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Greetings! The Great Homes and Neighborhoods for All initiative is excited to share results from a new housing poll that reinforces why our group came together in the first place: too many New Jersey residents cannot find an affordable home in a community that meets their needs, and we need to advance a comprehensive set of solutions to address our housing supply and affordability issues.
Housing Cost Top Issue in New Jersey: New Jersey voters want state to take action on reforms to address the supply and cost of housing
TRENTON, NJ—Nearly 90 percent of New Jerseyans agree that the cost of renting or buying a home in the state is a problem, and 87% believe legislators should take action to address the state’s supply and affordability issues, according to a survey commissioned by the Great Homes and Neighborhoods for All collaborative.
A representative statewide survey of over 1,000 registered voters investigated respondents’ concerns, views on the housing market, and level of support for policy solutions. The responses uncovered significant support for a comprehensive set of housing reforms among voters across key demographics, geography, and partisanship.
“Residents across New Jersey believe housing availability and affordability are the biggest challenges we currently face, and agree that our elected officials need to do more at the state level,” said Helen Kioukis, Policy Manager at New Jersey Future and backbone staff of the Great Homes and Neighborhoods for All initiative. “Across the country, we have seen a record number of pro-housing bills become law—124 bills passed just in the last year. The survey reveals that New Jerseyans are overwhelmingly supportive of the types of policies that would streamline processes and allow more homes to be built across the state.”
Additional findings include:
43% of voters say the cost and availability of housing is the most important issue in New Jersey, ahead of other concerns, like taxes and inflation.
75% of voters agree that there are just not enough homes people can afford to rent or buy.
60% of voters believe the New Jersey Legislature should prioritize building more homes and bringing down housing costs over preserving the power that cities have over what types of homes can be built and where.
This support is especially strong among voters of color: 84% of Black voters and 69% of Hispanic voters agree with this priority.
72% of voters have experienced a negative impact as a result of housing costs, such as the inability to adequately save for retirement or start a family.
62% of voters think it is more important to ensure that a range of housing types exist for people at different life stages and for middle- and lower-income earners than it is to keep the look and feel of the community consistent with those who already live there.
When asked about specific housing policies, a majority of voters shared their support for the following legislative proposals:
Allowing the redevelopment of vacant commercial buildings into homes (84%).
Making it easier to build accessory dwelling units on residential lots where there is existing housing (61%).
Allowing parking flexibility for developments near transit stations (61%).
Requiring local governments to use a quick and clear process for issuing building permits, reducing the amount of time it takes to build a home (80%).
Providing state incentives for multi-family buildings to be built near transit (72%).
“These poll results show that more work is needed to make housing affordable in New Jersey. Workers need affordable homes near jobs, seniors need an affordable place to downsize, and younger residents and new families need an affordable start on their housing journey,” said Senator Troy Singleton, Chairman of the Senate Community and Urban Affairs Committee, and author of New Jersey’s landmark affordable housing law passed last year.“That is why I continue to work on key zoning reform efforts—such as ADUs, converting vacant commercial properties into housing, and transit-oriented developments—which seek to not only increase the inventory of new homes, but do it in a smart, sustainable way that simultaneously promotes economic growth.”
“The housing crisis is real, and it’s deeply affecting people’s lives,” said Majority Leader Lou Greenwald. “There’s strong demand for more types of housing—from starter homes for young families to mixed-use options that let empty nesters downsize and give young professionals a place to call their own—but restrictive local zoning is stifling housing production. That’s why I’ve sponsored bills in the Assembly to boost the supply of workforce housing by allowing accessory dwelling units and in-law suites, converting vacant commercial properties into vibrant, walkable communities, and reforming outdated parking minimums near public transit. It’s time for the state to step in and give residents the housing options they need to stay and thrive here in New Jersey.”
“We appreciate the leadership that Senator Singleton and Majority Leader Greenwald have demonstrated in taking action to address the barriers standing in the way of building more homes in New Jersey. The poll shows that their ideas are supported by a majority of voters across political lines. While we hope some of these reforms advance and become law before the end of Governor Murphy’s term, New Jersey’s legislative and gubernatorial candidates should consider these results a mandate from voters to continue to be bold and prioritize housing reform during their term,” said Kioukis.
Hear what some of our Steering Committee Members had to say about the poll:
Share Your Housing Story
A new statewide poll found that nearly 90% of New Jerseyans say housing costs are a major problem—and 87% believe lawmakers must act to address the state’s housing shortage and affordability crisis.
But numbers only go so far. Lawmakers need to hear the real-life stories behind the statistics. That’s why Great Homes and Neighborhoods for All is building a network of pro-housing advocates to champion policy reform.
Share your story today and help us make the case for change.
Questions about the Great Homes and Neighborhoods for All initiative or updates you’d like to share? Write to us at ghna@njfuture.org.
Great Homes and Neighborhoods for All believes everyone in New Jersey deserves an affordable place to live in a safe, vibrant community. We are a statewide, pro-housing initiative tackling New Jersey’s housing and neighborhood challenges, inadequate systems for land use and zoning, and the resulting racial, socioeconomic, and health inequities by advocating for state policy changes, supporting local planning, and cultivating a network of local pro-housing campaigns. Our comprehensive, action-oriented agenda is organized around six guiding principles that address resident displacement, the production and preservation of affordable homes, zoning and government reforms, land use planning, and support for community-led, pro-housing advocacy. Learn more about this initiative, sign up for our mailing list, and join us in our efforts to achieve great homes and neighborhoods for all on our website.
New Jersey Future is a partner of Great Homes and Neighborhoods for All, serving as the “backbone” staff to coordinate the day-to-day activities of the initiative in support of its shared purpose.
