Permits municipality to obtain affordable housing credit for each resident of alternative living arrangement.
Impact
By enabling credits for housing in alternative living arrangements, S990 aims to relieve municipalities from some of the financial and structural pressures they face in fulfilling housing mandates. This is particularly significant in areas where traditional housing solutions may be scarce or infeasible. The inclusion of such arrangements in the affordable housing calculus could increase the availability of useful housing options for targeted populations, thereby fostering inclusivity within community residential offerings.
Summary
Senate Bill 990, introduced in the New Jersey legislature, focuses on enhancing the capacity of municipalities to meet their affordable housing obligations. The bill allows municipalities to earn credit towards their affordable housing requirements for each low- and moderate-income resident living in an 'alternative living arrangement.' These arrangements can take various forms, including transitional facilities for the homeless, boarding homes, health care facilities, and group homes for those with developmental disabilities.
Contention
Notably, the acceptance of alternative living arrangements could draw a range of responses from community stakeholders. Some advocates might applaud the initiative as a step toward improving housing equity and accessibility, particularly for vulnerable groups. Conversely, there may be concerns about the quality and adequacy of these living situations; critics might argue that reliance on alternative housing forms could inadvertently lower housing standards or detract from efforts to establish more permanent and stable housing solutions for low-income residents.
Requires COAH to credit municipalities with units against fair share affordable housing obligation for certain types of housing; provides certain types of affordable housing units will be credited as two units.