Network Legislative Day Draws 200 Advocates to State House to Champion Affordable Homes

TRENTON – 200 housing advocates and community development professionals from across New Jersey gathered at the State House on June 18 for the Housing and Community Development Network of New Jersey's annual Legislative Day, urging lawmakers to make meaningful investments in affordable homes and neighborhood revitalization in the FY2027 State Budget. Advocates say expanding the Affordable Housing Trust Fund (AHTF) and the Neighborhood Revitalization Tax Credit Program (NRTC) helps create affordable homes, revitalize neighborhoods, and keep families stably housed.

“New Jersey will never be truly affordable if we fail to meet the demand for affordable homes,” said Staci Berger, president and chief executive officer of the Housing and Community Development Network of New Jersey. “The state's severe shortage of affordable homes, combined with rising costs, continues to put tremendous pressure on household budgets. By fully funding the Affordable Housing Trust Fund and expanding the Neighborhood Revitalization Tax Credit Program, lawmakers can help create the homes New Jersey needs, strengthen local economies, revitalize communities, and expand opportunity for generations of residents.”

Legislative Day participants also shared firsthand perspectives on the importance of investing in affordable housing and community development programs. When asked what happens when affordable housing programs receive support, Miosha Lawrence, homeownership coordinator with Parkside Business & Community In Partnership, Inc., emphasized the broader impact on families and neighborhoods.

"It creates generational wealth. It creates community stability because traditionally, when you’re creating home ownership is not just creating generational wealth for the family, it also grows economic equity and wealth of the rest of the community," said Lawrence.

During Legislative Day, participants met with several legislative champions, including Senators Britnee N. Timberlake (D-Essex) and Angela V. McKnight (D-Hudson), and Assemblywoman Verlina Reynolds-Jackson (D-Hunterdon, Mercer), among others.

Advocates sought commitments from legislators to include critical funding in the state budget due June 30, including:

•$140 million for the AHTF, New Jersey's primary resource for creating and preserving affordable homes.

•$50 million for the NRTC Program, which supports comprehensive community development efforts in neighborhoods across the state.

Participants also urged legislators to co-sponsor and advance legislation that would provide long-term support for housing and community development programs, including:

•Affordable Housing Trust Fund (A1737/S3103) (Reynolds-Jackson/Wimberly), which would create a dedicated, long-term revenue stream for the Affordable Housing Trust Fund.

•Neighborhood Revitalization Tax Credit Program A4697/S1799 (Reynolds-Jackson/Singleton), which would increase the NRTC annual tax credit cap from $15 million to $65 million.

•Eviction Filing Fee A3481/S391 (Stack/Reynolds-Jackson), which would increase the eviction filing fee to $125 and generate additional resources to support housing stability initiatives.

“We know that meaningful change doesn't happen in a single day, and we won't achieve every budget and legislative goal overnight,” said Matthew Hersh, vice president of policy and advocacy for the Network. What makes Legislative Day so powerful is seeing our members and advocates come together to represent their communities and make their voices heard. There are many lawmakers who care deeply about these issues, and our job is to ensure they understand the urgency of the housing crisis and the solutions available to address it.”

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.