Affordable housing for older adults with low income in New Jersey is subsidized by various public entities across federal, state, and local levels. These buildings are managed by municipal or local housing authorities. New Jersey has 564 municipalities and 105 separate authorities and agencies that administer housing assistance, leading to data being spread across multiple sources.
A collaboration between the New Jersey State Policy Lab and the Rutgers Hub for Aging Collaboration has addressed this issue by compiling a census of all housing apartments available for older adults with low income. This census is publicly accessible and includes a searchable database and an interactive map of New Jersey, representing existing and potential assisted living program sites throughout the state.
The initiative compiles data from diverse public funding sources at local, state, and federal levels. This includes entities such as the New Jersey Department of Community Affairs, New Jersey Housing and Mortgage Finance Agency, New Jersey Commission of Affordable Housing, county-level senior services, U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development, and the National Housing Preservation Database.
A complete census of affordable housing will provide New Jersey with crucial insights into geographic distribution and help pinpoint underserved regions. It will enable various government levels to make informed decisions regarding zoning, development incentives, and long-term housing strategies. Waitlists for affordable housing in New Jersey vary significantly by location; thus, this centralized database will serve older residents in need by providing information that covers a wider geography within the state.
