New Jersey-2024-A3326-Introduced

An Act establishing the Safe Haven Homeless Housing Program, supplementing P.L.1983, c.530 (C.55:14K-1 et seq.), and making an appropriation.

Be It Enacted by the Senate and General Assembly of the State of New Jersey:

1. There is established in the agency, the Safe Haven Homeless Housing Program.

a. The agency shall make applications available for the program and award funding to eligible applicants for the purpose of renovating or reconstructing underused developments into spaces that contain transitional housing, permanent supportive housing, or a combination of these uses. The agency shall provide low-interest loans to eligible applicants from monies in the fund.

b. As used in this section:

"Agency" means the New Jersey Housing and Mortgage Finance Agency consolidated by section 4 of P.L.1983, c.530 (C.55:14K-4).

"Eligible applicant" means a developer that possesses the capabilities and qualifications necessary to renovate or reconstruct an underused development into transitional housing, permanent supportive housing, or a combination of these uses.

"Fund" means the Safe Haven Homeless Housing Fund, established pursuant to section 2 of P.L. , c. (C. ) (pending before the Legislature as this bill).

"Permanent supportive housing" means permanent housing, including but not limited to, single room occupancy housing or shared living and supportive living arrangements, that provide access to on-site or off-site supportive services for very low-income households who have recently been homeless or lack stable housing.

"Program" means the Safe Haven Homeless Housing Program, established pursuant to subsection a. of this section.

"Transitional housing" means housing, including but not limited to single room occupancy housing, or shared living and supportive living arrangements, with on-site or off-site supportive services that facilitate the movement of individuals and families, who are homeless or lack stable housing to permanent housing, within a fixed amount of time, generally up to 24 months.

"Underused development" means a vacant or underused building or structure, including but not limited to a shopping mall, shopping center, warehouse, office park, hotel, or apartment building.

"Very low-income household" means a household with a total current annual household income less than or equal to 30 percent of the area median income for a household of the same size and composition.

2. a. There is established a Safe Haven Homeless Housing Fund, to be administered by the New Jersey Housing and Mortgage Finance Agency, for the purpose of providing the moneys necessary to administer the Safe Haven Homeless Housing Program.

b. The fund shall consist of any allocations received by the State from the federal government made available pursuant to section 4 of P.L. , c. (C. ) (pending before the Legislature as this bill) for the purposes of funding the program.

c. Any interest or earnings that are attributable to moneys in the fund shall be deposited into the fund.

d. The agency shall be reimbursed by the fund for its reasonable administrative costs in carrying out the provisions of P.L. , c. (C. ) (pending before the Legislature as this bill).

3. The agency shall adopt, pursuant to the "Administrative Procedures Act," P.L.1968, c.410 (C.52:14B-1 et seq.), rules and regulations as necessary for the implementation of P.L. , c. (C. ) (pending before the Legislature as this bill).

4. There is appropriated from the funds provided to the State by the United States government, through the "American Rescue Plan Act of 2021," Pub.L.117-2, to the New Jersey Housing and Mortgage Finance Agency the sum of $30,000,000 for deposit in the Safe Haven Homeless Housing Fund, established pursuant to section 2 of P.L. , c. (C. ) (pending before the Legislature as this bill) to carry out the purposes of P.L. , c. (C. ) (pending before the Legislature as this bill).

5. This act shall take effect immediately.

STATEMENT

This bill would establish the Safe Haven Homeless Housing Program in the New Jersey Housing and Mortgage Finance Agency ("HMFA").

The bill directs HMFA to award program funding, in the form of low-interest loans, to qualified developers for the purpose of renovating or reconstructing underused developments into transitional housing or permanent supportive housing, for individuals and families who have recently been homeless or lack stable housing. As used in the bill, an underused development may consist of a vacant or underused building or structure, including but not limited to a shopping mall, shopping center, warehouse, office park, hotel, or apartment building.

The bill would establish a Safe Haven Homeless Housing Fund, to be administered by HMFA, for the purpose of providing the moneys necessary to administer the program. The bill would appropriate $30 million to HMFA from the funds provided to the State by the federal government, through the "American Rescue Plan Act of 2021," Pub.L.117-2, to carry out the purposes of the bill. Any interest or earnings that are attributable to moneys in the fund would also be deposited into the fund.

The bill directs HMFA to adopt rules and regulations to carry out the requirements of the bill.

The bill would take effect immediately.