By Elizabeth Hurley, Legal Director at The Waterfront Project Our client, Ms. G., suffers from advanced cancer and is caring full-time for her four-year-old grandson who has autism and is non-verbal. Her gross income is limited to approximately $300 per month in Social Security income, which arrives on the 13th of the month. Ms. G. was unable to pay her $100 portion of the rent (the difference is subsidized through Section…
By Tracy T., Resource Navigator at The Waterfront Project On Wednesday, the Department of Community Affairs (DCA) sent over a referral for a client in Bergen County. I immediately took on the case and contacted the client, who was only available to complete an intake on Monday, June 2, 2025. During the intake, I quickly learned that we were racing against the clock—her housing court date was scheduled for just…
By Willaim “Bill” Paige When a veteran purchases a home using a VA-guaranteed home loan, the loan is typically transferred to a mortgage servicer after closing. This servicer manages the loan, including receiving monthly payments and providing assistance if issues arise. If the veteran experiences difficulty making payments and the loan becomes delinquent, the VA offers supplemental servicing support to help resolve the default. While the mortgage servicer is the…
By The Waterfront Project, Inc. Hudson County is booming—but who is this boom really for? From Journal Square to the waterfront, Jersey City is exploding with new development. Sleek high-rises promise rooftop pools, concierge services, and rent prices that could fund a mortgage—anywhere but here. As cranes stretch across the skyline, low-income families, seniors, and essential workers are being squeezed out of the neighborhoods they’ve long called home. This isn’t unique to…
By Patricia Ellams While many Seniors enjoy the financial freedom of owning their homes outright or possessing substantial equity, they often find themselves caught in a precarious balancing act. Their fixed incomes become tightropes they must walk daily, with unexpected financial storms, costly home repairs, skyrocketing property taxes, and mounting utility bills threatening to topple their carefully constructed budgets at any moment. This financial tug-of-war can transform what should be…
By Carol M. Sainthilaire The recent NJ Spotlight News article, “Is New Jersey Taking the Right Approach to Affordable Housing Issues?”, offers a timely exploration of the state’s evolving housing landscape. At The Waterfront Project, Inc. (WFP), we welcome this critical conversation, as it aligns with our mission to provide free civil legal representation, assistance, and advocacy to New Jersey residents who are asset-limited, income-constrained, homeless, or disenfranchised. Progress in…
Top Stories As economic headwinds continue across the U.S., housing access and affordability remain pressing concerns. This week’s top stories reflect both systemic challenges and promising policy responses, from slowing new construction to protective legislation and public health investments in housing. Housing Starts Decline Amid Economic Uncertainty Recent data shows a nationwide slowdown in new housing starts, driven by rising interest rates, labor shortages, and inflationary pressures. This cooling effect…
To honor Women’s History Month, we would like to highlight some of our incredible Women Leaders within our organization. Introducing Kayla Zimmer, the Deputy Director of The Waterfront Project “I love working for The Waterfront Project because it is a women-led organization that leads with their hearts and have lived experience allowing us to connect with our clients on a more personal level. I started at The Waterfront Project in…
By William Paige, Foreclosure Specialist at The Waterfront Project The Consumer Financial Protection Bureau (CFPB) is under threat of closing, and as a HUD-Approved Housing Counseling Agency, we cannot stress enough how devastating this would be for Americans. The CFPB was created after the 2008 financial crisis to protect consumers from predatory practices in the financial and mortgage market. Its absence would leave millions of people vulnerable to abuse by…
By Barry L. Dayton, Staff Attorney at The Waterfront Project Ms. B came to us with a complaint for non-payment of rent dating back to May 2024. The landlord claimed to have received nothing from her since May, which meant that their claim was for $16,445 at the time of trial. However, after reviewing Ms. B’s documents, including a settlement a Staff Attorney had previously negotiated for the client back…