Greater Middlesex & Morris Habitat for Humanity Expected to Receive $422,740 in State Funding for New Homes

Greater Middlesex & Morris Habitat for Humanity (GMM Habitat) announced today that it will receive $422,740 in state funding from the New Jersey Affordable Housing Trust Fund (NJAHTF). Funding from this grant will support the construction of two homes in Morristown, N.J. that will be sold to low- and moderate-income households, well below market value.

The project will include one duplex with two or three bedrooms each. Anyone interested in learning more is encouraged to complete a homeownership interest form on GMM Habitat’s website at www.gmmhabitat.org to be notified when the application process begins.

This latest funding marks the tenth grant awarded to GMM Habitat by the New Jersey Department of Community Affairs (NJDCA), bringing the total funding received to over $7.4 million. These funds were instrumental in the construction of 41 new affordable homes to date.

"We are grateful to state leaders for this funding and their commitment to making housing affordable to its residents” said Liz DeCoursey, CEO of GMM Habitat. “However, the NJAHTF needs to be fully restored by the legislature. Without these critical state funds, our projects could be delayed years until enough funds are raised through other fundraising efforts."

Last summer, state leaders diverted $125 million from the NJAHTF, only to restore $35 million, with an additional $10 million set aside for Habitat for Humanity projects. The $422,740 in funding for this project was part of the $10 million set aside. “We are grateful to the NJDCA commissioner and staff who oversee this funding for their swift actions to fairly evaluate and award the $45 million in funding. They were put in a challenging position by the drastic budget cut to the NJAHTF and then acted quickly when the $45 million in partial funding was restored,” DeCoursey added.

Housing advocates have been calling on Governor Murphy and the Legislature to fully restore the NJAHTF to its original $150 million with funding from the expanded mansion tax.

According to the Housing and Community Development Network of New Jersey, the newly expanded mansion tax is expected to generate more than $300 million annually, but none of that revenue is earmarked to support affordable housing.

“This is not just disappointing, it’s a missed opportunity to address the growing housing crisis in New Jersey and we are now urging Governor-elect Sherrill to fully restore funding to the NJAHTF by allocating a portion of the mansion tax revenue,” DeCoursey added.

GMM Habitat has a long history of partnering with municipalities. Towns often donate property or contribute funding from their municipal housing trust funds. In turn, the homes are deed restricted to remain affordable for at least 30 years and can be included in the municipality’s Fair Share Plan. “With the start of Round Four of the Mount Laurel requirements, the timing couldn’t be worse to drastically reduce the NJAHTF for municipalities that rely on Habitat for Humanity affiliates and other non-profit developers to produce new affordable housing. Many of these 100% affordable projects are now in jeopardy without the full funding of NJAHTF,” DeCoursey added.

GMM Habitat has plans for more than 250 homes currently at various stages of design and development. Plans to apply for NJAHTF grants for these projects are estimated at $50 million. This assumes that the NJAHTF is restored for its intended purpose.

Greater Middlesex & Morris Habitat for Humanity is one of 14 Habitat affiliates in New Jersey. All affiliates are either actively submitting NJAHTF grant applications or anticipate applying. Collectively, these affiliates are working to maximize the impact of state funding, ensuring that more families across New Jersey have access to safe, affordable housing. By leveraging the NJAHTF, the entire New Jersey Habitat network is accelerating the development of affordable for-sale homes, addressing both local and statewide housing challenges.

About Greater Middlesex & Morris Habitat for Humanity

Greater Middlesex & Morris Habitat for Humanity (GMM Habitat) is part of a global, nonprofit housing organization, Habitat for Humanity International, committed to building homes, communities, and hope. The organization, which is one of the leading builders of affordable housing in New Jersey, serves 68 municipalities in Morris and Middlesex Counties and the greater Plainfield area. Through volunteer labor and monetary donations and materials, GMM Habitat builds affordable new homes and provides home repair services to income eligible families and individuals. Now in its 40th year, GMM Habitat has served 1,100 families through building more than 200 local homes, preserving more than 550 homes for low-income homeowners and seniors, and helping 400 families with housing solutions worldwide. The local affiliate organization has engaged more than 150,000 volunteers in its various programs. GMM Habitat also operates a successful ReStore, a retail home improvement and furnishings outlet in Randolph, which has kept 21,772 tons of reusable materials out of landfills and funded 42 homes since 2007.

For more information, visit gmmhabitat.org or call 973-891-1934.