By Liz DeCoursey, CEO, Greater Middlesex & Morris Habitat for Humanity

As the U.S. faces an unprecedented housing affordability crisis, many New Jerseyans who want to contribute to their communities — seniors, working families, and young professionals — are being priced out. Many families are paying so much for their rent or mortgage that they’re sacrificing basic needs like food and medicine simply to keep a roof over their heads.

Fortunately, New Jersey’s Mount Laurel Doctrine, based on a series of state Supreme Court rulings beginning in 1975, requires all municipalities to contribute their fair share to addressing the state’s housing needs. Last year, New Jersey took a historic step toward addressing the cost of housing with a forward-thinking new law that strengthens the Mount Laurel Doctrine by significantly increasing the amount of affordable housing in every municipality of our state over the next decade.

New Jersey’s affordable housing law significantly reduces the cost of creating affordable housing by putting towns in the driver’s seat in creating their own plans, instead of the old system in which everything happened through litigation. Municipalities can choose from a range of options that meet their particular needs — such as 100% affordable housing, mixed income housing, supportive housing for seniors or people with disabilities, or repurposing abandoned malls or offices.

Municipalities in New Jersey are not required to directly fund affordable housing projects through local taxpayer dollars. New Jersey’s new law gives municipalities essential tools — such as redevelopment incentives and financing options — to meet their housing goals in ways that drive economic development.

As a result, the vast majority of New Jersey municipalities are participating in the affordable housing planning process — more than any time in the 50-year history of the Mount Laurel Doctrine.

I have seen firsthand the transformative benefits of New Jersey’s affordable housing framework. Habitat for Humanity affiliates work in every county of the state and have built thousands of income-restricted homes, thanks to the state’s requirement that municipalities provide their fair share of affordable housing.

Provisions in the new housing law give towns bonuses toward their affordable housing obligations for working with nonprofit developers, which often place more of an emphasis on long-term affordability and engage closely with local residents, ensuring housing solutions meet specific community needs.

We know that affordable homes are life-changing for families — leading to better educational, economic, and health outcomes that break generational cycles of poverty.  What’s more, affordable housing doesn’t just benefit the people who live in it — it benefits all of us. Shortages of affordable housing have detrimental effects, limiting labor mobility and the overall economy.

In other words, facilitating the development of housing for residents of all income levels is not just a legal requirement — it’s an investment in long-term economic stability. Affordable housing attracts businesses, expands the workforce, and creates stronger, more resilient communities.

Contrary to common misconceptions, research consistently shows that affordable housing improves public safety and contributes to a stronger, more engaged population. When families can live where they work, they invest in their communities, leading to better economic and social outcomes for everyone.

As New Jerseyeans, we should be proud we have one of the best affordable housing systems in the U.S. Over the next decade, though, it will require steadfast support from local officials, as well as the legislature and executive branch, to reach its full potential.

In particular, the Affordable Housing Trust Fund is essential to mitigating the harms of the ongoing housing affordability crisis. This is often the only source of funds for smaller developments, which do not qualify for federal funding. Many smaller housing developments are 100% affordable, which qualify for bonus credits under New Jersey’s affordable housing law — thereby significantly reducing the impact on municipalities’ infrastructure.

Robust state-level funding for housing will be particularly crucial this year, as municipalities work to develop plans for how to meet affordable housing needs over the next decade. Habitat for Humanity affiliates and other non-profit developers rely on the Affordable Housing Trust Fund when constructing homes that help municipalities meet their fair share obligations.

I urge New Jersey’s leaders to think of affordable housing not just as a legal obligation, but as a tool to unlock economic potential. Families who live in affordable housing are more likely to reinvest their dollars back into their community, with greater purchasing power to enjoy all the wonderful things New Jersey has to offer — restaurants, entertainment, theme parks, theater, beaches, and so much more.

Many towns across New Jersey are proving that affordable housing and economic growth go hand in hand. By embracing affordable housing, municipalities can create a future where families thrive, businesses flourish, and towns remain prosperous for generations to come.

PERTH AMBOY, N.J., November 14, 2024—Greater Middlesex & Morris Habitat for Humanity (GMM Habitat), a major builder and leading advocate for affordable housing in New Jersey, celebrated the completion of two new homes in Perth Amboy with a dedication and ribbon cutting ceremony on November 13. The celebration brought together the new Habitat homeowners, government officials, volunteers, donors and staff who partnered together to complete the new single-family homes for an Army veteran family of five and a three-generation civilian family of four.

“I stand before you today not only as a proud veteran who served nine years as a medic in the Army, but as someone who knows firsthand the value of community, kindness, and resilience,” said Mylcaryz Dellossantos. “Serving as a medic taught me about sacrifice, compassion, and the incredible strength of teamwork. But I can honestly say that today, here in the presence of people dedicated to lifting others up, I feel that same spirit of unity and dedication.” The Army veteran and first-time homeowner will be sharing the home with her husband and three school-age children.

The ribbon cuttings took place during GMM Habitat’s Veterans Build Week, a national initiative designed to provide housing solutions and volunteer and employment opportunities to U.S. veterans, military service members and their families.

“Veteran’s Day and Veteran’s Build Week hold special places in our hearts,” said Liz DeCoursey, GMM Habitat’s CEO. “It is a time when we come together as a community and a country to express our gratitude and appreciation to the brave men and women who have selflessly served our country. Our veterans have devoted their lives to protecting our freedoms, and to making our country the greatest force for stability and peace in the world. Their dedication and untold sacrifices are both humbling and inspiring.”

Perth Amboy Mayor Helmin Caba attended the groundbreaking and offered a warm welcome to the two families: “Today we’re not just looking at homes, we’re looking at futures…This is your space now, a place where love and dreams will grow.”

Also participating in the ceremony were 40 students from the Timothy Christian School in Piscataway. The students spent five days over the past year volunteering to help build the homes.

“Thank you, this is beyond our wildest dreams,” said Penelope Velez-Camacho, a member of the civilian family who were moving into their first-ever home, next door to the Dellosantoses.  “It’s incredibly humbling to have so many people actively dedicating their time and effort toward helping us achieve our dreams.”

Helping to make those dreams a reality were 410 volunteers from civic, church, corporate and school groups who donated 2,826 hours of labor toward building the two-story, three-bedroom homes.

Additionally, both homes were featured in an episode of NBC TV’s home makeover show, “George to the Rescue.” The families received a full house of furnishings and interior design services as part of the show. To view the program, visit: https://www.morrishabitat.org/recent-news/georgetotherescue

GMM Habitat provides a hand up not a handout to affordable homeownership. Both new Perth Amboy homeowner families performed between 300 – 400 hours of ‘sweat equity’ working alongside other Habitat volunteers toward building their homes.

The homes were funded by donations and grants from: Citizens Bank, Investors Foundation, The Estate of Robert & Rose Kaeppel, Provident Bank Foundation, PSE&G, Rotary Old Bridge and Sayreville Club, Santander, TD Charitable Foundation. The homes also received funding from the Perth Amboy Redevelopment Team for Neighborhood Enterprise and Revitalization (P.A.R.T.N.E.R), the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development, and the City of Perth Amboy.

“3-2-1 Habitat!”

With those words George Oliphant of the NBC show “George to the Rescue” got to work transforming two GMM Habitat homes in Perth Amboy. The Emmy Award-winning reality show that spotlights home renovations for deserving families recently teamed up with GMM Habitat and the two families who had partnered with us to build adjacent homes on Inslee Street and Garretson Avenue. [Click here to watch the episode, which premiered Oct. 26. It can be seen on Peacock and YouTube.]

George worked with interior designer Blanche Garcia to completely furnish both three-bedroom homes and add touches like lighting, paint, and wallpaper. The team worked within a budget and received significant donations from various vendors, suppliers, and contractors.

The partnership between “George to the Rescue” and GMM Habitat was a year in the making, after a producer heard about our 2023 Veterans Build and reached out to plan the show’s first two-home renovation in its 15-year history.

“We were surprised to be contacted by NBC. At first, we were skeptical,” said Terry-Ann Zander, Vice President of Marketing and Communications. “We had a brief telephone conversation and grew very excited about the opportunity to showcase the work of our affiliate.”

CEO Liz DeCoursey ensured that the show help both the Delossantos and Velez-Camacho families in Perth Amboy and explain the affordable housing crisis in New Jersey. She also wanted to make sure that the show highlighted how all GMM Habitat families contribute “sweat equity” labor to the construction of their homes.

“We didn’t want it to come across that Habitat gives away homes,” Liz said. “We wanted everyone to understand that families help build their homes alongside volunteers and that they purchase the homes with an affordable mortgage.”

Before the “rescue,” show producers scouted the home sites; met the families and the Habitat team; and toured the two homes under construction. In August, as the two families were working at their homes completing landscaping, George traveled to Perth Amboy to surprise them with their selection. The interior design work got under way in September.

When renovation was revealed Oct. 4 — and the families got their first look at their new homes and furnishings — they were in awe. Many were moved to tears.

“I can’t believe this is for us,” Maximina  said in Spanish.

“This is really ours?” asked Hilton.

“This is really our home, where we’re going to live forever and make memories,”, Mylcaryz said.

Habitat’s construction team led by Tom Wescoe, Site Supervisor Carlos Vazquez, Project Manager Terry Flood and Core Crew volunteers were all critical to ensuring that construction was completed in August so the GTTR team could transform the homes into beautiful living spaces for the families. A small group of GMM Habitat volunteers helped with the renovation as well.