New Jersey Department of Community Affairs
Encyclopedia
The New Jersey Department of Community Affairs is a governmental agency of the U.S. state
of New Jersey
. The department is headed by Commissioner Lori Grifa. On November 21, 2011, Governor Chris Christie announced that he chose Rich Constable
to replace Commissioner Grifa upon her departure from state service on January 2, 2012.
community of New Jersey by administering grant dollars and providing other assistance to Hispanic community-based organizations, creating training and employment opportunities for Hispanic college interns, conducting and supporting research on New Jersey's Hispanic community, and ensuring Hispanic access to services and programs.
.
Edward Smith is the director of the DCS.
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
. 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
.
Paul G. Stridick is the director of the DHCR.
Lawrence Petrillo is the director of the DFS.
Thomas H. Neff is the acting director of the DLGS.
Gerard Scharfenberger is the acting executive director of the OSG.
Carol A. Vasile is the acting director of the DoW.
U.S. state
A U.S. state is any one of the 50 federated states of the United States of America that share sovereignty with the federal government. Because of this shared sovereignty, an American is a citizen both of the federal entity and of his or her state of domicile. Four states use the official title of...
of New Jersey
New Jersey
New Jersey is a state in the Northeastern and Middle Atlantic regions of the United States. , its population was 8,791,894. It is bordered on the north and east by the state of New York, on the southeast and south by the Atlantic Ocean, on the west by Pennsylvania and on the southwest by Delaware...
. The department is headed by Commissioner Lori Grifa. On November 21, 2011, Governor Chris Christie announced that he chose Rich Constable
Rich Constable
Richard E. Constable III, Esq. is the current Deputy Commissioner of the New Jersey Department of Labor and Workforce Development, and serves on the State Ethics Commission....
to replace Commissioner Grifa upon her departure from state service on January 2, 2012.
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."Center for Hispanic Policy, Research and Development
The CHPRD is designed to empower the HispanicHispanic
Hispanic is a term that originally denoted a relationship to Hispania, which is to say the Iberian Peninsula: Andorra, Gibraltar, Portugal and Spain. During the Modern Era, Hispanic sometimes takes on a more limited meaning, particularly in the United States, where the term means a person of ...
community of New Jersey by administering grant dollars and providing other assistance to Hispanic community-based organizations, creating training and employment opportunities for Hispanic college interns, conducting and supporting research on New Jersey's Hispanic community, and ensuring Hispanic access to services and programs.
.
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 lifeQuality of life
The term quality of life is used to evaluate the general well-being of individuals and societies. The term is used in a wide range of contexts, including the fields of international development, healthcare, and politics. Quality of life should not be confused with the concept of standard of...
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
Section 8 (housing)
Section 8 of the United States Housing Act of 1937 , as repeatedly amended, authorizes the payment of rental housing assistance to private landlords on behalf of approximately 3.1 million low-income households...
, which are funded by the United States Department of Housing and Urban Development
United States Department of Housing and Urban Development
The United States Department of Housing and Urban Development, also known as HUD, is a Cabinet department in the Executive branch of the United States federal government...
. 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
Council on Affordable Housing
The Council on Affordable Housing is an agency of the Government of New Jersey within the New Jersey Department of Community Affairs that is responsible for ensuring that all 566 New Jersey municipalities provide their fair share of low and moderate income housing...
.
Paul G. Stridick 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.Lawrence Petrillo 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.Thomas H. Neff is the acting director of the DLGS.
Office of Smart Growth
The OSG is designed to coordinate planning across the state to protect the environment and to guide future growth into compact, mixed-use development and redevelopment. It regulates land use decisions by all levels of government and by the private sector.Gerard Scharfenberger is the acting executive director of the OSG.
Division on Women
The DoW was created to promote and expand women's rights and opportunities in New Jersey in the areas of poverty and welfare, employment and wages, work and family, the economic and social aspects of healthcare, violence against women, and women’s civic and political participation in their communities. It also conducts and support research leading to public policy to these ends.Carol A. Vasile is the acting director of the DoW.