Fostering Self-Sufficiency
Housing Alliance :: The Housing Reality in Morris County
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Townhouses for sale, 5 units
– Madison, NJ |
In Morris County, where housing costs are rising much faster than household annual income, many people are struggling to make ends meet. Housing costs are so high, even middle income working people have trouble putting down roots here and living where they work.
Members of our community who are necessary to the vitality of our economy have been priced out of the housing market – people we know, people we care about, people we need. Our seniors are having to move away. Young adults are unable to move in. And many who perform essential services to our community (county and municipal workers, hospital staff, health aides, teachers' aides, retail clerks, etc.) cannot afford to live here.
For example, the number of young adults ages 20 – 29 living in Morris County in the year 2000 had decreased 27% from 10 years earlier!
Young people, seniors, those who are disabled, working people on a modest income…all these people contribute to a healthy, strong and vibrant community.
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Rental apartments, 15 units
– Morris Township, NJ |
A vital key to a community's future is a range of decent housing alternatives. There are few affordable housing options in our County.
An analysis of Census 2000 Data shows (conservatively) a shortfall of 10,447 affordable home units in Morris County
As housing prices rise, the supply of housing affordable to modest incomes continues to shrink.
While need increases, only 2,282 new (non-elderly) affordable housing units have been built in the county over the past 50 years.
People we know, people we care about, people we need…cannot afford to live here.
In order to afford the fair market rent in Morris County, a household would need to work 152 hours per week at minimum wage, or earn $40,800 per year, or $19.62 per hour.
(Source "Out of Reach Report 2004")
The average income of traditional service sector jobs (e.g. waitresses, bank tellers, retail sales, day care workers) is $18,400.
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Senior housing, rental, 12 units
– Madison, NJ |
Everyone knows someone who needs affordable housing.* Who do you know?
*Housing Partnership for Morris County
The Housing Alliance: What is It?
The Housing Alliance consists of public, private, and non-profit agencies and individuals committed to providing a broad spectrum of housing opportunities in Morris County.
Objective
The long-term objective of the Housing Alliance is to increase the supply of affordable housing in Morris County.
Mission Statement
The Housing Alliance will work to: create a public well-informed on the need and issues relating to affordable housing; create opportunities for public and private organizations to work together to address Morris County's housing challenge; and advocate for adoption of public policy and legislation that foster affordable housing opportunities.
Vision Statement
The Housing Alliance promotes and advocates for the creation of a variety of high quality housing opportunities that are affordable to all Morris County residents including young adults, seniors, and people with disabilities in Morris County.
We all want Morris County to have a strong foundation for the future as a place where people want to live, work and invest. Only then, will our communities stay vibrant and growing.
To read more, download a pdf of the Affordable Housing Economic Development packet. For more information about the Housing Alliance email Housing Alliance, or phone 973.993.1160, x150. |
