By: Earlier this month, partners, advocates, and residents gathered at Jacob’s Chapel AME Church in Mount Laurel, New Jersey, for a pivotal event—”Integrating New Jersey: The Fight for Affordable Housing.” The atmosphere was charged with enthusiasm, and the insightful discussions paved the way for a brighter future in affordable housing. Setting the Stage The event kicked off with a warm welcome from Rev. Terrell W. Person of Jacob’s Chapel AME Church, setting a tone of unity and collaboration. Frank Argote-Freyre, the Board Chair of Fair Share Housing Center, followed, emphasizing the importance of the day’s discussions in shaping the future

New Jersey’s Latinx: Housing, History, and Generational Challenges September 28th, 2023 By Diego Alejandro Arias, Staff Attorney New Jersey’s Latinx community has made a vibrant contribution to the state and its growth, development, and regional character. It’s impossible to live in New Jersey and not be witness to the commercial and cultural influences of Latin Americans. Newark and Plainfield’s Ecuadorean small businesses, Elizabeth’s Little Colombia on Morris Avenue, Paterson’s Little Lima, and Perth Amboy’s rich Puerto Rican and Dominican enclaves are a few examples of communities that have shaped New Jersey’s twenty-first century demographics and economy. As of 2023, more

Coalition Building: Working with Nationwide Advocates to Advance Housing Policy June 27th, 2023 By Tanushree Bansal  Earlier this month, Fair Share Housing Center’s Executive Director, Adam Gordon, spoke at a panel hosted by New York University School of Law’s Furman Center about New Jersey’s Mount Laurel Doctrine and the lessons our state has learned from the Mount Laurel process. His remarks that afternoon demonstrated the growing collaboration amongst advocates from different jurisdictions as we work to confront the national housing crisis. The housing movement is inherently a collaborative one. Every person deserves a place to call home, and often markets for housing are

Building Integrated Communities Through Public Housing Authorities and the Department of Community Affairs May 15th, 2023 By David Rammler  A core value of Fair Share Housing Center’s work is integration because we see integration as the only means to bring about justice and equity for all. One component of federal housing law that can impact the level of integration in local communities is the Housing Choice Voucher (HCV) program of the federal Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD). Public Housing Authorities that operate HCV programs can use vouchers to further integration through what is known as the Small Area Fair Market

Compliance: A Critical Step to Implementing Affordable Housing in New Jersey March 28th, 2023 By Laura Smith-Denker  Following the New Jersey Supreme Court’s decision in Mount Laurel IV, every town that has filed a declaratory judgment since 2015 is ultimately seeking a final order that finds them in compliance and grants repose, meaning that their town has a realistic plan for fulfilling their affordable housing obligations and is no longer subject to Third Round litigation. The municipality must prove through a compliance package that they will implement the mechanisms to provide their fair share of the regions need of affordable housing. Compliance is a critical element of the

Housing Must be a Fiscal Year 2024 Budget Priority for New Jersey February 16th, 2023   By James C. Williams IV  Fair Share Housing Center has advocated for housing justice since its founding in 1975. As housing needs and wealth disparities in New Jersey continue to grow, so does the need for increased investments in the state’s housing infrastructure. To that end, New Jersey’s Fiscal Year 2024 Budget should build on investments the state has already made to advance affordable housing development and protections throughout 2022, including the $305 million budget allocation in the FY23 budget. This year, Fair Share