Aerial view of houses with large lots on Bentley Avenue in Jersey City. (Reena Rose Sibayan / The Jersey Journal)
March continues to build on the optimistic progress in affordable housing across the state as Gov. Mikie Sherill addresses the state’s budget, court deadlines quickly approach and Senators take action in tenant protection.
Read all about this and housing opportunities to apply to this month in The Jersey Escrow—where all your housing information is stored.
Housing Opportunities To Apply To!
The Piermont in Hillsdale is offering one-, two- and three-bedroom units for very low, low and moderate income families. Applicants from Bergen, Hudson, Passaic and Sussex counties will be prioritized and chosen at random.
Applications are due by April 28 at 1 pm.
The Plaza at Belmar is accepting applications for a one-bedroom unit for low and moderate income households. Applicants from Ocean, Monmouth and Mercer counties will be prioritized and added to a lottery. Applications are due on April 10.
Allen House II is an age-restricted senior community accepting applications for a one-bedroom unit for low and moderate income households. Applicants will be added to a lottery system. Applications are due on April 7.
‘We Can’t Make New Jersey More Affordable Until We Make Housing More Affordable,’ Says Gov. Mikie Sherill
Sherill’s commitment and emphasis on affordable housing continued in her March 10 Budget Address for 2027. In the address, Sherill emphasized the importance of choosing lasting solutions rather than quick fixes to support families and young New Jerseyans in search of housing.
“I’m a mom; I want my kids to move back here—but not into my basement,” she said.
The state will secure 70 million dollars for the Affordable Housing Trust Fund to continue to develop affordable projects to “increase supply and bring costs down.”
In addition to supporting development, allocating more money to the fund also allows the increase of downpayment loans, which can help families purchase homes. New Jersey currently offers the Down Payment Assistance program, which can provide up to $15,000 in loans for a down payment or closing costs.
Bergen, Essex, Hudson, Hunterdon, Mercer, Middlesex, Monmouth, Morris, Ocean, Passaic, Somerset and Union counties are eligible for loans up to $15,000. Atlantic, Burlington, Camden, Cape May, Cumberland, Gloucester, Salem, Sussex and Warren counties qualify for $10,000, but all those interested in assistance programs must be/do the following:
- Purchase a home in the New Jersey area
- Be a first-time home buyer
- Must live in the property for 60 days after closing on the property
- Meet credit and income requirements
For more specific information regarding maximum income and purchase price limits by county, you can read here.
“This is an affordability budget, rooted in fairness for hardworking families,” Sherill said in closing. “I want to build a future where working families can afford to live and thrive here.
New Jersey Senators Propose Ban On Algorithmic Rent Increases
Senators Brian Stack, Teresa Ruiz, Angela McKnight and Raj Mukheri have introduced a bill that, if passed, would ban the use of algorithmic systems for rent increases.
Algorithmic systems, or softwares, use information about apartment rental rates on the market and lease terms to competitively raise rent. RealPage is a well-known software that has been sued by the U.S. Department of Justice in 2024 for privacy concerns.
“Americans should not have to pay more in rent because a company has found a new way to scheme with landlords to break the law,” said former Attorney General Merrick B. Garland.
Despite the lawsuits taking place in 2024, Jersey City banned the use of them in the city in May 2025 after tenants at Portside Towers experienced increases of 30% to 40% from 2022. The New Jersey Senate now joins them in this new proposal introduced on Jan. 13, 2026.
The first hearing for Bill S451 was on March 5,and was acknowledged by Gov. Sherill in her March 10 budget address.
“At the same time, there are new challenges in the housing market,” she said. “Rent these days can be set by algorithms that use your data to charge the highest price they think you can bear.”
Jersey City’s Proposed Parisian Museum Pivots To Affordable Housing
A loss for a Parisian museum project brings an opportunity for affordable housing in Jersey City.
The scrapped Pompidou Centre lost financial backing from the New Jersey Economic Development Authority in 2024, and now leaves 808 Pavonia Avenue with a fresh start.
At the start of the month, Mayor James Solomon proposed and approved to develop affordable housing in the vacant space in collaboration with Kushner Real Estate Group.
“We appreciate KRE’s willingness to partner with us on a new vision. They came to us with a proposal for pivoting from the museum to badly needed affordable housing,” Solomon said of the project.
“That kind of flexibility deserves recognition. It’s exactly the kind of partnership this city needs, and the type of work that will be a trademark of this administration.”
The development originally called for 1,189 units, but the exact number of affordable units have not been announced yet and will be soon, according to a press release from Jersey City on March 2.
Westfield And Summit To Finalize Affordable Housing Agreements
Following the Monroe Doctrine, final adjustments to the town of Westfield’s affordable housing plans were made this week. The doctrine requires all New Jersey municipalities to create an affordable housing plan, which was completed and given the green light ahead of the March 15 deadline, as set by the New Jersey Courts.
The finalization of the agreement was previously held up by lawsuits, which were announced as settled by Mayor Shelley Brindle on Dec. 10.
Westfield will now increase assistance provided to non-profit developers from $48,000 a unit to $100,000 a unit—a solution to a lack of funding which was previously an obstacle for affordable housing. This increase will not be funded by taxpayer dollars, but via development fees from developing projects in town.
The town’s remaining task would be to satisfy a 94-unit affordable housing development. At the time of this writing, it’s unclear if this has been met.
Similarly, Summit, New Jersey finalized housing plans on March 4, after much debate and concern from community members.
The town now plans to develop 528 affordable units in the next 10 years, with updated standards for very low, low and moderate incomes. They also plan to require developments to set aside 20% of units for affordable housing.
Despite the changes satisfying New Jersey court orders, residents are concerned that the addition of units will result in more traffic issues for the community. The Summit council assured the community that they will not overdevelop while addressing needs for affordability.
Know any New Jersey housing news or resources we should include? Email Chelsea Pujols at [email protected].
