The Lakewood Township Residential Assistance Program (LTRAP), once again achieved a perfect 100% score on HUD’s Section Eight Management Assessment Program, (SEMAP).

LTRAP received notice from HUD that it again scored 100% for 2018, a perfect score of 135 out 135 possible points, on fourteen different performance indicators. Since the inception of the SEMAP rating system almost two decades ago, LTRAP has consistently been ranked by HUD in the “high” performance category, routinely scoring 100%.

SEMAP is the tool HUD uses to measure, rate, and rank the performance of housing providers administering the Section 8 housing choice voucher program. Higher SEMAP scores indicate more effective financial management, a smoother waiting list process, and higher quality physical conditions of assisted properties, as well as optimal lease up. The average SEMAP score for housing agencies in New Jersey is 77.39%. LTRAP’s average SEMAP score over the past ten (10) years is 99.3%, one of the highest in the nation.

Forty years ago in 1977, the Township of Lakewood entered into a contract with the Lakewood Tenants Organization, Inc. to administer its Section 8 Program. This contract has been renewed and revised over 30 times as additional funding became available and the program grew from 80 units to 1058 units. This correlates with the Township’s nearly 40 contracts with HUD. The program is operated by the Lakewood Tenants Organization (LTO), a New Jersey not-for-profit organization, founded and led by Rabbi Meir Hertz, at no cost to the Township or its taxpayers. One hundred (100%) percent of its $16 Million annual budget is derived from HUD. Since its inception to date, this program has garnered $345 million to Lakewood, revitalizing Lakewood’s aging neighborhoods and core business district, serving as a catalyst for Lakewood’s renaissance.

LTRAP currently administers a total of 1,200 Section 8 Rental Assistance Program vouchers, (this includes approximately 150 units from other jurisdictions ported to Lakewood), approximately 9,000 individual beneficiaries, comprised mostly of the elderly, disabled, women and children. This program provides $1.3 Million in Section 8 rent subsidies monthly directly to Lakewood’s most vulnerable lower-income population. All are occupying safe, decent and sanitary dwelling units in the private rental market, owned by more than 850 participating landlords. An additional 1300 names are currently on LTRAP’s Waiting List.

Its fiscal operations and program compliance are audited annually by an Independent Public Accountant (IPA Audit), selected in a Request For Proposals (RFP) bid process. The IPA audits for the past 40 years (1977-2017) have been unblemished, without any significant audit findings in all this time. These IPA Audits attest to the fact that LTRAP is, and always has been, in full compliance with all pertinent federal program laws, rules, and regulations.

LTRAP is currently running the largest and most successful Section 8 Homeownership Program and Family Self Sufficiency Program in the State of NJ.

“Taken together all the above factors: the highest possible SEMAP score, the best Homeownership and Family Self Sufficiency Programs, 40 years of clean audits, and consistently proven record of Fair Housing and Equal Opportunity compliance, have proven LTRAP to be one of the nation’s premier Housing Choice Voucher programs and one of Lakewood’s most valuable municipal assets, consistently meeting the housing needs of Lakewood’s lower-income residents,” LTRAP stated. “In short, LTRAP is a stellar example of a successful public-private partnership.”