Congressman Smith announces emergency CARE Act funds for CD-4 towns

Congressman Chris Smith at work in his Freehold District Office.

Local governments in the 4th Congressional District of New Jersey were awarded $4.5 million in federal CARE Act funds to help areas stabilize and recover from the economic impacts of the coronavirus pandemic, Rep. Chris Smith (R-NJ) announced.

“These federal coronavirus grants will boost local efforts to reduce homelessness due to financial distress, limit the spread of the virus among the homeless population and allow our local governments to enhance a range of other humanitarian assistance programs that will help address coronavirus impacts at the community level,” said Smith.

“Containing the virus and helping people and communities devastated by the COVID-19 pandemic is the paramount concern we face together—no matter the cost. CARES was passed in part to expedite significant federal support to our communities so they can anticipate the impacts of joblessness and assist people hit the hardest.”

   Most of the funding comes in the form of the Department of Housing and Urban Development’s Community Development Block Grant “COVID-19 Recovery” program. Monmouth County will receive $1,595,421; Ocean County, $820,810; Lakewood Township, $835,784; Hamilton Township, $398,638, and; Middletown Township, $156,171. Additionally, Monmouth County will receive $752,907 in HUD Emergency Shelter Grant funding.

   The CARES Act is Phase III of the federal response. Smith supported Phase I, the Coronavirus Preparedness and Response Supplemental Appropriations Act, 2020—which provided $8.3 billion for treatment and prevention measures, as well as Phase II, the Families First Coronavirus Response Act—which provided paid sick leave, family medical leave, free testing, and expanded unemployment benefits among other provisions to help working Americans.

   “CARES and Families First will, in the weeks and months ahead, provide direct financial assistance to taxpayers, hospitals, guaranteed loans to employers who retain their employees, an additional $600 per week for up to four months, $25 billion for food assistance and more,” Smith said.

   As signed by President Trump, The CARES Act is also providing direct financial assistance of $1,200 for individuals making under $75,000 per year, $100 billion in grants to hospitals to address coronavirus-related financial damage, $150 billion to assist state and local governments, $600 extra per week to unemployment benefits for four months, and $16 billion to assist in the procurement of medical supplies for the Strategic National Stockpile.