Welcome!
The Housing and Community Development Network of New Jersey is a statewide association of more than 250 affordable housing and community development corporations, individuals and other organizations that support the creation of housing and economic opportunities for low- and moderate-income New Jerseyans.
Network Members, Allies Stop Bailout of Private Developers!
Continue to Urge Corzine, Legislature:
"Don't let private developers
off the hook"
"Last year, the state established a statewide non-residential Developer Fee at the request of the office and retail space developers, who wanted more certainty and a level playing field. Now, they are asking for the moratorium to be extended to the middle of the next decade, which allows them to shirk their responsibility for helping to create homes for the employees who work in the businesses they will build. The Governor and legislative leaders should not let them off the hook," said Sterner.
"The economic stimulus bill should allow the towns that had a Developer Fee prior to A.500 to continue to collect that fee if the towns choose to do so. It should also limit the moratorium to one year and protect local housing obligations. New Jersey's economy needs a shot in the arm, not an amputation.
"By suspending the Developer Fee, the state is hampering the ability of towns to build homes, which would also generate jobs. To be fair, the state should let towns that want to continue to collect a Developer Fee do so until the statewide fee is restored. Last year's historic housing reforms should be allowed to work, and so should New Jerseyresidents," she said.
TAKE ACTION: Please call the Governor at 609/292-6000 and contact your legislators and thank them for not bailing out private developers, but urge them not to let the developers off the hook either. Encourage your elected officials to let towns that previously had a fee continue to collect it.
Congratulations again to our members and allies who have worked so hard on this!
Network's 20th Anniversary kickoff focuses on communication strategy for housing and economic development
Reception honors Corzine Deputy Chief of Staff, features book signing
Over 125 attendees made the Housing & Community Development Network of New Jersey’s Semi-Annual Membership Meeting on Wednesday, June 10, a successful kickoff celebration of the Network’s 20th year of advancing housing opportunities throughout the state. The event was held at the Trenton Marriott at Lafayette Yard in Trenton.
Dick Brooks of Action Media delivered the keynote address — The Power of We: Advancing Our Agenda Using Values-Based Messaging— and afterwards led a discussion about this valuable technique of communicating our proposals in the context of beliefs that most people already hold, and how it can advance the work of community development corporations in New Jersey.
Representatives from GrafiQa Creative Services followed with a presentation titled Social Media Integration,demonstrating how organizations can use new web-based social networking tools to get their message out in creative and inexpensive ways to a broader audience.
After the meeting, a Networking Reception was held to celebrate the Network’s 20th Anniversary. Albert J. Alvarez, Deputy Chief of Staff for Gov. Corzine, was honored for his leadership on and commitment to housing and community development issues. Network Executive Board Member and housing scholar Alan Mallach signed copies of his new book, A Decent Home: Planning, Building, and Preserving Affordable Housing, which is being released this month.
“The Network and our members are proud of all that we have done to create homes and expand economic opportunities for New Jersey residents in communities across our state for the last two decades,” said Diane Sterner, the Network’s founding executive director. “We have helped to build strong neighborhoods and increase people’s quality of life. For 20 years, we have worked to educate public officials, craft legislation that has moved New Jersey closer to the goal of housing choices for everyone, and provide information, support and training for CDCs throughout the state.
“We should reflect on our achievements and be proud of them. But we must not lose sight of all the work that is still to be done. The progress we have made will spur us on to be creative, thoughtful and diligent as we head into our next 20 years of building community from the ground up.”
Housing Choices Showcase Bus Tours
Coming to neighborhoods throughout New Jersey
2009 marks the Network’s 20th anniversary of building community in New Jersey from the ground up! To celebrate this milestone, Network members and allies working together as county-based Advocacy Teams are planning approximately a dozen tours around the state, several of which have already occurred, that showcase community economic development projects and the impacts they are having in these localities. Visit our Bus Tours page for further information, photos, news articles and more!
Network to Gov: Stand firm on very low income housing
When Gov. Corzine signed the housing reforms of A.500 into law last summer, he committed to the provision that 13 percent of affordable housing units must be accessible to very low-income residents, those earning 30 percent below the regional median income. Now, however, the Council on Affordable Housing is about to approve municipal fair share housing plans that do not provide for very low-income housing. The Network has, therefore, written a letter to the governor, urging him to stand by his commitment and the individuals and families who need these homes. We are asking our members, friends, allies and all supporters of fairness in housing policy to join us in soliciting the governor to see that COAH follows the law and accepts only plans that provide for very low-income housing. Please download and copy this sample letter to the governor and send it under your organization's letterhead. Together we can see that our government does the right thing.
In a related issue, see the Network's position on S2577, the age-restricted housing conversion bill, which has a provision harmful to very low income housing opportunities.
New child advocate campaign debunks myths about youth homes
New Jersey's Acting Child Advocate, Ronald K. Chen, last month announced a new educational campaign aimed at expanding understanding of, and bolstering support for, homes that house and help children with mental health and other needs.
The Healing Homes campaign, which the Network supports, encourages local/state partnerships to support New Jersey’s children and youth and debunks myths about these homes, Chen said.
Get more information on Healing Homes.
Be one of the Network's "Featured Members"
Let your story be told in our anniversary publication!
- Are you a core member in good standing of the Housing & Community Development Network of NJ?
- Are you proud of your accomplishments over the past 20 years?
- Would you like your organization’s most impactful work profiled in the Network’s 20th Anniversary Report on the State of NJ’s Community Economic Development?
If your answer to these questions is “yes!” , then see a complete description of how the Network can help shine a light on your best work!
Help us gauge the effects of the economic crisis
Dear Members:
The Housing & Community Development Network of NJ, together
with its national partners (NACEDA, NLIHC, LISC and the Center for Community Change) are gathering information about the impact of the economic downturn on our members. This information will be very valuable to us and our national partners as we begin to develop strategies to bring more resources and tools to our members who are on the front lines of the current crisis. We need to be able to present real-time data to state and national decision-makers as they are preparing New Jersey's budget and working on recovery legislation in Washington. Both NACEDA and NLIHC have Lobby Days coming up in March and April in Washington, and we plan to use the data we collect to help our legislators better understand the on-the-ground impacts of the current crisis.
Please take a few minutes to complete a short survey (10 questions only) and know that your answers are completely confidential. Access the survey
Thank you all very much for your continued commitment.
Paige Carlson Heim
Managing Director
Housing & Community Development Network of NJ
