Supreme Court decisions over the past 35 years have affirmed and reaffirmed the legal requirement of every community in New Jersey to provide housing that is affordable. As a matter of law, low-wage workers and people of limited means must be given an opportunity to live in any town. The court has been clear in ruling that income cannot be used as a means to segregate people.

As clergy and leaders from Jewish, Christian and Moslem faiths, we understand the court decision as more than a legal mandate. Out of our shared moral beliefs, we understand that true access to safe, decent and affordable housing is a sign of a society that is rooted in justice and committed to the common good. We believe that government should enact laws that promote just policies which will allow people to live in the communities they contribute to with their work.

Many of us stood together recently to advocate for and celebrate reforms to housing policy that were legislated in 2008 under bill A.500/S.1783. These reforms included proposals that expanded access to housing specifically for people with incomes less than 30 percent of area median income. Also, the policy that allowed some communities to sell off a portion of their obligation for affordable housing was eliminated, and new funding streams for the development of housing in New Jersey’s poorest neighborhoods were put in place. We see these reforms as reflective of best policies to assure access to housing that is truly affordable.

We are therefore concerned that current proposals in bill S.1 will take us back to policies that kept New Jersey one of the most economically segregated states in the country. Placing decision-making regarding a community’s fair-share of affordable housing in the hands of that community substitutes local discretion for a fair and uniform statewide policy. Bringing back Regional Contribution Agreements allows communities to again back away from their affordable housing obligation and the real cost of providing it. The bill expands affordable housing guidelines to include higher income households, but leaves out specific targets for lowest income households. We believe this promotes policies of housing affordability that leaves the most vulnerable behind.

As leaders in faith communities all over New Jersey, we share values deeply rooted in our moral teachings. We value diversity in community life and see it as a path that can lead to understanding, compassion and reconciliation. We value freedom of choice, and a society that gives people opportunities to live in communitieswhere they can experience new possibilities for job advancement and educational achievement. We value strong families and understand that the education of children is a shared responsibility of society, not simply an expense to be avoided. We value a thriving economy that acknowledges the contributions of all working people and provides resources for equal opportunity in housing, employment, education and quality of life. We value just and fair communities, in which the presence and contributions of low-wage workers are recognized and provision is made for people to live where they work.

We urge our legislators to maintain progress in making New Jersey a state that honors its legal responsibilities and is known for its diverse communities, unlimited housing opportunity, vibrant families and shared economic growth.
The Rev. Bruce H. Davidson
Director of the Lutheran Office
of Governmental Ministries in N.J.,
Trenton, on behalf of 14 leaders
of inter-faith religious groups