Announcements

2024-2025 HouseNJ Legislative Priorities

The 2024-2025 legislative session kicked off with the historic passage of S50/A4, which establishes a new framework for municipalities as they fulfill their Mt. Laurel fair share housing obligations. Thanks to the advocacy efforts of Network members and A-Teams, this landmark legislation will give municipalities expanded tools to work with Network members to meet their 4th round obligations.

The Network continues to advance its HouseNJ policy priorities, including growing the Affordable Housing Trust Fund to address NJ's severe affordable home deficit and to anticipate the state's 4th round affordable housing obligations. Other HouseNJ goals include growing the Neighborhood Revitalization Tax Credit program, ending home appraisal bias, de-emphasizing credit scores for prospective affordable home applicants, and creating safe spaces during times of extreme heat. Network A-Teams will also continue to advocate for local and state-level rental protections and resources, including calling on the legislature to define what constitutes an "unconscionable" rent increase.

Programmatically, Network members and A-Teams will actively advocate for the implementation of essential tools like local land banks and the launch of the new Community Wealth Preservation Program.

NRTC Advocacy Toolkit

The Network recently published a new NRTC Advocacy Toolkit, covering details about the program, what it needs to function to the fullest, and ways to support it.

Mercer County A-Team Meetings 2025: Wednesday, January 22 at 12PM For more information, contact Matthew Hersh, Director of Policy and Advocacy at [email protected] Upcoming Network Events: Under One Roof - October 24, 2025

County Background

Mercer

In 2021, New Jersey’s capital county’s network of affordable housing advocates will work toward bridging affordable housing gaps countywide.

Key policy focus:

• Problem and abandoned properties – Take inventory of some of the county’s hot spots, particularly in areas where there are concentrated abandoned properties. Trenton is an obvious focal point but Hamilton and Ewing both have significant challenges.
  
  
• Community Health Neighborhood Initiatives – Identify ways that Community Health Needs Assessments (CHNAs) can help create homes in collaboration with local hospitals and improve health outcomes in NJ communities. Identify ways members can collaborate with local hospitals to provide residents with homes that are affordable and free of dangers like lead and mold. Other, possible successful outcomes are community gardens, free health screenings, and educational programs.
  
  
• Economic Growth & Workforce Development—Trenton is the only city identified by DCA as eligible for NRTC, so we will work with Trenton stakeholders on strengthening support for NRTC projects.
  
  
• New Urban Agenda – We will review the NUA and identify clear, actionable goals, as well as put into place longer-term efforts.

Resources

The following is a list of food, healthcare, housing, and financial resources along with resources for families, children, and seniors. Additional resources can be found here on our main resources page.

Mercer County Housing Resource Guide (English/Spanish)

Emergency Assistance
An explanation of Emergency Assistance from the NJ Department of Human Services Division of Family Development.

SEED: Growing our Communities Program
Sponsored in partnership by the Network and New Jersey Community Capital (NJCC), this program provides HCDNNJ members and non-members access to low-cost, pre-development loans to support their economic development projects.

New Jersey HUD Certified Housing Counseling Organizations
This listing is of the HUD certified housing counseling organization that are part of the Network's housing intermediary sub grantee group.

Homelessness Trust Fund
This toolkit is to assist advocates in their efforts to help create County Homeless Trust Funds. Here you'll find a fact sheet, endorsements, model ordinance and county plans.