City of Atlantic City Mayor Marty Small, Sr. is reaffirming his commitment to supporting residents by providing rental and utility assistance to those in need. During a news conference held Jan. 28 at City Hall, Mayor Small announced a $400,000 allocation, with $200,000 designated for rental assistance and $200,000 for utility assistance. Current Atlantic City residents who meet low-to-moderate income eligibility requirements under State of New Jersey guidelines may apply for assistance in person only at City Hall, Room 103, located at 1301 Bacharach Boulevard.
Applicants seeking rental assistance must submit a copy of their lease, recent pay stubs, and all required documentation, in addition to completing an application packet. Utility assistance is available for gas, electric, and water services. To qualify, applicants must be past due on their utility bills and provide a shut-off notice, as well as demonstrate a plan to maintain payments moving forward. The utility must also be under the applicant’s name.
The City’s Department of Health and Human Services will conduct case management for each applicant. All applicants must be able to sustain their housing and utility obligations after assistance is provided. Assistance is capped at $2,500 per applicant for rental assistance and $1,000 per applicant for utility.
“This is very important because it demonstrates our continued investment in the human capital of the great City of Atlantic City,” said Mayor Small. “Now more than ever, we must come together as a community and support residents during their time of need. Tough times don’t last, but tough people do, and everyone can benefit from a helping hand at some point in their lives. My administration remains focused on delivering critical services like rental and utility assistance to help residents maintain stability.”
For additional information or questions, residents may call 609-347-5437 or email mlinder@acnj.gov.
If an applicant does not qualify for this rental or utility assistance, the Department of Health & Human Services will work to see if they can help them find similar assistance elsewhere. In 2025, Atlantic City’s Homeless Outreach Unit, under Health & Human Services, helped prevent or resolve homelessness for more than 100 families through similar assistance using Community Development Block Grant (CDBG) funding.
