Development Provides 14 Affordable Apartments for Disabled Veterans with Special Needs; Project Financed with Sandy Recovery Funding
Emerson Borough, NJ – A ribbon-cutting ceremony today marked the grand opening of Emerson Veterans Supportive Housing, which provides permanent housing to one of the state’s most vulnerable populations: disabled veterans with special needs.
The $3.1 million project is located on the site of the former American Legion Post 269 building and involved the new construction of seven, one-story ranch-style duplexes for a total of 14 apartments. The New Jersey Housing and Mortgage Finance Agency (NJHMFA) provided significant funding for the project in the form of a $2.5 million loan through the Sandy Special Needs Housing Fund. The program was created in the aftermath of Superstorm Sandy to provide housing developers an opportunity to secure loans to finance the development of permanent supportive housing for low income and special needs populations in the nine counties (Atlantic, Bergen, Cape May, Essex, Hudson, Middlesex, Monmouth, Ocean and Union) that the federal government determined were most impacted by the storm.
"Unfortunately, many of the homeless in our communities are military veterans who have fought for our country only to find no one fighting for them and their needs. We thank everyone who contributed to this effort to provide housing and supportive services to our veterans," said New Jersey Department of Community Affairs (DCA) Commissioner Charles A. Richman, who is Chair of the NJHMFA.
The Housing Development Corporation of Bergen County (HDC), which is the non-profit development arm of the Housing Authority of Bergen County (HABC), developed the project and provided funding. The development also received funding from Bergen County HOME.
All of the development’s apartments are being provided to households with incomes of less than 50 percent of area median income (AMI). Each 650-square-foot apartment includes one bedroom, a full kitchen, living/dining room, washer and dryer, and an accessible bathroom.
Emerson Veterans Supportive Housing is bordered by a residential neighborhood of single-family homes and is in walking distance of pharmacies, stores, parks, and other recreational activities.
“The NJHMFA is proud to help support this worthwhile community for veterans who have served our country,” said NJHMFA Executive Director Anthony L. Marchetta. “Projects like Emerson Veterans Supportive Housing help those most in need to live and thrive independently.”
Catholic Charities will provide social services that address residents’ daily living and special needs. The services will include onsite case management as well as linkages with organizations in the community that provide mainstream resources and access to health care and other treatment services.
Since its creation almost 40 years ago, the mission of HDC is to create and preserve affordable housing in Bergen County. The HDC’s portfolio of properties is managed by the HABC.
NJHMFA estimates that Emerson Veterans Supportive Housing generated approximately $4.9 million in one-time economic output, defined as the total value of industry production, such as sales and business revenues. During construction, the project supported approximately 30 direct and indirect/induced full-time equivalent jobs, and generated about $179,000 in state and local taxes. Now complete, the development is expected to continue to add value to the community by providing more than $548,000 in ongoing economic output, three direct and indirect/induced full-time equivalent jobs, and $31,000 in state and local taxes annually.
For more information on the Sandy Special Needs Housing Fund and other NJHMFA programs, please visit www.njhousing.gov.