COVID security deposit question (USA-NJ)

To your specific question: Yes, you can instruct your landlord to apply your security deposit toward rent (with possible exceptions for a small property where the landlord also lives, which doesn't sound like your situation). This must be in writing (email counts) -- a suggested format is shown here.

The public health emergency has been extended repeatedly, most recently to mid-March 2021, and the security deposit order remains in effect until 60 days after the end of the emergency. Moreover, a new security deposit cannot be required until 6 months after the end of the emergency.

I encourage you to take a broader view of your situation and possible ways to improve it. Applying your security deposit toward rent may be a useful step, but if you are not getting enough to eat, rent should probably not be your top priority, given the ban on evictions until 2 months after the end of the emergency.

Desperate poverty and hunger can endanger your health and sabotage decision-making. Here are some ideas -- you may have tried some already, but I hope you can get immediate help, especially with food:

• Ask the school you attend for help/guidance. If you don't know who to talk to, any of your professors would want to know that you are short on food and would gladly put you in touch with the right office.
• Community FoodBank of New Jersey
• Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (food stamps -- emergency cases can be approved within 7 days)

And while I can't know your exact situation:

• Of course keep looking for any other way to earn an income
• Consider if there might be any family/relatives you can reach out to who would want to help you