Affordable Housing Obligation

On March 20, 2024, Governor Murphy signed P.L.2024, c.2. into law, establishing a new framework for determining and enforcing municipalities’ affordable housing obligations under the New Jersey Supreme Court’s Mount Laurel doctrine and the State’s Fair Housing Act. In October of 2025, the New Jersey Department of Community Affairs (NJDCA) published obligations for each municipality in New Jersey for the Fourth Round of affordable housing (2025-2035). 

On January 21, 2025, the Borough Council of the Borough of Highland Park passed Resolution 1-25-21, committing to the NJDCA's Fourth Round affordable housing present need and prospective need numbers. The following day, on January 22, 2025, the Borough filed a declaratory judgement in Middlesex County, in compliance with the new affordable housing regulations. 

The next step in the Fourth Round process is the adoption of a Fourth Round Housing Element and Fair Share Plan that demonstrates the ability to meet or exceed Highland Park's Fourth Round present need (209 units) and prospective need (45 units) obligations over the course of the next 10 years. The element and plan must be adopted by the Planning Board by June 30, 2025.

Affordable Housing Monitoring & Documentation

• Fourth Round Housing Element and Fair Share Plan - June 2, 2025 
• Fourth Round Spending Plan - June 2, 2025
• Complaint for Declaratory Judgement Filing - January 22, 2025
• Resolution Committing to NJDCA's Fourth Round Affordable Housing Numbers - January 21, 2025
• Annual Affordable Housing Annual Unit Project Monitoring Report - July 2024
• Annual Affordable Housing Trust Fund Monitoring Report July 2024
• Very Low-Income Unit Monitoring Report, July 2022
• Annual Affordable Housing Trust Fund Monitoring Report, July 2023
• Annual Affordable Housing Unit/Project Monitoring Report, July 2023
• Affordable Housing Midpoint Review Report, July 2020
• Third Round Housing Element & Fair Share Plan, October 2018
• Fair Share Housing Center Settlement Agreement, December 2017

Resources

Affordable housing is available to very low, low, and moderate income households. The need for affordable housing far exceeds its availability in New Jersey but the resources below are available to try and assist residents and developers with their questions. 

Affordable Housing Opportunities

Affordable Housing Resource Page

Highland Park Housing Authority

Central Jersey Housing Resource Center

New Jersey Housing Resource Center

New Jersey Housing & Mortgage Finance Agency

Piazza & Associates Affordable Housing

U.S. Department of Housing & Urban Development