Faith-based and non-profit organizations have long been the pillars of our communities. Yesterday, at a roundtable with two dozen faith leaders, developers, and higher ed reps from throughout our state, I announced legislation that will empower them to transform and repurpose unused property into affordable housing.
New Jersey’s housing shortage is among the most severe in the nation, with a deficit of over 230,000 affordable homes. For many families, the promise of an affordable place to live feels more and more out of reach. The legislation would authorize the conversion or partial conversion of property owned by faith-based and tax-exempt nonprofit organizations to inclusionary development, thereby enabling the faster production of much-needed affordable housing.
To combat this crisis most effectively, we need to work with and engage every level of government and every part of our community. I am proud that this effort compliments U.S. Senator Andy Kim’s federal “Yes In God’s Back Yard” legislation.