Hudson County plans over 1,000 new homes, including up to 300 affordable, County Executive Craig Guy says at roundtable with Sen. Andy Kim and Rep. Rob Menendez

Hudson County plans to build over 1,000 new homes, including up to 300 new affordable homes on county-owned land near County Plaza, County Executive Craig Guy said Wednesday at an affordable housing roundtable with U.S. Sen. Andy Kim and U.S. Rep. Rob Menendez, according to a county press release issued Thursday.

Guy highlighted his Hudson County Affordable Housing Initiative, a program that aims to build new homes across four sites in Jersey City. The plan includes hundreds of permanently affordable homes for working families, according to the county.

“I have been adamant and I remain steadfast that Hudson County government can do something to resolve the housing affordability crisis here in our community,” Guy said in the release. “Hudson County is leading the way with our plan to build over 1,000 new homes, including up to 300 new affordable homes on County-owned land near County Plaza.”

“Of course, we can’t do this without our partners in municipal, state, and federal government, and I am excited to continue our work with Senator Kim, Congressman Menendez, the Board of County Commissioners, and Mayor Solomon to put these new programs to work to ensure that people can better afford housing throughout Hudson County,” Guy said.

The federal piece: the ROAD to Housing Act

Kim and Menendez stressed the importance of the ROAD to Housing Act, legislation the National Association of Counties called the most significant federal housing bill over the last three decades, according to the release.

“Everyone at the table is dedicated to the goal of making housing more affordable for New Jerseyans,” Kim said. “We’ve taken real steps at the federal level by passing the ROAD to Housing Act, but we need to make sure it’s implemented in a way that actually makes an impact. Conversations like these make sure we’re on track and help us work together and sync our efforts on this essential and common goal.”

“Safe, affordable housing is a fundamental human right, yet too many families are being priced out of the very communities they helped build,” Menendez said. “I am grateful to Senator Kim, Hudson County Executive Guy, and Mayor Solomon for bringing us together today to tackle these challenges head-on. While there is still more work to do to solve this crisis, I was incredibly proud to vote for the 21st Century ROAD to Housing Act as a meaningful step forward, and I will always fight for the resources our families need to stay right here at home.”

Who was at the table

Jersey City Mayor James Solomon and Hoboken Mayor Emily Jabbour also spoke at the roundtable. Guy, Kim and Menendez then hosted a panel discussion with housing experts. The panelists included:

• Zoe Baldwin, vice president, state programs, Regional Plan Association
• Sam Gilman, senior strategist for housing and affordability, Office of the Governor
• Adam Gordon, executive director, Fair Share Housing Center
• Bill Matsikoudis, general counsel, Hudson County Improvement Authority
• Camilo Mendez, chief financial officer, Geraldine R. Dodge Foundation
• Peter T. Rosario, president and CEO, La Casa de Don Pedro
• Nicole Vecchione, director of research, Laborers Eastern Region Organizing Fund

Watch the roundtable

More information on the county’s plan is at hcnj.us/affordablehousing. Photos of the roundtable are posted by Hudson County.