To the Editor:

As part of a more than $50 million voluntary contribution package to the Municipality of Princeton, local programs, and residents, Princeton University recently awarded Housing Initiatives of Princeton (HIP) $300,000 over three years in support of HIP’s Eviction Prevention Program. On behalf of HIP, we would like to extend our heartfelt thanks to Princeton University for this tremendously generous and life-changing contribution.

For low-income working residents, a single emergency or extra expense can mean the difference between remaining housed or getting evicted. Due to rising rents, the wake of the pandemic, and the end of New Jersey’s moratorium on evictions for non-payment of rent, evictions have skyrocketed. As a result, requests for assistance from HIP’s Eviction Prevention Program have nearly doubled between 2022 and 2023.

Eviction is incredibly traumatic, especially for young children, who often bear the emotional and developmental brunt. The funds from the University will allow us to help many more low-income Princeton individuals and families stay in their homes or move from an unsafe living environment to a stable one, and to remain together.

While HIP and its 100 percent volunteer-run Eviction Prevention team might be the ones “on the ground,” there is no way we could do what we do without community support from outstanding partners like Princeton University, in cooperation with Council, the Department of Human Services, and the Housing Stability Coalition. It truly is the definition of neighbors helping neighbors.

If you or anyone you know is in danger of eviction and needs rental assistance, please visit housinginitiativesorprinceton.org/gethelp.

Tom Pinneo
Board Chair

Liz Lempert
Past Board Chair

Lori Troilo
Executive Director

Housing Initiatives of Princeton