Comprehensive guide to housing assistance programs, emergency shelters, transitional housing, and homeownership support in Camden County, NJ — including shelters and churches with food and clothing assistance.
Start here - these agencies manage most Camden County housing programs
Address: 2021 Watson Street, 2nd Floor, Camden, NJ 08105
Phone: (856) 968-2700
Services: Section 8 vouchers, public housing applications, PBV housing, waitlist management
Hours: Monday-Friday 8:30 AM - 4:30 PM
Address: 101 Woodcrest Rd Suite 161, Cherry Hill, NJ 08003
Phone: (856) 225-8800
Services: Emergency rental assistance, TANF, SNAP, Medicaid, utility assistance
Hours: Monday-Friday 8:30 AM - 4:30 PM
Address: 745 Market St, Camden, NJ 08102
Phone: (856) 964-0602
Services: Free legal aid for eviction prevention, housing discrimination, landlord disputes
Hours: Monday-Friday 9:00 AM - 5:00 PM
Federally funded rental assistance for eligible low-income families, seniors, and persons with disabilities. Vouchers help pay rent in private market apartments. You pay 30% of your income; voucher covers the difference up to fair market rent.
Eligibility: Income must be below 50% of area median income (extremely low-income families prioritized). Background checks and landlord references required.
How to Apply: Applications accepted when waitlist opens (check website). Expect 1-3 year wait. Can use voucher anywhere that accepts Section 8.
Affordable apartments directly operated by the Housing Authority. Rent is based on 30% of household income. Multiple communities available for families, seniors, and persons with disabilities.
Eligibility: Low-income households. Preference given to extremely low-income, elderly, disabled, and those displaced by natural disasters.
Communities: Ablett Village, Roosevelt Manor, Westfield Acres, Mickle Tower (seniors), and more.
Section8Search.org is a free external search portal that aggregates open Section 8 Housing Choice Voucher listings across the U.S., including Camden and surrounding South Jersey counties. Use it to find currently advertised voucher-accepting units while you wait for Camden Housing Authority's waitlist to open or while your existing application is in review.
Emergency shelter for homeless men, women, and families. Provides meals, case management, and housing navigation services. Short-term stay (up to 90 days) with pathways to transitional housing.
Emergency shelter and meals for homeless individuals and families. Provides case management, job training, and connections to permanent housing programs.
Emergency financial assistance for back rent, utility bills, and eviction prevention. Up to 15 months of assistance available for eligible households facing housing instability.
Eligibility: Income below 80% area median, demonstrated COVID-19 related hardship or financial emergency.
Cathedral Kitchen serves hot meals daily to anyone in need and distributes emergency food bags to families experiencing food insecurity. Founded by the Episcopal Diocese of New Jersey, it operates the largest charity kitchen in South Jersey. Walk-in for meals; brief intake for emergency food bags.
Heart of Camden operates Saint Joseph's Carpenter Society in the North Camden neighborhood of Cramer Hill. Provides emergency food pantry and a clothing closet accessible by appointment through serving returning citizens and North Camden families. Reentry-specific case management available for those with recent incarceration history.
Network of Camden churches (including First Nazarene Baptist, Bethel AME, and True Vine Baptist) operating rotating food distribution and clothing giveaways across the city week-by-week. The Coalition consolidates schedules so residents can find a site open any given weekday. Contact South Jersey Legal Services for the current week's location list and intake requirements.
The Salvation Army's Camden Corps operates year-round social services for Camden residents: daily hot breakfast, a weekly emergency food box program, and thrift-store vouchers redeemable for clothing and household goods. Case management for housing stability is available on-site by appointment.
VOADV operates an emergency food pantry and clothing closet out of its Camden office serving low-income families and individuals experiencing homelessness. Walk-in distribution; brief intake at the door. The organization also provides case management referrals for housing stability and reentry support.
St. John Baptist Church operates a Saturday food distribution pantry and a Monday-through-Wednesday clothing closet for Camden families. Food distribution runs weekly; clothing closet distributes by request. Open to anyone in need regardless of congregation membership.
Long-term supportive housing (up to 24 months) with case management, mental health services, and employment support for chronically homeless individuals. Combines affordable housing with wraparound services to promote stability and independence.
Eligibility: Chronically homeless with barriers to housing (mental health, substance use, disabilities). Low-barrier entry.
Transitional housing and rental assistance for families experiencing homelessness. Includes housing navigation, financial literacy classes, and employment support. 6-24 month program with goal of permanent housing placement.
Down payment and closing cost assistance for first-time homebuyers. Grants up to $10,000 for eligible low-income households purchasing homes in Camden County. Includes homebuyer education requirement.
Eligibility: First-time homebuyer (or not owned home in past 3 years), income below 80% area median, complete HUD-approved homebuyer education course.
Low-interest mortgages and down payment assistance for first-time homebuyers statewide. Competitive rates and flexible qualifying criteria. Down Payment Assistance Loans up to $15,000.
Programs: First-Time Homebuyer Mortgages, Down Payment Assistance, Home Buyer Prep Loans
One-time emergency rental assistance for families with children facing eviction or homelessness. Can cover back rent, security deposits, or first month's rent.
Eligibility: Families with minor children, income below TANF limits, demonstrated emergency housing need.
Rental assistance, housing counseling, and eviction prevention services for low-income households. Case management and budgeting support included.
Free housing counseling and discrimination complaint assistance. Helps tenants understand rights, file complaints about discrimination, and access legal resources for eviction defense.
Protected Classes: Race, color, religion, sex, disability, familial status, national origin
Free, confidential helpline connecting New Jersey residents to housing resources, emergency shelters, rental assistance programs, utility help, and social services. Available 24/7 in over 200 languages.
Services: Emergency shelter referrals, rental assistance programs, utility assistance, eviction prevention, housing counseling, senior housing, disability housing
State housing programs including affordable housing development, homelessness prevention, housing counseling, and community development grants. Oversees CDBG, HOME, and other federal housing programs in NJ.
Federal housing programs oversight for New Jersey. Information on FHA loans, fair housing complaints, housing discrimination, and HUD program complaints.
We serve both sides of the Delaware River. If you or someone you know is navigating reentry in Philadelphia County, we've put together a full guide covering rooming houses, PHA/Section 8, rapid rehousing, transitional nonprofits, recovery housing, and faith-based shelters.
🏙️ Philadelphia County Housing Resources →Our housing specialists at U.N.I.T.Y Connector can help you find the right program, complete applications, and connect with local housing services.