@ghna-nj
Everyone in NJ deserves an affordable place to live in a safe, vibrant community. Tackling NJ's growing housing crisis, inadequate systems for land use/zoning, & the resulting racial, socioeconomic, & health inequities. bit.ly/ghna_nj ghna@njfuture.org
Tuned into this webinar, and this part showing the change in people's spending power was particularly striking, especially for lower-income renters whose residual incomes have reached record lows "post-COVID." There's nearly nothing left for people to cover any other costs.
Will definitely be tapping this sign during housing and budget conversations in NJ.
Together with state-level reforms to address NJ's housing supply issues, like
✅️ allowing for ADUs
✅️ converting vacant commercial space to homes
✅️ building more "middle housing" types
✅️ encouraging transit-oriented development
✅️ reforming parking mandates
we can start chipping away at this crisis.
Gov. Sherrill stated in her 1st budget address: "We can't make NJ more affordable until we make housing more affordable." Her plan includes restoring $70 mil to NJ's Affordable Housing Trust Fund, $45 mil for downpayment assistance & $11 mil for ending veteran homelessness.
👋 Hi! We're here on bsky, too!
In a new op-ed for @nj.com, our ED Adam Gordon lays out why state leaders should build on NJ's landmark affordable housing law — by expanding housing funding, reforming zoning laws, and strengthening tenant protections.
After last week’s SCOTUS win, the moment is now. www.nj.com/opinion/2026...
Vacant office parks and shopping centers shouldn’t sit empty while so many New Jersey families struggle to find homes.
To maximize NJ's recent progress on affordable housing, we need to shake up business as usual and make it easier to convert buildings into mixed-use, affordable housing. Read more:
Cover of the report: "Averting Residential Displacement: Assessing Indicators of Risk to Enable Early Intervention"
📗 New report!
Is your community at risk of displacing residents?
This report - Averting Residential Displacement - identifies 9 early warning signs so that advocates and municipal leaders can proactively develop anti-displacement policy solutions for their towns.
www.njfuture.org/research-rep...
What's your housing story? Lawmakers need to hear the real-life stories behind the statistics. Storybank form available at: bit.ly/ghna_storybank
89% of New Jersey voters say housing costs are a major problem. 87% of New Jersey voters say legislators should take action on housing. But numbers only go so far.
Do you have a story about: difficulty finding an affordable home to rent or buy? Living in an accessory dwelling unit, or are you a homeowner who wants to build an ADU? Starter homes and missing middle housing like duplexes, triplexes, townhouses, and fourplexes? Homes near jobs and access to public transit? Share your story today and help us make the case for change!
What's your housing story?
We've created a story bank to hear more about how NJ's housing supply & affordability crisis and our restrictive zoning laws have impacted your lives: bit.ly/ghna_storybank
Help us tell lawmakers that NJ needs more homes, of all shapes & sizes!
Share your story today!
🚨 100 US cities have now fully abolished parking mandates citywide!
Shreveport, Louisiana, pushed the count to the 100th mark! It also became the first city in Louisiana to entirely abolish parking mandates!
parkingreform.org/mandates-map...
NJ Voters identified housing as the top issue facing our state. This was the poll's 1st q. So they responded this way without knowing the poll was about housing.
The message is clear: Voters want legislators to take action & prioritize building more housing over protecting home rule.
On examples of smart development that should be replicated:
JC: Somerville Borough, a revitalized downtown through smart development policy
MS: Paterson, a leader in commercial-to-residential conversions
Plans to provide relief to renters:
JC: lower property taxes and reduce income tax burden
MS: provide financial assistance to working families,and address issues with negligent landlords and investors who don't maintain buildings, collude to raise prices, and discriminate against certain tenants
Concerns about luxury rentals vs. affordable rental units:
JC: bring back regional contribution agreements & create model in which developers can build more affordable units, including with lease-to-purchase options
MS: end diversions from Affordable Housing Trust Fund and streamline permitting
On helping first-time homebuyers:
JC: cut & cap property taxes, prohibit tax increases on home improvements, make student loan interest tax deductible, & refund certain amount of college tuition for certain grads who remain in NJ.
MS: expand 1st-gen and 1st-time homebuyer assistance programs
On improving NJ's housing market:
JC: supports a regional approach, focused on driving growth to transit hubs & urban centers
MS: would expand 1st time homebuyer assistance and crack down on negligent landlords and investors who collude to raise prices; expand access to starter homes & ADUs
How would Jack Ciattarelli and Mikie Sherrill address housing needs in New Jersey?
www.northjersey.com/story/news/p...
Concerns about luxury rentals vs. affordable rental units:
JC: bring back regional contribution agreements & create model in which developers can build more affordable units, including with lease-to-purchase options
MS: end diversions from Affordable Housing Trust Fund and streamline permitting
On helping first-time homebuyers:
JC: cut & cap property taxes, prohibit tax increases on home improvements, make student loan interest tax deductible, & refund certain amount of college tuition for certain grads who remain in NJ.
MS: expand 1st-gen and 1st-time homebuyer assistance programs
On improving NJ's housing market:
JC: supports a regional approach, focused on driving growth to transit hubs & urban centers
MS: would expand 1st time homebuyer assistance and crack down on negligent landlords and investors who collude to raise prices; expand access to starter homes & ADUs
The U.S. is short nearly 5M homes—but fixing the housing crisis isn’t just about supply.
The smart growth approach means shaping housing through three ideas: type, place, and price shape housing.
Learn more⤵️
www.smartgrowthamerica.org/knowledge-hu...
Why “overdevelopment” is a theme in the New Jersey governor’s race www.governing.com/urban/why-ho...
You'll struggle to live well in New Jersey on just your social security, even if your mortgage is paid off.
Retirees in NJ face one of the toughest financial challenges in the nation if they're relying solely on Social Security...even with their mortgage paid.
For retirees without a mortgage, housing costs still average $1304/month- 48% of the typical retiree's SS check.
www.realtor.com/advice/hyper...
"Clearly the public out there is saying, 'Give us more housing.'"
@njspotlightnews.org broadcast highlighting our GHNA Poll results.
Learn more at bit.ly.com/ghna_nj.
Check out our full poll results at bit.ly/ghna_nj
#morehousing #greathomesforallNJ #statepoll
When asked about priorities, voters responded that building more homes & bringing down costs is more important than preserving the power cities have over what can be built and where.
And having more homes for people of all ages & incomes is more important than preserving neighborhood character.
Respondents also support:
🏡 Policies to make it easier to build ADUs: backyard cottages and in-law suites
🅿️ Policies reforming parking mandates for developments near transit
💰 Providing state incentives for more multi-family buildings to be built near transit
NJ voters surveyed also support reforms, regardless of region, demographics, or political affiliation!
At the top of the list?
Converting vacant or underutilized commercial spaces into homes:
88% of Democrats
85% of Independents
77% of Republicans
S1408/A2757 would do this!
New Jersey voters overwhelmingly believe the cost of renting or buying a home is a problem. Image includes a pie chart showing 89% say it's a problem, 6% say it's a minor problem, and 3% are not sure.
New Jersey voters overwhelmingly believe there are not enough homes affordable to rent or buy. The image includes a pie chart that shows 75% stated there are not enough homes, 15% stated there are enough, and 10% don't know or are unsure.
72% of New Jersey voters believe that housing costs have had a negative impact on their life, in some way.
87% of New Jersey voters agree that legislators should take action on housing.
Poll respondents shared:
💰 The cost of renting or buying a home is a problem (89%)
🏘 There are not enough homes for people to rent/buy (75%)
📉 Housing costs have negatively impacted their life, in at least 1 way, like saving for retirement (72%)
✅️ They want the Legislature to take action (87%)
Image with hands holding a tablet and a heading that reads: "New Jersey residents support housing reforms. Here is what 1,083 voters had to say."
📢 Housing is a top concern for NJ voters. We released a poll today that revealed overwhelming support for a variety of housing reform ideas among New Jersey residents. 🧵
