c. In awarding grants under the pilot program, (1) the director shall give preference to : (a) qualified organizations that employ workers from an apprenticeable trade participating

in the Helmets to Hardhats Program, as certified by the New Jersey State Building

and Construction Trades Council, such that not less than five percent of projected

labor hours shall be completed by such participating organizations ; and (b) qualified organizations that serve communities that the director determines have

the greatest need for homeless services; and (2) the director may give preference to qualified organizations to achieve a fair

distribution, as determined by the director, among homeless veterans in different

geographical regions . d. Low-income veterans who also have a disability shall receive preference over other eligible veterans in selection for assistance

under the pilot program. e. Grant awards under the pilot program shall be used to rehabilitate the primary residences of eligible veterans, to purchase and rehabilitate abandoned homes, including homes that have been foreclosed, and for other purposes necessary to advance these goals , as permitted by the director. Permitted uses of grant funding shall include, but shall not be limited to: (1) installing wheelchair ramps, widening exterior and interior doors, reconfigurating

and re-equipping bathrooms to enhance accessibility, removing doorway thresholds,

and installing appropriate floor coverings to accommodate the functional limitations

that result from having a disability; (2) rehabilitating homes that are in a state of interior or exterior disrepair; and (3) installing energy efficient features or equipment if the eligible veteran's monthly

residential utility costs are greater than five percent of monthly household income,

and an energy audit of the residence indicates that the installation of energy efficient

features or equipment would reduce utility costs by 10 percent or more. f. No qualified organization shall be awarded more than $400,000 through the pilot

program in any one fiscal year. A qualified organization receiving a grant shall contribute a matching contribution

in an amount not less than 50 percent of the grant award. This matching requirement may be met through cash contributions, or in-kind contributions,

as permitted by the director. Eligible veterans benefitting from the pilot program shall not pay an application

fee or any other cost for the work completed on their residence, unless a modest fee

can be charged, as permitted by the director, without forcing the veteran's total

monthly housing costs to exceed 30 percent of total household income. g. (1) The director shall provide an annual report to the Governor, and the Legislature

pursuant to section 2 of P.L.1991, c. 164 ( C.52:14-19.1 ), presenting the following information with respect to the associated year of the

pilot program: (a) the number of eligible veterans provided assistance under the pilot program; (b) the socioeconomic characteristics of the benefited veterans; (c) the total number, types, and locations of qualified organizations offered grant

funding under the pilot program; (d) the amount of matching funds, and form of in-kind contributions raised with each

grant; (e) a description of the housing rehabilitation services provided, costs saved, and actions taken under the pilot program; (f) a description of the outreach initiatives implemented to educate the general public

and qualified organizations about the pilot program, and to identify eligible veterans

and their families; and (g) a description of compensation offered to workers employed through the pilot program,

and a certification that workers have not been paid less than the prevailing wage

rate for the worker's craft or trade, as determined by the Commissioner of Labor and

Workforce Development pursuant to P.L.1963, c. 150 ( C.34:11-56.25 et seq. ). (h) any other information that the director considers relevant in assessing the pilot

program. (2) Not later than six months following completion of the pilot program, the director

shall provide another report to the Governor, and the Legislature pursuant to section

2 of P.L.1991, c. 164 ( C.52:14-19.1 ), presenting information necessary to assess the success of the pilot program as

a whole.