New Jersey Awards $35M for Affordable Housing Projects, Adds $10M for Habitat for Humanity
DCA also allocated another $10 million to Habitat for Humanity projects. The combined funding will help construct hundreds of units throughout the Garden State.
The New Jersey Department of Community Affairs distributed more than $35 million from the state's Affordable Housing Trust Fund on Nov. 26. This money will support 23 projects across New Jersey that create affordable home ownership and rental opportunities during fiscal year 2026.
DCA also allocated another $10 million to Habitat for Humanity projects. The combined funding will help construct hundreds of units throughout the Garden State.
The Murphy administration has invested over $260 million in state and federal trust funds, according to the state. That includes $167 million from the Affordable Housing Trust Fund. This support has helped produce nearly 1,400 affordable units statewide, DCA said.
"By investing in these projects, we are helping municipalities create lasting, high-quality homes that meet the needs of today's residents and future generations," DCA Commissioner Jacquelyn Suarez said in a news release.
Selected projects show strong municipal support, participation in other state-funded initiatives, partnerships with private sector investors, and sustainable design. Most awards go to smaller rental and homeownership housing projects with 25 or fewer units. These efforts struggle to get financing, DCA pointed out.
All housing units receiving AHTF funding must be deed-restricted for a minimum of 20 years. Community-based organizations often support these kinds of projects.
The awards come through three funds. The Municipal Settlement Fund helps municipalities create smaller-scale projects that fit into neighborhoods and helps in meeting court-sanctioned housing settlements. The Neighborhood Partnership Fund supports development in Qualified Urban Aid Towns. The Innovation Fund assists inventive projects that advance the state's housing goals.
Major recipients include Greater Bergen Community Action Inc., which received $3 million for 24 units in Hackensack. Hoboken World War Veterans Corp. got $3 million for 18 units in Hoboken. The Teamsters Building in Union City secured $3 million for 25 units.
Habitat for Humanity awards ranged from $323,276 for a single unit in Mannington to $2.995 million for 12 units in Northfield. Morris Habitat for Humanity received funding for multiple projects, including $2.12 million for 12 units in Old Bridge.
DCA released calculations in October 2024 calling for 150,000 units in present and future need spread across the state's 564 municipalities over the next decade.
