Housing Mitigation Fund Program

The Housing Mitigation Fund Program (HMF) provides interest-free repayable funding to eligible applicants for mitigation activities that address risks from hazards such as flooding, severe weather, and extreme temperatures. Program funds that are disbursed must be repaid upon the transfer of ownership of the home. The program offers two pathways to mitigate against future hazards: 

Pathway 1: Hazard Reduction and Prevention 

The program will award up to $100,000 for construction activities to ensure primary residential housing structures are mitigated against the risk of future disaster events as outlined in the mitigation needs assessment in the Hurricane Ida Action Plan and those activities that are related to residential housing improvements. For the purposes of this program, eligible mitigation activities are those that mitigate against the damage to residential housing caused by flooding, severe weather, and extreme temperatures. 

Pathway 2: Reconstruction 

The Program will award up to $500,000 for housing development on a vacant lot or reconstruction of a home that is uninhabitable due to damages from a previous disaster. Assistance through this pathway is available to both developers and individual property owners. The new structures must incorporate mitigation measures to reduce risk from future disasters. The program will prioritize assistance to the most at-risk structures and vulnerable populations.  

The awards are made with federal Community Development Block Grant Disaster Recovery (CDBG-DR) funding that DCA's Division of Disaster Recovery and Mitigation administers on behalf of the State of New Jersey to help residents recover and mitigate against storm-related damages.

Application Details

Applications for Pathway 1 Hazard Risk Reduction and Prevention activities will be accepted on a rolling basis beginning in June 2026, while applications for Pathway 2 Reconstruction activities are expected to open later in 2026.

Applications must include all required documents. Please be prepared to upload the following documents as part of the application process:

  • Form 1040 or IRS Non-Filing Letter for all household members
  • State or Federally Issued ID
  • Proof of Ownership (property assessment card, tax bill, deed)
  • Proof of Primary Residency (Driver's License preferred)
  • Contractor's Quote for Mitigation Activity
  • Photos of proposed jobsite

If demand exceeds available funding, the program may implement waitlists or phased intake periods. The application period may close or reopen depending on funding availability.

If you need language or technical assistance with your application, contact the program at DRM.HMF@dca.nj.gov or (609) 292-3750.

Who Is Eligible for Hazard Reduction and Prevention Funding?

  • Properties in the 12 counties that received the most impact from Hurricane Ida: Bergen, Essex, Hudson, Middlesex, Somerset, Passaic, Union, Gloucester, Hunterdon, Mercer, Morris, and Warren.
  • Individual property owners who own and occupy the property as their primary residency at the time of their HMF application.
  • Households whose Adjusted Gross Income is under 120% area median income (AMI) based on HUD's annually updated Income Limits. HUD Income Limits can be found here: https://www.hudexchange.info/resource/5334/cdbg-income-limits/
  • Eligible structure types include single-family homes, townhouses, modular homes, and manufactured homes.
  • Rental properties and multi-unit structures are not eligible.

Who Is Prioritized for Funding?

Priority will be given to applications if:

  • Household income is under 80% AMI.
  • The subject property was impacted by Hurricane Ida.
  • The subject property is in the FEMA Special Flood Hazard Area (SFHA) or where repetitive hazard exposure can be documented.

How Can the Funding Assistance Be Used?

  • Mitigation activities listed on the HMF Eligible Activities cost list. 
  • Applicants may select up to three individual scope items relating to one primary mitigation activity per application.
  • Any costs beyond the program's fixed price must be paid by the homeowner before program funds are disbursed.
  • Program activities are prohibited from disturbing painted surfaces.
  • Reimbursement of costs for work done prior to applying for HMF is not allowed.

Important Documents

Contact Us

For additional information, call (609) 292-3750 or email DRM.HMF@dca.nj.gov.