Gov. Murphy Introduces FY2022 State Budget
Housing & Community Development Budget Highlights

Affordable Housing Trust Fund

The pandemic has made a unique impact on the state's real estate market, resulting in more revenue generated from Realty Transfer Fees than in the past. A portion of these revenues are dedicated to NJ’s Affordable Housing Trust Fund (AHTF). At the end of last year, the Department of Community Affairs distributed $19 million from the AHTF for the first time in nearly a decade. The governor’s budget continues to allocate the remaining funds and some of the new revenue from Realty Transfer Fees projects that create affordable homes. There are also some new proposals that we are reviewing. If you are working on an AHTF application or plan to, please let us know, thank you!  

In the meantime, here are some key highlights:

• $2 million in rental assistance for vulnerable expecting mothers;
• $20 million for the NJ Housing and Mortgage Finance Agency Down Payment Assistance Program;
• $15 million for the Neighborhood Revitalization Tax Credit Program;
• $5.178 million for mental health supportive housing subsidies;
• $300,000 to help LGBTQ individuals experiencing homelessness;
• $2.5 million for Code Blue support;
• $8.2 million for legal representation for individuals facing detention or deportation based on immigration status;
• $20 million for the NJRA’s Urban Site Acquisition Fund and Redevelopment Investment Fund;
• $5 million for an increase in Supportive Housing rental subsidies for individuals with mental health disorders;
• Funding to end the prohibition on income assistance for those with drug convictions;
• New funding for Temporary Assistance for Needy Families (TANF) reforms such as increasing the child-support pass through, covering children when a parent is on sanction status, and covering intensive case management;

Investing in Housing and Health

Governor Murphy's proposed budget reflects the needs of New Jersey at a time when the connection between housing and health has never been more evident, housing is health. Investments that create healthy and affordable communities are going to be essential as look to recovering from the current public health crisis. Join us on Tuesday, April 27 for our 2021 Healthy Homes and Communities Summit for thoughtful discussion, information and resources to help create healthy NJ homes and communities during this health crisis and beyond.