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The New Jersey Department of Community Affairs headed into the holiday weekend announcing awards totaling more than $35 million from the state’s Affordable Housing Trust Fund.

The fiscal year 2026 funding will go to 23 projects throughout the Garden State that create affordable home ownership and rental opportunities, according to the Nov. 26 announcement.

Additionally, DCA awarded another $10 million to Habitat for Humanity projects.

According to the state, the Murphy administration has invested over $260 million in state and federal trust funds. That includes the state’s $167 million AHTF contribution. Overall, that backing has helped create nearly 1,400 affordable units statewide, DCA said.

Selected projects exhibit strong municipal support, participation in other state-funded community development initiatives, partnerships with private sector investors, sustainable/resilient design, walkability, mixed-use, accessibility and thoughtfulness in addressing gentrification. Most awards go to smaller rental and homeownership housing projects, with 25 or fewer units. DCA notes these efforts often have difficulty obtaining financing.

These kinds of projects are typically backed by community-based organizations. All housing units receiving AHTF funding must be deed-restricted for a minimum of 20 years, DCA said.

The awards come through three funds:

• Municipal Settlement Fund (MSF) – helps municipalities create smaller-scale projects that fit into the landscapes of their neighborhoods and assists in fulfilling court-sanctioned affordable housing settlements
• Neighborhood Partnership Fund (NPF) – supports the development of affordable housing in Qualified Urban Aid Towns, particularly projects that leverage other existing resources to strengthen neighborhoods
• Innovation Fund – assists inventive projects that may not fit under the umbrella of the other two funds, but that creatively advance the State of New Jersey’s housing goals

DCA Commissioner Jacquelyn Suarez said these latest awards reflect an ongoing commitment to expanding and preserving affordable housing in the state. “By investing in these projects, we are helping municipalities create lasting, high-quality homes that meet the needs of today’s residents and future generations,” Suarez said.

The following lists of AHTF awards includes award recipient, project name, municipality, number of units, funding pool and the award amount.

2026 Affordable Housing Trust Fund Awards:

• Affordable Housing Alliance
  Millstone Senior Housing III, Millstone
  $3 million – 10 units
• BCUW/Madeline Housing Partners LLC
  West River Road Affordable Housing, Rumson
  $3 million – 12 units
• Greater Bergen Community Action Inc.
  Hackensack Family Apartments, Hackensack
  $3 million – 24 units
• Hoboken World War Veterans Corp.
  The Veterans Center of Hoboken Phase II Project, Hoboken
  $3 million – 18 units
• Interfaith Neighbors Inc.
  Marmora Center, Asbury Park
  $2.02 million – 8 units
• MREH New Point LLC
  1039 E. Jersey St., Elizabeth
  $1.39 million – 10 units
• New Brunswick Tomorrow
  Esperanza Homes Phase II, New Brunswick
  $2.53 million – 6 units
• New Jersey Community Development Corp.
  Spruce and Grand Street Apartments, Paterson
  $3 million –  10 units
• PG Affordable Housing Inc.
  Natirar Affordable Housing Development, Peapack & Gladstone
  $3 million – 20 units
• Randolph Mt Freedom LLC
  Sussex Woods Apartments, Randolph
  $3 million – 25 units
• The Teamsters Building
  The Teamsters Building; Union City
  $3 million – 25 units
• VOADV Property Inc.
  James S. Brown Place, Brigantine
  $2.38 million – 6 units
• Wheatsworth Properties LLC
  Bridgewater Affordable Housing, Bridgewater
  $3 million – 11 units

Meanwhile, Habitat for Humanity Awards went to:

• Habitat for Humanity of Salem County NJ Inc.
  221 Route 45 Mannington Twp Affordable Homeownership, Mannington
  $323,276 – 1 unit
• Habitat for Humanity of Salem County NJ Inc.
  Harold St Affordable Homeownership, Penns Gove
  $818,738 – 2 units
• Habitat for Humanity of South Central New Jersey
  Northfield Development, Northfield
  $2.995 million – 12 units
• Morris Habitat for Humanity
  Ash Street Byram Twp. Affordable Homeownership, Byram
  $325,690 – 1 unit
• Morris Habitat for Humanity
  Laurence Pkwy, Old Bridge Affordable Homeownership Project, Old Bridge
  $2.12 million – 12 units
• Morris Habitat for Humanity
  Orchard Street Morristown Affordable Homeownership Project, Morristown
  $422,740 – 2 units
• Paterson Habitat for Humanity Inc.
  221-223 Summer Street Paterson Habitat Affordable Home, Paterson
  $381,464 – 3 units
• Paterson Habitat for Humanity Inc.
  Paterson Habitat 232-234 Summer South Condominiums, Paterson
  $428,580 – 3 units
• Paterson Habitat for Humanity Inc.
  Paterson Habitat 201-203 Hamilton Quality Affordable Home, Paterson
  $986,996 – 4 units
• Paterson Habitat for Humanity Inc.
  Paterson Habitat 192-196 Hamilton Quality Affordable Home, Paterson
  $1.18 million – 4 units

DCA released calculations in October 2024 to assist in planning for fourth round affordable housing development over the next decade. That assessment called for 150,000 units in present future need spread across the state’s 564 municipalities.