Trenton, NJ—We applaud Governor Sherrill’s commitment to tackling New Jersey’s housing supply and affordability crisis by identifying new strategies to expand housing choices for residents at all levels of affordability. For too long, outdated and restrictive land use, permitting, and zoning processes have made it harder for families and individuals to afford a home in a neighborhood that meets their needs. As the cost of housing continues to rise faster than incomes, making New Jersey one of the five most expensive states in the country, a comprehensive housing plan is long overdue. Gov. Sherrill’s Executive Order reflects a clear understanding that the status quo is causing real harm to communities across New Jersey; and that meaningful progress requires urgency, creativity, coordination, and political will.

Gov. Sherrill’s housing plan will not only facilitate housing production to address the current shortage, but ensure a thoughtful overall plan so that we can build the kind of homes that meet local needs, in the places that make the most sense. The Governor’s plan elevates several policy solutions aligned with the Great Homes and Neighborhoods for All action agenda, including:

-Reforming government processes to make development and permitting reviews fairer, faster, transparent, and more cost-effective;
-Focusing on transit-oriented development to create sustainable, walkable neighborhoods in areas already served by public transportation;
-Redeveloping underutilized or vacant properties to include housing, increasing the availability of homes while also revitalizing blighted properties.

Streamlining approvals, focusing growth near transit, leveraging state-owned land for housing production, and helping residents access affordable housing are important steps our government can take toward unlocking housing opportunities throughout New Jersey. Everyone in New Jersey deserves to find an affordable place to live, in a safe, vibrant, and inclusive community. The Great Homes and Neighborhoods for All collaborative looks forward to working with the Sherrill administration to advance a comprehensive set of pro-housing priorities during her term. Together, we have an opportunity, and a responsibility, to create a New Jersey in which all residents can thrive.

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About Great Homes and Neighborhoods: Great Homes and Neighborhoods for All is a statewide, pro-housing initiative tackling New Jersey’s housing and neighborhood challenges, inadequate systems for land use and zoning, and the resulting racial, socioeconomic, and health inequities by advocating for state policy changes, supporting local planning, and cultivating a network of local pro-housing campaigns. The initiative is led by a Steering Committee that includes advocates for smart growth, fair housing, and housing justice; for-profit and nonprofit developers; community development leaders, academics, local pro-housing campaign representatives, and land use planners. For more information, visit bit.ly/ghna_nj or write to ghna@njfuture.org.