Published March 25, 2013
By Andrew George

Hunterdon County has long held a reputation as an exclusive haven for the region's wealthy.

Just last year, the U.S Census Bureau's latest American Community Survey ranked it the wealthiest county in New Jersey and No. 4 overall in the nation with a 2011 median household income of $99,999.

But that's just half of the story, says Bonnie Duncan, CEO of the United Way of Hunterdon County. When it comes to issues of financial stability and affordable housing in the county, there are a lot of gaps, she said.

"We want to get away from stereotyping pockets of our population into 'those people' and really understand 'those people' are 'us people,'" Duncan said. "We're all the same."

And if you don't believe her, just go ask ALICE.

The "ALICE Study," recent data collected by the United Way of Northern New Jersey, which oversees Warren County, seeks to illustrate some of the financial hardships suffered by average New Jerseyans labeled as "Asset Limited, Income Constrained, Employed."

When it comes to housing, the ALICE Study suggests that as of 2010, 41 percent of all Hunterdon County residents face a financial burden by spending at least 30 percent or more of their total income on housing. That's roughly on-par with the study's assessment of residents in Warren County, where 42 percent spend at least 30 percent or more on housing.

"In every county in the state, affordable housing is an issue," said Laura Bruno, spokesperson for the United Way of Northern New Jersey.

Beginning Wednesday, Duncan and her organization will host a series of five "community conversations" aimed at seeking input from residents on current and future affordable housing options within the county.

Labeled "Where Does ALICE Live," the program is centered around "building awareness and increasing the dialogue," Duncan said. At the culmination of the five meetings, the chapter will put out a community report on its findings.

This marks the second consecutive year the organization has gathered public input in relation to the ALICE Study. Last year, the group's focus was on financial stability.

Bruno applauded Duncan and her organization's efforts in using the ALICE Study constructively.

"I'm glad they're using the ALICE report to talk about affordable housing in their community," Bruno said. "That's kind of what we're hoping folks will do."

Arnold Cohen, policy director for the Housing and Community Development Network of New Jersey, a Trenton-based nonprofit, said the information gathered at the community conversations will likely prove to be highly valuable.

"What the United Way is doing here is excellent," Cohen said. "The only way to really find out about needs is to directly go out there and have that conversation."

Cohen said that within Hunterdon County, as in other parts of the state, there is an increasing disparity between the affluent and those struggling to make ends meet.

"Over the years, Hunterdon has become two worlds," Cohen said.

But the challenge of finding affordable housing in New Jersey is not always confined to the boundaries of the Garden State, said Alan Jennings, executive director of the Community Action Committee of Lehigh Valley.

"New Jersey's affordable housing program is called Pennsylvania," Jennings said.

Jennings said the availability of more affordable housing options in Pennsylvania has drawn the interest of many in New Jersey who are unable to stay.

"All you've got to do is drive across the river and housing prices drop dramatically," Jennings said.