About Fair share housing development
Fair Share Housing Development: Defending the Housing Rights of New Jersey's Poor
Fair Share Housing Development is a public interest organization that has been at the forefront of defending the housing rights of New Jersey's poor for over four decades. The organization is entirely devoted to enforcing the Mount Laurel doctrine, a landmark decision that prohibits economic discrimination through exclusionary zoning and requires all towns to provide their “fair share” of their region's need for affordable housing.
The Mount Laurel doctrine was established in 1975 by the New Jersey Supreme Court in response to a lawsuit filed by residents of Mount Laurel Township who were being excluded from living in certain areas due to zoning laws that favored wealthier residents. The court ruled that municipalities have an obligation to provide affordable housing opportunities for low- and moderate-income families, and this ruling has since been expanded statewide.
Fair Share Housing Development was founded in 1975 as a legal services organization dedicated to enforcing the Mount Laurel doctrine. Since then, it has become one of the most respected and effective advocates for affordable housing in New Jersey. The organization works tirelessly on behalf of low- and moderate-income families, seniors, people with disabilities, veterans, and others who are struggling to find safe and decent homes they can afford.
One of Fair Share Housing Development's primary goals is to ensure that every municipality in New Jersey provides its fair share of affordable housing opportunities. This means working with local governments, developers, community organizations, and other stakeholders to create new affordable housing units or rehabilitate existing ones. It also means advocating for policies that promote fair access to quality education, healthcare services, transportation options, job opportunities – all factors which contribute towards creating sustainable communities where everyone can thrive.
In addition to its advocacy work on behalf of low-income families seeking access to safe and decent homes they can afford; Fair Share Housing Development also provides legal representation for tenants facing eviction or other forms of landlord abuse. They offer free legal advice clinics throughout NJ where tenants can get help understanding their rights under state law regarding security deposits or lease agreements among other issues related specifically towards tenant protection.
The organization also conducts research into issues related specifically towards fair share development such as land use patterns across different regions within NJ; demographic trends affecting demand for affordable housing; financing mechanisms available at both state & federal levels etc., which helps them develop strategies aimed at increasing access towards more equitable distribution patterns when it comes down providing adequate shelter options across different income brackets within NJ communities.
Overall Fair Share Housing Development is an essential resource not only for those seeking assistance with finding suitable accommodation but also anyone interested in promoting social justice through equitable distribution patterns when it comes down providing adequate shelter options across different income brackets within NJ communities - making sure everyone gets their "fair share."