|
Legislative Day Draws Over 200 to Trenton in Support of Housing Justice 6/18/2025 More than 200 housing advocates from across New Jersey gathered in Trenton on Thursday for the Housing and Community Development Network of New Jersey’s (the Network) annual Legislative Day, urging lawmakers to take bold action to protect and expand access to safe, affordable homes. With the state budget season underway, participants emphasized the urgent need to protect the New Jersey Affordable Housing Trust Fund (AHTF) from proposed diversions. The fund—designed to support the creation and rehabilitation of affordable housing—is at risk of losing over $130 million to other programs, some of which serve higher-income populations. Advocates called on legislators to ensure these dollars are used as intended: to increase quality affordable home options for those most in need. “New Jersey has started to make meaningful strides in addressing our state’s severe shortage of affordable homes. But far too many families—hundreds of thousands—are still struggling to find a safe, affordable place to live while trying to make ends meet,” said Matthew Hersh, vice president of policy and advocacy for the Network. “The Affordable Housing Trust Fund plays a critical role in expanding access to the affordable homes people need and deserve. As more municipalities take steps to meet their fair housing obligations, preserving and fully funding the AHTF is more important than ever.” To support the AHTF, the Network is encouraging the creation of 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. The fee's impact would be limited to a small fraction of the housing market. Governor Murphy has proposed placing a modest 2 percent increase on the state's Realty Transfer fee on homes sales above $2,000,000. This would affect only the top 2 percent of real estate sales, while raising over millions in annual revenue for the state. Advocates also expressed strong support for A3282/S268, which proposes a modest increase in eviction filing fees. The measure would generate an estimated $7.5 million annually for homelessness prevention services at the Department of Community Affairs (DCA), providing vital case management to approximately 6,600 additional households. The Network and its members view this as a critical step toward reducing harmful, serial eviction filings and supporting renters before they lose their homes. Legislative Day participants further pushed for a comprehensive package of housing justice policies, including:
“Punishing people for not having a home is not a solution,” said Hersh. “We need real investments in housing and supportive services—not policies rooted in outdated vagrancy laws that criminalize poverty.” As housing costs continue to outpace wages and more families struggle to find stable housing, advocates made one message clear: New Jersey needs urgent, targeted investments in solutions that address housing insecurity, not short-term fixes or budget gimmicks. About the Housing and Community Development Network of NJ |
© Housing & Community Development Network of New Jersey
145 W. Hanover Street
Trenton, NJ 08618
United States
Back to top