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.


Upcoming Events and Meetings

Newark Community Development Network Meetings 2025:
TBA

For more information, contact Arnold Cohen, Senior Policy Coordinator at [email protected]

Upcoming Network Events:

Under One Roof - October 24, 2025


Become a Member!

With over 250 members of affordable housing and community development corporations, individuals and others who support the creation of homes and economic opportunity for low- and moderate- income residents, the Network's goal is to make housing and community choices more balanced and equitable. We are proud to be NJ's premiere source for public policy advocacy, technical assistance and training resources, and cutting-edge research for our partners' community revitalization efforts. Click here to learn more!

Our members include:

  • Nonprofit affordable housing and 
    community development organizations
  • Community organizing agencies
  • Other community-based nonprofit organization
  • Technical assistance providers
  • Various social service agencies
  • Financial institutions
  • Builders and developers


Background

NCDN

The Network supports advocates in Newark who meet as the Newark Community Development Network (NCDN) a consortium of all the major neighborhood-based community development corporations in Newark along with a variety of community service groups, higher education institutions including Rutgers Newark, and advocacy groups such as the Newark Branch NAACP and the N.J. Institute for Social Justice.
They have been meeting regularly for over 30 years!

Some of the current projects the Network and its members are working on include:

Monitoring and engaged in the work of the Newark’s Equitable Growth Commission, with a focus on equity issues as related to development such as the newly enacted Inclusionary Zoning Ordinance and the utilization of local development funds.
Advocating for better rules to enable non-profits to produce more affordable homes.
Contributing and overseeing the development and implementation of the City’s Master Plan.
Developing and implementing neighborhood revitalization plans with active community engagement.
Fostering and supporting collaborations amongst its members and others organization.

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.

Essex 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.