Strong Majority of New Jerseyans Say Housing Affordability Must Be a Priority, New Poll Finds
Residents Support Preserving Affordable Housing Trust Fund, Back Luxury Home Surcharge to Boost Affordability, Statewide Rent Control

5/20/2025

A new public opinion poll finds that over half of New Jersey residents are concerned about housing affordability. According to the poll, released in collaboration between the Housing and Community Development Network of New Jersey (“the Network”) and The Eagleton Center for Public Interest Polling, residents are very supportive of legislative measures to address housing affordability including preserving the NJ Affordable Housing Trust Fund (AHTF) for its intended purpose, housing development and rehabilitation, as well as a host of other measures to address housing costs.

When told that a small fee from the sale of NJ properties has been used to pay for other housing programs instead of to create affordable homes as intended, 63 percent of respondents felt that the fee should be used for its original intended purpose, the development and rehabilitation of affordable homes. Only 17 percent said the fee should be used for other programs. In the current state budget proposal, the AHTF would be diverted to other housing adjacent programs that do not create more homes.

“New Jerseyans are being squeezed by rising rents, mortgages, utility, and grocery costs. The demand for affordable homes is at an all-time high but the supply can’t keep up without public investment,” said Staci Berger, president and chief executive officer of the Network. “NJ residents support preserving the Affordable Housing Trust Fund because they know the housing market is tight, but everyone needs to have a safe, quality home they can afford.”

New Jerseyans overwhelmingly support adopting statewide rent control with 61 percent in support, 24 percent in opposition and 15 percent unsure. They also expressed strong support for an increase in rental assistance, with 53 percent in support, 31 in opposition and 16 percent unsure.

When asked whether they would support or oppose New Jersey enacting a surcharge on the sale of luxury homes over $2 million, 60 percent responded in support, 25 percent opposed and 16 percent were unsure. The Network has called on NJ Legislature to create a new revenue source through the sale of homes over $2 million that could fund vital programs that make living and raising a family in the state more affordable, such as first-generation homebuyer downpayment assistance. 69 percent of poll respondents supported the idea of the State enacting a first-generation homebuyer down payment assistance program.

“This fee’s impact would be limited to a small fraction of people in our state, but have a tremendous return on investment for so many neighbors experiencing housing insecurity,” Berger. “We can address NJ’s relentless racial housing wealth gap by funding this program from luxury home sales. Black and Brown families would have the opportunity to become first-time homeowners, and it would allow more funds to be dedicated to building the affordable homes our residents need and want.”

"Over the last five years, the AHTF invested over $120 million in the development of affordable homes,” said Edward Bethea, executive vice president and chief operating officer of Gateway Community Action Partnership and chair of the Network’s Board of Directors. “It's helped community development organizations weather the COVID-19 pandemic and launch some of their most impactful projects to date. Our sector has been able to leverage those funds to generate an astounding $2.45 billion in economic activity since 2019, creating more than 12,500 jobs and building 4,730 affordable homes."

Referring to their latest affordable home development in Millstone, NJ, Affordable Housing Alliance Chief Executive Officer Randi Moore said, “We received 120 applications for just 10 units, I think that’s a real reflection of the incredible need that there is in our community. We have a constant stream of phone calls and people coming in who cannot keep up with the housing costs and the rising prices, the need for the Affordable Trust Fund is real.”

The poll showed a consensus across political party lines around housing affordability concerns, but partisan differences exist over ways to address the issue. When asked how they felt about their monthly housing costs, 48 percent of Democrats, 54 percent of Independents and 51 percent of Republicans felt they were unaffordable. Democrats and Independents support increased rental assistance by 68 percent and 52 percent, respectively, while 58 percent of Republicans oppose.

Despite the ideological differences, the poll shows widespread bipartisan support for using the AHTF to create affordable homes with 65 percent of Democrats, 64 percent of Independents and 57 percent of Republicans in favor.

“This is a crisis, and a budget is a moral document, it sets the list of priorities,” said State Sen. Andrew Zwicker (D- Middlesex/Mercer/Somerset/ Hunterdon). “Housing is the single most important thing that any individual family needs, first to make sure that they’re not unhoused and second as a way to start to build wealth.”

“One of the hardest questions I receive is ‘where can I get an affordable house?’ and it’s the most basic question, but the answer is painstaking,” said State Sen. Britnee N. Timberlake (D-Essex). “The only thing more painstaking than the answer is the actual process that person’s going to have to go through to get to the home. And the reason why is because there is an absolute shortage of affordable housing that is available.”

To access poll details from the Eagleton Center for Public Interest Polling, visit tinyurl.com/EagletonHousingPoll2025. Watch today’s release event at youtu.be/mtBMnYq2sRU.

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 275 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.