Sponsored by:
Senator JOSEPH P. CRYAN
District 20 (Union)
SYNOPSIS
Authorizes two fair share affordable housing credits for housing reserved for veterans.
CURRENT VERSION OF TEXT
As introduced.
An Act authorizing two fair share obligation credits for housing reserved for veterans and supplementing P.L.1985, c.222 (C.52:27D-301 et al.).
Be It Enacted by the Senate and General Assembly of the State of New Jersey:
1. a. As used in this section:
"Alternative living arrangement" means a structure in which residents share kitchen and plumbing facilities, central heat, and common areas. Alternative living arrangements include, but are not limited to: Veterans Haven facilities; transitional facilities for the homeless, boarding homes regulated by the Department of Community Affairs; residential health care facilities regulated by the Department of Health; group homes for the developmentally disabled and mentally ill as licensed or regulated by the Department of Human Services; and congregate living arrangements.
"Residential unit" means a unit of real property designed for use as a residence in which a household lives in a distinct living space with a kitchen and bathroom, except that in an alternative living arrangement, each bed occupied, or intended for occupancy, by a moderate-, low-, or very low-income veteran shall also represent a distinct residential unit.
"Veteran" means any resident of the State now or hereafter who has been discharged honorably or under general honorable conditions in any branch of the Armed Forces of the United States, or a Reserve component thereof, or the National Guard of this State or another state as defined in section 1 of P.L.1963, c.109 (C.38A:1-1), or any honorably discharged member of the American Merchant Marine who served during World War II and is declared by the United States Department of Defense to be eligible for federal veterans' benefits.
b. A municipality shall receive one affordable housing credit and one bonus credit for each residential unit that is occupied, or restricted for occupancy by a moderate-, low-, or very low-income household that includes at least one veteran in accordance with the Uniform Housing Affordability Controls promulgated by the New Jersey Housing and Mortgage Finance Agency.
2. This act shall take effect immediately.
STATEMENT
This bill would authorize two fair share affordable housing credits for each residential unit that is reserved or restricted for occupancy for moderate-, low-, or very low-income households that include at least one veteran, as defined in the bill, to be applied against the fair share affordable housing obligation of a municipality.
The bill defines a "residential unit" as a unit of real property designed for use as a residence in which a household lives in a distinct living space with a kitchen and bathroom, except that in an alternative living arrangement, each bed occupied, or intended for occupancy, by a moderate-, low-, or very low-income veteran is to represent a distinct residential unit. Alternative living arrangements, under the bill, would include, but would not be limited to: Veterans Haven facilities; transitional facilities for the homeless, boarding homes; residential health care facilities; group homes for the developmentally disabled and mentally; and congregate living arrangements.