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NJ: Affordable housing shift blocked by court
Submitted by Michael McAteer on Mon, 08/27/2007 - 1:20am
By Tom Hester Jr.
Associated Press
TRENTON - A state appellate court yesterday ordered the state to reconsider a plan by a wealthy Monmouth County community to pay a poverty-laden nearby town to take on its affordable housing obligation, a decision hailed as crucial by affordable housing advocates.
The court ordered the state to reconsider a regional contribution agreement (RCA) it approved under which Colts Neck, N.J., was to pay Long Branch $2.83 million to repair and develop 107 homes for low-income residents.
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Sounds like a great win.
Sounds like a great win. Here's a link to the full story:
http://www.philly.com/inquirer/local/nj/20070825_Affordable_housing_shif...
great win?
Yes perhaps from the standpoint of injecting diversity into a high income town, but, no doubt, the poor town will miss the repair money for the 107 units. Maybe the 2 towns could be allowed to share both some money and some obligation to provide affordability.
Great Win? Yes!
In Long Branch, about 13.9% of families and 16.7% of the population are below the poverty line, including 23.3% of those under age 18 and 13.3% of those age 65 or over. An average of 7.4 % of New Jerseyans statewide are poor, as calculated by the Current Population Survey, released by the U. S. Census Bureau. In 2000, Colts Neck had a median family income of $117,980, and zero families below the poverty line. Poverty, like wealth, should be equitably distributed when able by public policy. Any municipality with a poverty rate higher than the state average has burdens higher than the average town. The courts ruling is an admirable attempt at an equitable distribution of wealth and poverty. No town should be forced to carry more than the state average of a states poverty relief. For example, RCA’s have virtually destroyed Camden, New Jersey.
“The court ordered the state to reconsider a regional contribution agreement (RCA) it approved under which Colts Neck, N.J., was to pay Long Branch $2.83 million to repair and develop 107 homes for low-income residents.” Better to build low-income housing in Colts Neck to reduce poverty in Long Branch and improve the obvious imbalance.
Long Branch is connected to New York City and Northern New Jersey via New Jersey Transit trains running on the North Jersey Coast line. New Urbanist’s concerned about social equity and wealth distribution could contribute to balance by luring higher income earners to Long Branch by utilizing Long Branch’s high-density TOD opportunities. Any new higher earner population brings social capital within the poor community, offering the possibility of social bridging and networking opportunities for current residents.
There are other funds and programs available to maintain affordable housing. Usurping and co-opting a program that is meant to improve social equity is the wrong source.
Any city or town that already has a poverty rate of 7.4% in New Jersey should be allowed to reject any increase to it’s low income housing stock (that which is in the HUD / Low-Income Regulatory / Policy universe.) Any town below 7.4% should not have that right.
Great Win? Yes!
Michael McAteer
www.CamdenNewJersey.org