N.J. Stat. Ann. § 52:27D-280 et seq. § 52:27D-287e
"County Homelessness Trust Fund."
Operative Text
5. a. Amounts raised by the surcharge imposed pursuant to N.J.S.22A:4-17 as amended by section 8 of P.L.2009, c.123 shall be deposited into a "County Homelessness Trust Fund" to be created by the county and shall be used exclusively for the purposes authorized by P.L.2009, c.123 (C.52:27D-287a et al.). Any interest or other income earned on monies deposited into the county trust fund shall be credited to the fund to be used for the same purposes as the principal. A county may deposit other funds into the County Homelessness Trust Fund, as it may, from time to time, deem appropriate. b. No monies in the trust fund shall be utilized to pay or discharge the principal or interest on any indebtedness incurred for any purpose by the county or any other governmental entity. c. Amounts raised by the surcharge must be expended for the purposes detailed in section 6 of P.L.2009, c.123 (C.52:27D-287f) within four years of being collected. d. Any monies in the trust fund that are not expended after four years will be transferred to the Department of Community of Affairs which will contract with a community based organization in the same county where the Homelessness Trust Fund exists for the purposes of P.L.2009, c.123 (C.52:27D-287a et al.). L.2009, c.123, s.5.
Under N.J.S.A. 52:27D-280 et seq. § 52:27D-287e, surcharge revenues collected under the referenced filing-fee statute must be deposited into a County Homelessness Trust Fund and spent exclusively on homelessness-related purposes authorized by P.L.2009, c.123. Interest earned on those deposits stays in the fund for the same uses, and counties may add other discretionary funds as well. Critically, trust fund money cannot be used to pay off county or governmental debt, and any unspent surcharge amounts must be deployed within four years or transferred to the New Jersey Department of Community Affairs, which then contracts with a local community-based organization to carry out the fund's purposes.
Plain English — not legal advice.
Property owners and managers operating in New Jersey should be aware that N.J.S.A. 52:27D-280 et seq. § 52:27D-287e governs how counties must handle surcharge revenues earmarked for homelessness prevention and housing stability. Compliant county administrators keep these funds strictly segregated from general debt obligations and track expenditure timelines to ensure the four-year spending deadline is met. While this provision primarily governs county-level fund administration rather than individual landlord conduct, understanding the funding structure can help operators engage with county homelessness programs that may affect local housing markets.
General guidance for property managers — not legal advice for your specific situation. Consult an attorney for advice on your case.
N.J.S.A. 52:27D-280 et seq. § 52:27D-287e establishes that surcharge funds collected at the county level must be directed exclusively toward homelessness-related services and programs, not toward paying off governmental debt. Tenants and housing advocates can use this provision to verify that their county is properly administering the County Homelessness Trust Fund and spending collected surcharges within the required four-year window. Those concerned about whether funds are being used appropriately may consider contacting their county government, the New Jersey Department of Community Affairs, or a local tenant-rights organization for guidance.
General guidance for tenants — not legal advice for your specific situation. Consult a tenant-rights organization or attorney for advice on your case.
Generated October 6, 2026 — auto-generated, not yet human-reviewed. See /transparency for methodology.
Effective Timeline
References Out
No outbound references recorded yet for this provision.
References In
No inbound references recorded yet for this provision.