Page 36 - RE-NJ

34 SUMMER 2025
L Led d b by by by b b ba ba base se e se e e sed d d d d in n n n ncl cl clus us s s s s u N Nat atha ha ani ni niel e el el el el el el n no no no nonp n np np p pro ro ro ro ro ro r fi fi fi fi fi fi fi t t t t t t t t th t th t iv iv iv iv ve e e e ho ho h u us u u ing g g g D D D D D Dis is s iski ki ki i ki ki ki kint nt nt nt nt nt nt ( ( ( ( ( ( ( (ce ce ce e ce ce ce at at p par art tner e s s s pr proj oj o o ec ec c cts s ts ts f f f for or or or t nt nt t nt n nt nt ter r r r r er e e e er r), ), wi w w w w wi i i w wi ith th t t a ad d d du du d d d d du d d d Cohom me e is is s s s s s s s a a a a a a a devel lop ope e er r er ers s s s s s to to to to to to to lts with h s spe pe e e e eci ci ci cial a a M M M M Mo orri ist stow ow w w w wn- n- n- n- n n-
c c c c c c cr re r re re re re reat t at at at a e e e e e
nee ee e eds ds ds ds. . .
Photo by Aaron Houston for Real Estate NJ
A NEW SOLUTION
T here’s not enough supportive
housing in New Jersey,
according to advocates and
industry experts, and they hope
incentives in the state’s revamped
affordable housing rules will help
expand the market.
Supportive or special needs housing
includes modifi cations for residents
with physical disabilities — such
as a wider bathroom or lowered
faucets to accommodate a wheelchair
— or social services for residents
with autism, depression or other
behavioral challenges so that they’re
able to live independently.
New Jersey’s new affordable housing
law, which was enacted in 2024,
created a framework to address each
municipality’s unmet need of low- and
moderate-income homes under the
Supportive housing advocates, developers hope state law will
spark major expansion of special needs units
By Marlaina Cockcroft
1985 Fair Housing Act. As part of the
law’s so-called fourth round, from 2025
to 2035, municipalities can receive
bonus credits against their obligations
if they reserve some affordable units
as supportive housing.
Proponents say the incentive should
increase the stock of supportive
housing statewide. The remaining
question is how to raise awareness
and ensure that developers and
municipalities are taking advantage of
the new program.
“We need all types of affordable
housing in New Jersey to serve all
different types of populations,”
said Nathaniel Diskint, executive
director of Cohome, which partners
with developers to create inclusive
residential projects for adults with
special needs. “But with these bonus
credits, it’s kind of a no-brainer. If
you have an opportunity to create
supportive housing, developers
should certainly consider that.”
Generally speaking, the law provides
towns with one and a half or two
bonus credits against their fair share
obligations for projects that involve
age-restricted homes, units for
individuals with special needs and
housing near mass transit, among
other scenarios. Diskint is now
working to spread the word, citing a
conversation with a developer that
is mulling whether to use supportive
housing in a project in Essex County,
amplifying the impact of its three
affordable units.
Cohome has engaged another
developer about a 300-unit project
near Cherry Hill with 50 affordable
housing units, 25 of which are
supportive housing, he said. This
could become the largest supportive
housing project in the state.
“I think there’s defi nitely an unmet
need, and I
think there’s
especially an
unmet need
for people who
have intellectual
disabilities,
autism spectrum
conditions,”
Cory Storch
said Cory
Storch, CEO and president of
Bridgeway Behavioral Health
Services, which provides services
to residents in supportive housing
units. Importantly, he added, the
supportive home model “helps