NJ Updates: Spring Forward This Weekend

NJ COVID-19 Updates and More

Want to know about current topics in New Jersey? The State of New Jersey Update features information, news, and resources, as well as guidance for COVID-19 and more. Additional featured news is also available at NJ.gov.

Hurricane Ida Recovery Programs

Homeowners and renters who were impacted by Hurricane Ida can apply for three new disaster recovery programs.

The Tenant-Based Rental Assistance (TBRA) Program helps cover rental housing costs for low-income rental families impacted by Hurricane Ida. Households must live in one of the following disaster-declared counties: Bergen, Essex, Gloucester, Hudson, Hunterdon, Mercer, Middlesex, Morris, Passaic, Somerset, Union, and Warren.

The program is now taking preliminary applications online. Staff will contact households that meet eligibility criteria to complete a full application.

More About TBRA

The Homeowner Assistance Recovery Program (HARP) provides owner-occupied residential property owners with financial assistance to help them repair, elevate, and, in some cases, rebuild their primary homes that were damaged by Hurricane Ida. Households must have owned and lived in the home at the time of the storm. The primary homes must be located in one of the following disaster-declared counties: Bergen, Essex, Gloucester, Hudson, Hunterdon, Mercer, Middlesex, Morris, Passaic, Somerset, Union, and Warren. Click here to start your application.

More About HARP

The Housing Counseling and Legal Services Program (HCS) provides a wide range of supportive services to both renters and homeowners who were impacted by Hurricane Ida to help them recover from the storm. The services include assessing housing needs, reviewing household finances, identifying available resources, and helping people complete applications for disaster recovery programs.

More About HCS

Spring Forward: Daylight Savings Time Starts This Weekend

New Jersey will begin observing Daylight Savings Time at 2:00 a.m. on Sunday, March 12th, 2023. Adjust your clocks one hour forward.

Help Plan for Parks and Open Spaces in Your Neighborhood

Spring is on the horizon and Outside, Together! is working with New Jerseyans to update the State's five-year Comprehensive Outdoor Recreation Plan. To participate, please take this short, 10-minute survey to help us decide how we plan for and improve the open space and parks in your neighborhood and across New Jersey.

Start Survey

Keep Yourself and Your Family Healthy For Spring

New Jerseyans are encouraged to continue taking necessary precautions to keep themselves and their loved ones healthy as we near the end of winter. Respiratory viruses, including COVID-19 are still among us.

Residents are particularly encouraged to stay up-to-date on COVID-19 and flu vaccinations, including receiving the updated bivalent COVID-19 booster when eligible.

Everyone six months of age and older is now eligible for the bivalent COVID-19 vaccinations that target recently circulating Omicron subvariants. COVID-19 vaccines are free to everyone. Find locations offering COVID-19 vaccines and boosters on the COVID-19 Vaccine Finder and Community Calendar.

Flu vaccines, which are often covered by insurers at little to no cost to individuals, can be found at pharmacies, health care provider offices, Federally Qualified Health Centers (FQHCs), and local health departments. FQHCs and health departments may also offer the flu vaccine at little to no cost for eligible uninsured or underinsured individuals.

Everyone is encouraged to take common sense measures to protect themselves and the people around them. This includes coughing or sneezing into your sleeve, washing your hands, staying home when you're sick, and wearing a mask if you or someone you're spending time with is at high risk of severe illness.

If symptoms appear, get tested for COVID-19. Free at-home test kits are available from the federal government and testing is offered for free at certain sites around New Jersey.

Keep children home from school and child care centers if they are feeling unwell.