NJ Housing Advocates Plan Week of Action on May 1-8 to Call for Greater Investments in Affordable Homes and Community Development

4/26/2018

From May 1 to May 8, community developers, housing advocates, elected officials, and concerned citizens are participating in various events across New Jersey to bring more attention to the housing crisis in the state.

The Housing and Community Development Network of New Jersey (the Network) in partnership with its members and allies, will host nine events as part of the 2nd annual Our Homes, Our Voices National Housing Week of Action. Throughout the week, advocates from across the country are coordinating activities to raise awareness around the need for greater federal and state investments in creating affordable homes and spurring community development.

“Investing in affordable homes helps spur our economy forward. The more people spend on housing costs, the less they’re spending on goods and services,” said Staci Berger, president and chief executive officer of the Network. “Our governor and members of Congress need to support affordable homes and community development to help put our economy back on track. This is how we create jobs, boost economic activity, and lift up everyone who calls NJ home.”

The following events are scheduled for New Jersey’s Housing Week of Action:

  • Open house at St. Mary’s Residence located at 89 York Street in Jersey City on Tuesday, May 1 from 11:30am – 1pm. 
  • Candidates’ forum addressing homelessness at the Newark Public Library located at 5 Washington Street in Newark on Wednesday, May 2 from 12pm – 2pm.
  • Redevelopment plan announcement on Camden’s Parkside neighborhood at 1487 Kenwood Avenue in Camden on Thursday May 3 at 11am.
  • Women’s Build Day with Greater Plainfield and Middlesex County Habitat for Humanity and Monmouth Habitat for Humanity on Saturday, May 5 in Plainfield and Long Branch, respectively.
  • La Casa de Don Pedro’s signature annual event, La Casa en Su Casa, returns to NICO Kitchen and Bar at the New Jersey Performing Arts Center in Newark on Tuesday, May 8th from 6pm-9pm.
  • Housing advocates in Morris County will meet to discuss their advocacy strategy during a meeting of the Morris County Housing Alliance on Tuesday, May 8 from 8:30am to 10:30am at the Morris County Housing Authority located at 99 Ketch Road in Morris Township.
  • The New Jersey Law Center and the Community Health Law Project will host the Law and Disability Conference on Tuesday, May 8 from 9am to 1pm at the New Jersey Law Center located at 1 Constitutional Square in New Brunswick.

New Jersey remains number one in home foreclosures, the top state for millennials still living at home and the seventh most expensive place in the nation to rent a home. Here and across the nation, far too many families– including low income seniors, people with disabilities, veterans, and families with children – struggle to keep a roof over their heads or are experiencing homelessness. More families are renting their homes than ever before, and our nation’s investments in affordable homes have not kept pace. As a result, rents are increasing everywhere. U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development Secretary Ben Carson recently announced plans to triple rental costs for the lowest income resident. Yet, three out of every four families in need of housing benefits are turned away because of underfunding.

NJ municipalities with fair housing obligations look to federal and state investments that can help towns develop safe and decent affordable homes for their residents.

“Many of our municipalities are willing and ready to develop more affordable homes,” said Berger. “They want their residents to be able to stay and contribute to their communities, but they need our state and federal leaders to provide the resources to make these homes into reality.”

Last year, advocates and Congressional champions secured a 10 percent increase to federal investments in affordable homes, however, threats remain. President Trump’s fiscal year 2019 budget proposes to slash affordable homes by $11 billion compared to current levels - a move that could increase homelessness and housing poverty in communities all over the country. Meanwhile, Governor Murphy’s first budget proposes to continue his predecessor’s practice of raiding the state’s Affordable Housing Trust Fund to fill budget gaps, a practice candidate Murphy promised he would discontinue.

About the Housing and Community Development Network of NJ
The Housing and Community Development Network of New Jersey is the statewide association of more than 250 community development corporations, individuals and other organizations that support the creation of affordable homes, economic opportunities, and strong communities. For more information on the Network, visit www.hcdnnj.org.

For more information: Nina Rainiero
(609) 393-3752 x1200
(609) 789-7900
Website: hcdnnj.org
Twitter site: twitter.com/hcdnnj
Facebook site: facebook.com/hcdnnj