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Plan to meet with 9 members of New Jersey Congressional delegation

Concerned about potentially dramatic federal cuts to housing and community development, New Jersey housing advocates will travel to Washington, D.C. this week in an attempt to preserve funding for low income households in the federal budget.

As part of the National Low Income Housing Coalition’s annual housing policy conference, the advocates will join nearly 500 social services providers, other housing advocates and low income tenants to the capitol to meet with their states’ members of Congress.

The New Jersey delegation will be meeting with Senators Robert Menendez (D-N.J.) and Frank Lautenberg (D-N.J.), as well as Representatives Christopher Smith (R-4th), Frank Pallone (D-6th), Robert E. Andrews (D-1st), Donald M. Payne (D-10th), Steve Rothman (D-9th), Albio Sires (D-13th) and Rush Holt (D-12th).

"Investing in creating homes and jobs helps our economy,” Arnold Cohen, policy coordinator for the Housing and Community Development Network of New Jersey, said Monday. “It also helps thousands of families, seniors, veterans, and special needs individuals flourish when they may not have otherwise had the opportunity to. New Jerseyans have too few housing choices, and the proposed cuts are too draconian, for us to stay home. We’re making the trip down to Washington and we're looking forward to discussing these concerns with our U.S. Senators and Representatives."

According to the National Low Income Housing Coalition, there are only 34 affordable and available rental units for every 100 extremely low income renters in New Jersey. Advocates maintain the deficit means that 34 extremely low income renters face worst case housing needs, like unaffordable housing costs and substandard living conditions, such as inadequate plumbing and heating systems or overcrowding.

"The housing cuts that are being proposed will result in an increase of homelessness, reverse the positive gain veterans have realized in accessing supportive housing, and decrease rental assistance vouchers for those who do not have the financial means to secure housing," Alison Recca-Ryan, New Jersey director for the Corporation for Supportive Housing, said. "In the long run it costs more to ignore homelessness than it does to provide the funding necessary to provide safe and affordable homes. It's critical that we make an impact on budget decisions that will affect the lives of New Jersey’s neediest and most vulnerable citizens."

"I currently have temporary rental assistance and I’m extremely worried if this budget proposed by Congress becomes law," Telissa Dowling, a Jersey City resident and housing advocate, said. "I could end up homeless because there are so many limited choices and this budget would not create any new home opportunities and that scares me."

Congress returns to Washington this week from a work period in their home districts. Lawmakers have two weeks to pass another continuing resolution to fund the government for fiscal year 2011-12. At the same time, negotiations are under way on the budget.

New Jersey’s housing advocates are working to stop cuts to public housing, tenant-based rental assistance, and community development programs, among others matters.

-TOM HESTER SR., NEWJERSEYNEWSROOM.COM