FOAH Calls for Greater Transparency in Jersey City’s Allocation of Federal Housing and Community Development Funds

JERSEY CITY, N.J. — Friends of Affordable Housing (FOAH) is calling on Jersey City officials to establish a more transparent, consistent, and accountable process for allocating federal housing and community development funds.FOAH’s concerns follow City Council discussions regarding a proposal to use approximately $1 million in Community Development Block Grant funds to acquire 128 Glenwood Avenue for a community garden and pocket park. The Council tabled the proposed resolution and requested additional information about the property, the project’s eligibility, and whether the funds could be directed to more urgent community needs before the January 2027 expenditure deadline.

“Federal housing and community development funds are limited, and every allocation represents a choice,” said Jefferson Bravo, Policy Director of FOAH. “Before the City commits approximately $1 million to acquire property for another park, it should demonstrate that it has thoroughly evaluated affordable housing, supportive housing, and homelessness initiatives that could use these funds immediately.”

FOAH is supporting an affordable housing proposal at 439 Martin Luther King Drive that would create 11 homes for seniors and individuals experiencing homelessness. The project, developed by the nonprofit organization AngelaCARES, includes the acquisition of a privately owned property for approximately $850,000.  AngelaCARES applied for funding in April 2025 and requested approximately $7 million in federal American Rescue Plan funds.

The project has completed its environmental review and, according to FOAH, is positioned to proceed with acquisition and development. Although the administration has provided preliminary support for a proposed $3 million allocation, FOAH is requesting full funding for the comprehensive plan.

“The 439 Martin Luther King Drive project is ready to address two of Jersey City’s most urgent needs: housing for seniors and people experiencing homelessness,” Bravo said. “With a defined site, an experienced nonprofit team, and a clear public purpose, the project can deliver measurable housing outcomes. The City should explain why available federal resources are not being directed to it and why ARP funds also remain delayed.”

FOAH is also asking the City to consider using CDBG funds for the project’s property acquisition. The organization believes this would represent an eligible and timely use of the approximately $1 million currently proposed for 128 Glenwood Avenue.

“This is not an argument against parks, gardens, or open space,” Bravo said. “It is a request for responsible prioritization. When people need permanent housing and federal funds face an approaching deadline, the City must demonstrate that housing needs were fully considered before committing those resources elsewhere.”

FOAH noted that an existing community garden at 80 Storms Avenue is within walking distance of the proposed Glenwood Avenue site. According to the organization, the approximately 5,000-square-foot garden already has lighting, electricity, water tanks, and pumps but remains underused. FOAH is requesting that the City examine whether the Storms Avenue site can accommodate additional programming before spending federal funds to acquire another property for a similar purpose.

Concerns About the Funding Process

FOAH is also raising broader concerns about the transparency, consistency, and effectiveness of Jersey City’s process for soliciting, reviewing, and approving applications for federal housing and community development assistance. These concerns extend beyond projects undertaken to satisfy the State’s mandated fair-share housing obligations, which largely support affordable rental housing in luxury developments, but too often fail to provide housing specifically designed for people experiencing homelessness, homeownership or seniors. FOAH maintains that the City’s funding decisions should reflect the full range of urgent housing needs—including permanent supportive housing and other targeted solutions for residents who are unhoused or at immediate risk of homelessness—and should be guided by clear criteria, equitable access, and measurable public outcomes.

The organization maintains that the City has not consistently followed an existing process calling for funding applications to be made available twice annually and reviewed by a committee. FOAH is requesting clarification regarding whether the proposed Glenwood Avenue acquisition went through the same application and review process required of nonprofit organizations and affordable housing developers.

“Community organizations should not have to navigate an unpredictable process while major funding decisions move forward without clearly stated criteria,” Bravo said. “The same rules, deadlines, and standards should apply to every applicant. Transparency is essential to maintaining public confidence in how these limited resources are distributed.”

FOAH is not asking the City to bypass its procedures for the 439 Martin Luther King Drive proposal. The organization is asking the City to apply those procedures consistently and provide applicants with clear information about the status of their requests.

“Organizations that spend years assembling sites, securing financing, completing environmental reviews, and responding to administrative requirements deserve to know where their applications stand,” Bravo said. “A fair process should identify the requirements, the decision-makers, the evaluation criteria, and the timeline for a final determination.”

A Broader Affordable Housing Strategy

FOAH is also calling for a comprehensive citywide affordable housing strategy that addresses rental housing, homeownership, senior housing, supportive housing, and homelessness.The organization is requesting an inventory of City-owned property, proposed uses for those properties, and an explanation of how affordable housing is considered before public land is sold or dedicated to other purposes.

FOAH is also seeking an update on the City’s efforts to require affordable housing within redevelopment areas. The organization is asking the administration and Council to identify which redevelopment plans have been amended to include a 20 percent affordable housing requirement and which plans continue to permit primarily market-rate development with no affordable housing.

“Jersey City cannot address its housing crisis through isolated announcements and one-time allocations,” Bravo said. “The City needs a public plan that identifies available land, funding sources, development priorities, measurable production goals, and clear opportunities for community participation.”

FOAH is requesting further information about Jersey City’s plan for meeting its fourth-round affordable housing obligations, including the reported requirement to plan to rehabilitate or build approximately 6,000 affordable homes in 10 years. The organization believes local residents, nonprofit organizations, housing professionals, and community groups should have a meaningful role in developing that plan.

FOAH Requests Meetings and Public Disclosure

FOAH is requesting meetings with members of the Jersey City Council and administration to discuss:

• The current status and anticipated decision date for the 439 Martin Luther King Drive funding request;

• Full funding for the proposed housing, shelter, operations, and supportive-services plan;

• The potential use of CDBG funds to support the project’s property acquisition;

• The criteria used to evaluate competing requests for CDBG, ARP, state, local, and other public resources;

• The City’s schedule and procedures for soliciting and reviewing funding applications;

• The composition and responsibilities of any committee reviewing funding requests;

• The status of available federal, state, and local funds and their expenditure deadlines;

• An inventory of City-owned land and the proposed use or disposition of each property;

• The status of pending affordable housing and community development applications;

• The administration’s progress toward implementing a 20% affordable housing requirements to all redevelopment areas through amendment and council action;

• The City’s strategy for meeting its fourth-round affordable housing obligations; and

• A formal process for including community organizations and experienced housing professionals in policy and funding decisions.

FOAH intends to provide City officials with a policy proposal that includes recommendations to improve Jersey City’s affordable housing and community development funding process. The recommendations will draw on the FOAH board’s more than 25 years of professional experience in real estate development, affordable housing, and economic development.

The organization is also requesting a public accounting of available federal resources, application timelines, eligibility standards, pending requests, approved commitments, and expenditure deadlines.

“Jersey City has substantial affordable housing and community development needs, but it also has valuable land, public resources, and experienced community partners,” said John Restrepo, President of FOAH and Restrepo & Associates. “The City now needs a transparent plan that brings those assets together and directs them toward measurable results. Residents deserve to know how decisions are made and whether public resources are being used to address the community’s most urgent needs.”