Trenton, NJ - Human Services Commissioner Sarah Adelman and Community Affairs Commissioner Jacquelyn A. Suárez announced today that developers can apply for funding to provide affordable housing for NJ FamilyCare members.
Under the Healthy Homes partnership, $95 million will be used to produce up to 200 low-rent housing units for NJ FamilyCare members who are homeless, at risk of homelessness, or living in an institution. NJ FamilyCare is New Jersey’s Medicaid program.
“Access to safe, stable, and affordable housing is a necessity that New Jerseyans deserve to see fulfilled, and it directly impacts an individual’s overall health and wellness,” Governor Phil Murphy said. “By making $95 million available through the Healthy Homes Initiative, we are building on the life-changing benefits made available to New Jersey families through NJ FamilyCare and taking decisive steps to bolster health and housing equity. I commend Commissioners Adelman and Suárez for their leadership on this issue and look forward to seeing the impact of this program.”
“Housing is one of the primary social determinants of health, and research has shown that inadequate housing is often a critical barrier to wellness that can also raise health care costs,” Human Services Commissioner Sarah Adelman said. “New Jersey’s Healthy Homes program aims to provide affordable, community-based housing to NJ FamilyCare members in need, which ensures long-term housing stability for tenants and, importantly, advances health equity. We believe investing these one-time funds in safe and affordable housing for the Medicaid population will help us serve people the best way possible.”
“New Jersey recognizes that good housing leads to improved physical and mental wellness,” Community Affairs Commissioner Jacquelyn A. Suárez said. “Therefore, the state has developed programs like New Jersey Healthy Homes to tackle rising health care costs by addressing a root cause – a lack of affordable housing. With the New Jersey Healthy Homes program now open, we urge developers and landlords to apply and join in the state’s efforts to build permanent, affordable housing for people of limited financial means, in this case NJ FamilyCare members who are experiencing or at risk of experiencing homelessness.”
Human Services will fund and oversee the program while ensuring it meets member needs and abides by funding requirements.
Community Affairs will support program oversight and disburse the Healthy Homes funding.
Developers and landlords will construct the homes and ensure they are maintained.
Funding for the program comes from the American Rescue Plan Act supplemented with state funding from the Affordable Housing Trust Fund.
State funding will also support a portion of rent and other costs for NJ FamilyCare members similar to a rental subsidy or voucher.
In addition to supporting members through constructing Healthy Homes units, NJ FamilyCare is adding Housing Support Services under its benefits. Delivered in coordination with managed care partners, these services will support pre-tenancy needs as well as tenancy sustaining services including home modifications or transition support.
Authorized by Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) through New Jersey’s Comprehensive 1115 Demonstration Waiver these services operate independently from but may work together with Healthy Homes if qualifications overlap.
These additions aim at whole-person care allowing managers address physical behavioral challenges alongside housing needs coordinating across member needs breaking down silos impacting outcomes negatively
Healthy Homes forms part expansive plans focusing home-community based care creative approaches addressing priorities such as integrating behavioral physical health new approaches providing care
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