The New Jersey Department of Community Affairs is a governmental agency of the

U.S. state In the United States, a state is a constituent political entity, of which there are 50. Bound together in a political union, each state holds governmental jurisdiction over a separate and defined geographic territory where it shares its sove ...

New Jersey New Jersey is a state in the Mid-Atlantic and Northeastern regions of the United States. It is bordered on the north and east by the state of New York; on the east, southeast, and south by the Atlantic Ocean; on the west by the Delawa ...

. The department is headed by Commissioner

Sheila Oliver Sheila Y. Oliver (born July 14, 1952) is an American politician serving as the second lieutenant governor of New Jersey since 2018. She previously served in the New Jersey General Assembly from 2004 to 2018, where she represented the 34th legi ...

, who is also serving as lieutenant governor of New Jersey.

Function

The NJDCA provides "administrative guidance, financial support, and technical assistance to local governments, community development organizations, businesses and individuals to improve the quality of life in New Jersey."

Divisions, programs, and services

Division of Codes and Standards

The DCS establishes and enforces building codes, licensing code officials and training to protect the health and safety of New Jerseyans, in partnership with the state's municipalities. It includes the Bureau of Housing Inspection. It also oversees the implementation of construction codes, amusement ride inspections, gas installations, boarding house licenses, and the New Home Warranty Program. Edward Smith is the director of the DCS.

Division of Housing and Community Resources

The DCR provides financial and technical assistance to municipalities, community action agencies, and other non-profit organizations in order to promote community development and economic development within the community. Also, it aids local government agencies and non-profit organizations seeking to improve the

quality of life Quality of life (QOL) is defined by the World Health Organization as "an individual's perception of their position in life in the context of the culture and value systems in which they live and in relation to their goals, expectations, standards ...

for low-income residents. Specific programs include energy assistance, community services, and neighborhood programs. The DH works with municipalities, non-profit organizations, private developers, and the New Jersey Housing Mortgage Financing Agency to promote community development by facilitating homeownership and housing. The DH oversees Section 8 housing assistance programs, which are funded by the

United States Department of Housing and Urban Development The United States Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD) is one of the executive departments of the U.S. federal government. It administers federal housing and urban development laws. It is headed by the Secretary of Housing and Ur ...

. Other programs seek to create housing opportunities in viable neighborhoods for low-income households, to fund the development of affordable housing throughout the state, and to expand the capacity of non-profit organizations to develop affordable housing. The DH works together with the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development and the

Council on Affordable Housing The Council on Affordable Housing (COAH) is a defunct agency of the Government of New Jersey within the New Jersey Department of Community Affairs that was responsible for ensuring that all 566 New Jersey municipalities provided their fair shar ...

. Janel Winter is the director of the DHCR.

Division of Fire Safety

The DFS is New Jersey's central fire agency, responsible for training firefighters and developing and enforcing the state fire code. Richard Mikutsky is the director of the DFS.

Division of Local Government Services

The DLGS works with local governments to ensure their financial integrity and solvency and to ensure that they comply with state regulations. Melanie Walter is the director of the DLGS.

Sandy Recovery Division

The SRD manages the majority of the federal funds being used to assist the State in recovering from Superstorm Sandy. These funds come from the Community Development Block Grant (CDBG) Disaster Recovery programs of the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development. The division is committed to efficiently and effectively addressing the long-term needs of New Jersey's Sandy-impacted residents and communities through programs designed to help homeowners, tenants, landlords, developers and local governments.

Commissioners

Commissioners of the Department of Community Affairs include:"New DCA Commissioner Joseph V. Doria, Jr. Speaks Out on Housing Issues, Eminent Domain and More"
''New Jersey Municipalities'', November 2007. Accessed September 1, 2016. * Paul Ylvisaker (1967-1970) * Edmund Hume (1970-1971) * Lawrence "Pat" Kramer (1971-1974) * Patricia Sheehan (1974-1978) * Joseph A. LeFante (1978-1982) * John Renna (1982-1985) *

Leonard S. Coleman Jr. Leonard S. Coleman Jr. (born February 17, 1949) was the last president of the National League. He held the office from 1994 until 1999 when it was eliminated by Major League Baseball. He is currently on the Board of Directors of H. J. Heinz Compa ...

(1986-1988) *

Anthony M. Villane Anthony M. Villane Jr. (December 24, 1929 – June 29, 2022) was an American dentist and Republican Party politician who was elected to serve seven terms in the New Jersey General Assembly from 1976 to 1988, and served as head of the New Jerse ...

(1988-1990) * Randy Primas (1990-1992) * Stephanie R. Bush (1992-1994) * Harriet E. Derman (1994-1996) * Jane Kenny (1996-2001) * Susan Bass Levin (2002-2007) *

Joseph Doria Joseph V. Doria Jr. (born June 28, 1946) is an American Democratic Party politician, who served as Commissioner of the New Jersey Department of Community Affairs in the cabinet of Governor Jon Corzine from 2007 until his resignation in July 20 ...

(2007-2009) * Laurie Griffa (2010-2012) * Richard Constable (2012-2015) * Charles Richman (2015-2018) *

(2018–present)

References

External links

New Jersey Department of Community Affairs
{{authority control Community Affairs