Housing Authority adds vouchers, plans to eliminate security deposits and expand maintenance staffing, executive says

Steve Cia, executive director of the Jersey City Housing Authority, told the municipal council the authority has added 750 housing vouchers this year and plans to add another 500 in the near term, a move he said will increase rental subsidy capacity in the city.

Cia outlined several policy changes and operational steps his agency is taking. He said the authority plans to eliminate security deposits going forward and to refund existing security deposits to tenants who do not owe outstanding charges. "If you are currently in housing, and you have a security deposit and you do not owe me money, you're gonna get your money back," Cia said.

Cia also said the authority will take ownership of additional troubled properties if the state housing agency approves transfers; he identified Webb (already taken into public housing) and two other sites — 69 Storms and 242 Bergen — as near‑term acquisitions. Cia said residents of those properties will be brought into the authority's subsidy and services programs and that the authority will begin resident outreach once state approvals are final.

On maintenance and emergency response, Cia said the authority is increasing night and weekend staffing, adding a boiler mechanic for an evening shift and adding operators so there are more staff on hand to respond to heat and hot‑water complaints. He described a local hiring initiative to prioritize residents for temporary and then permanent positions within the authority's maintenance workforce.

Cia said the authority has also used HUD approvals and board actions to scale operations, perform roof and boiler repairs and to expand on‑site staffing. He said the authority will continue working with the council and the administration on funding and operational needs. Councilmembers praised recent work and thanked the authority for outreach and responsiveness.